Elm-leaved meadowsweet, or meadowsweet meadowsweet

Meadowsweet Vyazolistny, or Meadowsweet Vyazolga (whitehead, lungwort)

 

Perennial herbaceous plant with a straight stem up to 1.7 m tall, with a dense paniculate inflorescence of yellow-white (sometimes cream) fragrant flowers. The leaves are pinnate (notched, not round), greenish-whitish-tomentose below.

It grows in humid places: in meadows, edges, in ravines, on the banks of rivers, between shrubs – almost throughout the entire territory of central Russia, in Ukraine, the Caucasus, Siberia.

For medicinal purposes, the herb and roots of the plant are used. The grass is harvested during flowering in June-July, and the roots in early spring and autumn.

Preparations are very widely used in scientific medicine for rubbing with damage to muscles and joints with rheumatism. In folk medicine, the plant is more versatile. It is used in the form of decoctions and ointments as a diaphoretic and antirheumatic agent inside and out, as a diuretic for diseases of the bladder and kidneys, as well as for hemorrhoids. A decoction is successfully used for severe inflammatory pains in the stomach, sometimes nettle and St. John’s wort are added in equal amounts.

In some cases, an ointment is used from the powder of the meadowsweet root. When bitten by snakes or a rabid dog, a freshly cut (preferably crushed) plant root is applied to the affected area. The root is more active than the herb.

In homeopathy, products from the meadowsweet are used for rheumatism and gout (inside and out).

Application

Light decoction (infusion): 1 teaspoon per glass of boiling water, drink throughout the day.

Broth for washing: 1 full Art. spoon for 5 cups of water, boil for 30 minutes.

Ointment 1: 1 part powdered root to 5 parts butter.

Ointment 2: 1 part root powder, 2 teaspoons of petroleum jelly, 1 teaspoon of lanolin; mix everything thoroughly.