What are the effects of lady’s mantle?
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris s.l.) contains tannins (including ellagitannins), secondary plant substances such as flavonoids and bitter substances. Similar to other tannin-containing plants of the rose family, the medicinal plant has astringent effects on the skin and mucous membranes in cases of mild diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints. In addition, anti-inflammatory and mild antispasmodic effects have been described for lady’s mantle.
Therefore, based on many years of experience, the use of the medicinal plant is medically recognized for the following complaints:
- non-specific diarrhea
- gastrointestinal complaints
- menstrual pain
Other uses
What else does lady’s mantle tea do? In folk medicine, lady’s mantle is used, for example, to treat coughs, wounds and inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat (externally as a gargle).
Sometimes one comes across other applications for lady’s mantle tea: fertility treatments and irregular menstrual cycle. Background is: Women’s mantle contains phytohormones that are similar to the sex hormone progesterone. The plant hormones are supposed to ensure a regular cycle and ovulation. It is also said to help with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, none of this has been scientifically proven.
Some women also drink women’s mantle tea if they have human papillomavirus (HPV) infection or poor Pap levels. The Pap test is a screening test for cervical cancer. However, no efficacy has been proven here either.
Lady’s mantle is also used in homeopathy: Alchemilla vulgaris is said to be able to help with abdominal complaints.
How is lady’s mantle used?
There are several ways to use lady’s mantle.
Lady’s mantle as a home remedy
For medicinal use, lady’s mantle is usually cultivated. The above-ground parts of the plant (leaves, flowers and stems), the so-called lady’s mantle herb (Alchemillae herba), collected and dried at flowering time, are used. A tea can be prepared from it:
Pour 150 milliliters of boiling water over one to two grams of finely chopped lady’s mantle herb and strain after about ten minutes. You can drink a cup of lady’s mantle tea several times a day between meals, with the average daily dose being five to ten grams of the medicinal drug.
How long can you drink lady’s mantle tea? Do not exceed the period of three to four months, otherwise because of the tannins and bitter substances, for example, liver damage may occur.
You can also make a cold water extract: To do this, put three teaspoons of lady’s mantle herb with a cup of cold water, let everything stand for five hours and then strain. Such an extract is traditionally used externally for skin problems, for example.
Home remedies based on medicinal plants have their limits. If your symptoms persist for a long period of time, do not improve or even get worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
Ready-to-use preparations with lady’s mantle
Ready-to-use preparations containing lady’s mantle are also available. These include capsules, drops or tinctures. Homeopathic globules with Alchemilla vulgaris are also available.
They are used according to the package leaflet or your doctor’s or pharmacist’s recommendations.
What side effects can lady’s mantle cause?
There are no known side effects associated with the use of lady’s mantle. Only a few cases of liver damage caused by the tannin tannin substances contained in lady’s mantle have been described. Lady’s mantle is basically non-toxic.
What you should bear in mind when using lady’s mantle
- Prolonged and/or severe diarrhea can be dangerous and must always be examined by a doctor. This is especially true for infants, children under twelve, and seniors.
- During pregnancy and lactation, lady’s mantle should not be used due to insufficient evidence of efficacy and safety.
How to obtain lady’s mantle and its products
Lady’s mantle tea and ready-to-use preparations are available in pharmacies and well-stocked drugstores. When using, please refer to the respective package insert and ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What is lady’s mantle?
The species complex Alchemilla vulgaris L. s.l. (common lady’s mantle) includes various small species that are difficult to distinguish and belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae). Common lady’s mantle is native to the entire northern hemisphere.
The perennial herbaceous plant forms shoots 30 to 50 centimeters high. Characteristic are the basal leaves with their roundish kidney-shaped, slightly folded blade, divided into seven to nine lobes, toothed at the edge. The shape of these leaves is reminiscent of the cloak of Mary, the Mother of God, on images of saints – hence the German name Frauenmantel. The very small greenish-yellow flowers are in many-flowered inflorescences.
