When I have a feverish state

My Testimony

I am very rarely sick. This is probably partly due to the fact that I am “immersed” in hydrosols and essential oils and that I live in the countryside, in a protected environment. But almost every time I spend a few days in Paris for trade shows, I catch a cold or start to feel “under the weather”. To help me fight against febrile states in these urban environments, I turn to meadowsweet!

My Tip

As soon as I feel feverish (headache, burning eyes, muscle pain), I take meadowsweet hydrosol. I try to drink a tablespoon in a glass almost every hour the first day. I don’t find meadowsweet very pleasant to drink, maybe because of its astringent side that leaves the mouth dry. I prefer to dilute it in fruit juice (freshly squeezed preferably) rather than in water. I combine this anti-inflammatory hydrosol with winter savory hydrosol, as an anti-infective and to stimulate immunity a bit. I take a tablespoon 3 times a day (with the meadowsweet at those times).
Generally, I manage to quickly stop the ailment with the combination of these two hydrosols. If this is not the case after 24 hours, I use essential oils. I then massage my chest every 2 hours the first day with 2 drops of bay laurel essential oil and 2 drops of thyme thujanol essential oil diluted in 5-6 drops of vegetable oil. From the next day or the day after, when it gets better, I space out the applications, to do 3 per day, and this for 4-5 days.

What does Phytotherapy Say?

Meadowsweet can be considered a true plant-based aspirin. It lowers fever and facilitates sweating (diaphoretic). In addition, its anti-inflammatory properties are interesting for headaches, dental pain, flu-like conditions with aches. It also has diuretic and anti-edema properties and neutralizes gastric acidity, relieving burns and stomach ulcers (Samardzic et al., 2018; Barnaulov and Denisenko, 1980; Katanic et al., 2016 and 2018). It was long believed that only salicylic acid was responsible for the anti-inflammatory action of meadowsweet. Today, it is rather thought that it is a set of components acting in synergy. As often, the plant is more than the sum of its constituents!

Did You Know?

Meadowsweet is also indicated for stomach aches, ulcers, gastric reflux, which well illustrates the superiority of the plant totum over isolated active principles. The plant that originated aspirin protects the gastric mucosa where the isolated molecule creates side effects!

I Use Hydrosols SAFELY

Even if no side effect is known from prolonged use of meadowsweet, it is advised against, as a precaution, for pregnant and breastfeeding women and people allergic to aspirin. It can be used in children. On the other hand, the tip presented with essential oils is not suitable for children under 7 years old.

FILIPENDULA ULMARIA Meadowsweet

Meadowsweet is a perennial plant, 1 m to 1.5 m high, with a proud bearing, which gives it its French name. Very common in Europe in wet biotopes, meadows, along watercourses, it has clusters of yellowish white flowers, very fragrant and melliferous. The plant was recommended in the Middle Ages for malignant fevers and, in the 19th century, it gave its name to aspirin, thanks to the acetyl-salicylic acid it contains (a for acetyl and spir from spirea ulmaria, its old Latin name). Meadowsweet, through its salicylate derivatives among others, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of dental pain, joint pain, headaches, febrile states, a diuretic action, anticoagulant, digestive, anti-ulcer and soothing gastric reflux.