Last update Aug. 30, 2018

Meadowsweet

Likely Compatibility

Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.

The flowering tops of this herbaceous plant are used.
It contains tannins and flavonoids, spireoside, rutoside, hyperoside, quercetin, kempferol and essential oil. It contains around 0.1% of salicylates (Moro 2011). The word aspirin is derived from its Latin name (Spiraea).
Properties traditionally attributed to it, without sufficient clinical evidence: antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory (EMA 2011).
Indications of Commission E of the German Ministry of Health: common cold. (Blumenthal 1998 p169).

Since the last update we have not found published data on its excretion in breastmilk.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage has been reported in a 4-year-old boy who took a syrup containing meadowsweet and willow (1.5% salicylic acid) without being able to determine the exact cause (Moro 2011).

Although the salicylic acid content of meadowsweet is unlikely to cause Reye syndrome through excretion in milk, until there is more published data on this plant in relation to breastfeeding, it may be preferable to avoid it or consume moderately and occasionally during breastfeeding, especially during the neonatal period and in case of prematurity.

Precautions when taking plant preparations:
1. Make sure they are from a reliable source: poisonings have occurred due to confusion of one plant with another with toxic properties, poisonings due to heavy metals that are extracted from the soil and food poisoning due to contamination with bacteria or fungi (Anderson 2017).
2. Do not take in excess; follow recommendations from experts in phytotherapy. "Natural" products are not good in any quantity: plants contain active substances from which much of our traditional pharmacopoeia has been obtained and can cause poisoning or act as endocrine disruptors (contain phytoestrogens: Powers 2015, Zava 1998) if consumed in exaggerated quantity or periods of time.


See below the information of this related product:

  • Aspirin (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)

Alternatives

  • Ibuprofen (Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Paracetamol (Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Meadowsweet is also known as


Meadowsweet in other languages or writings:

Group

Meadowsweet belongs to this group or family:

References

  1. Anderson PO. Herbal Use During Breastfeeding. Breastfeed Med. 2017 Abstract
  2. Powers CN, Setzer WN. A molecular docking study of phytochemical estrogen mimics from dietary herbal supplements. In Silico Pharmacol. 2015 Mar 22;3:4. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  3. Moro PA, Flacco V, Cassetti F, Clementi V, Colombo ML, Chiesa GM, Menniti-Ippolito F, Raschetti R, Santuccio C. Hypovolemic shock due to severe gastrointestinal bleeding in a child taking an herbal syrup. Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2011 Abstract
  4. EMA. Community herbal monograph on Filipendula ulmaria (L.). CHM. 2011 Full text (in our servers)
  5. Zava DT, Dollbaum CM, Blen M. Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998 Abstract
  6. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, Gruenwald J, Hall T, Riggins CW, Rister RS, editors. The American Botanical Council. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Integrative Medicine Com; Boston, MA, USA: 1998

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