Meadowsweet or Natural Aspirine (Filipendula ulmaria L. Maxim.)
It is said, that Arthur Eichengrun have been experimenting with Meadowsweet when he invented the Aspirin. The roots of this herb have so much salicylic acid,that you can use them instead of aspirin.
Meadowsweet can be found in damp places near lakes and rivers. It is a 5 feet long shrub. Most of the grown leaves are hairy below and plain and lighter above. Blossoms are grouped in clusters and are white or white to yellow. After blossoming, the pollinated flowers grow a group of small nuts. The bees love this herb because of the strong sweet aroma and the many clusters of blossoms that can be visited, so pollination is not a problem for the Meadowsweet.
Gathering and drying.
Most of the plant can be used. Blossoms and leaves are gathered in June-July and dried for tea. Leave enough of them for the bees. Roots are collected when the nuts are grown fully and started falling on the ground.
Blossoms and leaves must be dried in shadow, at no more than 40 degrees C (104 F). Roots need to be washed or brushed thoroughly before drying. Roots are dried until they get dark brown color.
Usage
The tea has strong anti inflammatory features and is excellent for common cold and Influenza. Also acts as mild diuretic.
Infusion of the roots is used for internal cleaning in Leucorrhoea sufferers.
Roots can be used as a topical ointment for insect bites.
Preparation.
Tea is made by pouring 2 tablespoons of the blossoms and leaves with 1 pint of boiling water and leaving covered until it's cool.
Lucorrhoea sufferers can make infusion from the roots. 2 table spoons of the diced root are boiled for 10 minutes in a pint of water and then cooled to comfortable temperature for the douche.
Ointment is a bit tricky. You need 3 ounces of very clean butter or lard. Cut the roots in small cubes and put them in a pot, covered with a lid. Put them on the hot plate and start heating on low. You must not fry the root, but only heat it to 70-80 degrees C. It takes less than 10 minutes for the etheric oils and salicylic acid to get inside the butter. Sift and put in a box for ointments when cooled. The smell of the root will beat the smell of the lard, so no additional aroma is needed, but if you want, you can add few leaves of mint when heating. The mint has additional calming and cooling effect on insect bites.
