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These plants, funghi and insect illustrations
are part of my botanical oracle deck

Filipendula ulmaria | Meadowsweet

Botanical Overview:

  • Family: Rosaceae

  • Common Names: Meadowsweet, Queen of the Meadow, Bridewort, Meadow Queen

  • Plant Type: Perennial herbaceous plant

  • Native Range: Europe and western Asia; naturalized in North America

  • Key Identifiers:

    • Tall stems with clusters of creamy-white, sweetly fragrant flowers

    • Dark green, serrated leaves with a downy underside

    • Prefers damp environments such as meadows, riverbanks, and wetlands


Properties:

  • Active Compounds: Salicylates, flavonoids, tannins, essential oils

  • Pharmacological Actions: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, astringent


Distribution and Habitat:

  • Common in moist meadows, along streams, and in damp grasslands across Europe and temperate Asia

  • Thrives in nutrient-rich, moist soils and full to partial sunlight


Medicinal Uses:

  • Natural Aspirin Source:

    • Contains salicylates, the precursors to aspirin, and has been used for centuries for pain relief

    • Unlike synthetic aspirin, its tannins and flavonoids help protect the stomach lining

  • Anti-Inflammatory and Fever-Reducing:

    • Traditionally used for colds, flu, fevers, and rheumatic pain

  • Digestive Aid:

    • Helps with acid reflux, gastritis, ulcers, and diarrhea due to its soothing and astringent properties

  • Diuretic and Kidney Support:

    • Traditionally used to support kidney and urinary tract health

  • Caution:

    • Avoid if allergic to aspirin or salicylates


Psychoactive Properties and Effects:

  • Psychoactive Nature:

    • Not traditionally considered psychoactive but has mild mood-lifting and calming properties

    • Some historical use as a mild sedative and nervine, helping with stress and anxiety

    • May promote relaxation and mental clarity, though effects are subtle compared to other plants


Magical Correspondences and Uses:

  • Element: Water, Air

  • Planetary Association: Venus

  • Magical Uses:

    • Associated with love, peace, and harmony

    • Used in handfasting ceremonies and love spells to bring happiness and commitment

    • Considered protective and purifying, often used in incenses and herbal sachets

    • Its sweet scent was believed to uplift spirits and invite positive energies

    • Historically strewn on floors to create a pleasant atmosphere and promote joy


Folklore and Mythology:

  • Celtic and Druidic Lore:

    • Considered one of the three sacred herbs of the Druids, alongside vervain and water mint

    • Believed to bring divine blessings and was used in ritual purification

  • Bridal Associations:

    • Called "Bridewort" because it was traditionally used in wedding bouquets and garlands to bring love and joy

  • Queen Elizabeth I:

    • It is said she loved meadowsweet and had it strewn in her chambers for its fragrance

  • Anglo-Saxon Medicine:

    • Mentioned in early English herbal texts as a remedy for headaches and fevers

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