This beautiful plant known as Queen of the Meadow, Filipendula ulmaria is found throughout the UK, by the sides of streams and in damp meadows. The whole plant is edible and has a pleasant taste and flavour. It was strewn on floors to give rooms a pleasant aroma, and been used to flavour wine, beer, mead, vinegar, stewed fruits, and jams. Its flowers have been used to flavour panna cotta. Aspirin was named and registered on February 1st 1899, manufactured by Bayer as a ‘Wonder Drug’ it was derived from Meadowsweet. The name came by taking ‘A’ from Acetyl, part of the process in synthesising Acetylsalicylic Acid, and ‘Spir’ from the old botanical name Spirea ulmaria. Tea made from Meadowsweet has long been used in traditional herbal medicine, for rheumatism, gout, infections, and fevers, predating Bayer by centuries. The tea has anti-inflammatory properties and is often recommended for reducing the build-up of uric acids. I would recommend steeping the tea for 10 minutes.
It goes without saying that if you're pregnant (or are under the doctor for anything) caution should be exercised with herbal decoctions.
