Lady’s mantle: properties, dosage of the medicinal plant

Lady’s mantle is little known and yet it has many virtues for relieving transit disorders, mouth infections, painful and heavy periods, menopause. It also takes care of soothing sore throats and healing wounds.

Name of the medicinal plant

Lady’s mantle, or common lady’s mantle , also called “lion’s foot” or “alchemists’ plant” is a perennial plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. From its Latin name Alchemilla vulgaris , it is recognizable by its green stem with reddish hues and by its circular leaves, forming serrated lobes. Its small flowers are greenish yellow. This plant grows in woods, meadows and wet pastures. Above 1000 meters above sea level, it is replaced by an alpine variety.

Used parts of the plant

The parts of the plant used are the aerial parts, in particular the leaves without their petiole.

Properties

Lady’s mantle has astringent (substance that promotes tissue tightening), hemostatic (anti-hemorrhagic), healing properties. It also has so-called luteinic properties, its action being close to progesterone . Thanks to its high tannin content, it is used ” in the event of transit disorders (chronic diarrhea, gastroenteritis), in the event of stomatitis, infections of the mouth and throat (mouth ulcers, gingivitis, angina), leucorrhoea, menorrhagia (very profuse menstruation), menopause and as accompanying just before and after childbirth. Be careful not to take it during pregnancy, “warns the naturopath. The plant appears in list A of the French Pharmacopoeia.

Lady’s mantle and weight loss

Lady’s mantle is not recommended for weight loss. Other plants, such as the cherry tree have more virtues in this indication.

A recommended plant for women

Lady’s mantle is used in particular to treat certain gynecological ailments, to ” relieve premenstrual syndrome and certain symptoms linked to premenopause, and menopause , indicates the expert. In case of menstrual disorders, to alleviate, take lady’s mantle instead. in the second part of the cycle (from day 14 to 28) either as herbal tea (2-3 cups / day) or as a mother tincture. ”

Dosage

For external use to help heal a wound, boil 40 g of dry plant for one liter of cold water. Infuse 10 minutes, strain. Use lukewarm on the wound.
In infusion : 1 level spoon of plant for a cup of 250ml (20-30 g of plant for 1 liter of water), put in boiling water and let infuse 15 min, or in decoction , boil 2-3 min and let infuse 10 min. Drink 2 to 3 cups / day without meals.
In hydro-alcoholic extract (mother tincture): 20 to 30 drops in a glass of water, 3 times / day.

Other indications:

In case of diarrhea : ” put 1 or 2 teaspoons of leaves or stems in the equivalent of a cup of water, boil 2 minutes. Take a cup several times a day.”
In case of oral infection (mouth ulcers, gingivitis) : make the infusion or decoction in mouthwash.
In case of inflamed sore throats (angina) : gargle with the infusion, decoction or mother tincture.

Precautions for use and contraindications

Lady’s mantle is ” c ontre indicated for pregnant women , in the event of a history of hormone-dependent cancer or predisposition , warns Amélie Mounier, and in the event of gastritis, and peptic ulcer. “
” The tannins can impact the good absorption, at the level of the digestive mucosa, of drugs, supplements and nutrients. It is therefore necessary to favor taking away from meals, and to space it out from the taking of medicinal treatments ” warns the expert.
“Lady’s mantle should be avoided when taking oral contraceptives because of its action similar to that of progesterone.”
“The plants are always taken as a 21-day cure (except where the catch is shorter) with a break of one week if you want to renew it. It is imperative to always ask for dosage recommendations and contraindications when using the purchase of a product “ , recalls the naturopath.

Undesirable side effects

Consuming this herb may increase the risk of constipation in some people, given its anti-diarrheal properties.

Thanks to Amélie Mounier, FENA certified naturopath, in Vincennes.