Can anyone tell me about the medicinal qualities of Lady's Mantle, what it was used for in the past and what it can be used for?

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) is not much used in herbal medicine today. Obviously, from its name, it was used for ladies' problems. This is possibly due to the tannin content.

I am quoting from Andrew Chevalier’s Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants published by Dorling Kindersley.

History and Folklore

Andres de Laguna’s translation (1570) of Dioscorides’ Materia Medica recommends two preparations of lady’s mantle – the root, powdered and mixed with red wine, for internal and external wounds, and an infusion of the aerial parts, for “greenstick” fractures and broken bones in babies and young children. When taken regularly for 15 days, lady’s mantle was said to reverse sterility due to “slipperiness” of the womb. The plant’s astringent effect is sufficiently marked that the infusion was used to contract the female genitalia, and it was “a thousand times sold” to those wishing to appear to be virgins!

Medicinal Actions and Uses

Lady’s mantle has always been prized as a wound healer. Its astringency ensures that blood flow is staunched and the first stage of healing gets under way. As the name implies, it is a valuable herb for treating conditions suffered by women, and it is taken principally to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, to relieve menstrual cramps and to improve regularity of the cycle. Lady’s mantle is also prescribed for fibroids and endometriosis. It has been used to facilitate childbirth, and is thought to act as a liver decongestant. Its astringent properties make it a useful herb for the treatment of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.

Caution Do not use in pregnancy

Hi Nick

Some medical herbalists do use Lady's Mantle. I've made the tincture and tea, but have not had cause to use it medicinally.

This is taken from David Hoffman's Materia Medica on http://www.healthy.net/scr/mmedica.asp?MTId=1&Id=237 David is one of the leading medical herbalists in the US, he trained in London and spent some time in North Wales before returning to set up in practice in California. He has written numerous books on medical herbalism and is regarded as "thoroughly sound".

Alchemilla vulgaris
Part Used: The leaves and flowering shoots.

Constituents: Tannins, consisting mainly of glycosides of ellagic acid.
Salicylic acid, a trace.

Actions: Astringent, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, vulnerary.

Indications: This and other species of Alchemilla have been widely used in folk medicine throughout Europe. Lady's Mantle will help reduce pains associated with periods as well as ameliorating excessive bleeding. It also has a role to play in easing the changes of the menopause. As an emmenagogue it stimulates the proper menstrual flow if there is any resistance. However, in the often apparently paradoxical way of herbal remedies, Lady's Mantle is a useful uterine astringent, used in both menorrhagia and metrorrhagia. Its astringency provides a role in the treatment of diarrhea and as a mouthwash for sores and ulcers and as a gargle for laryngitis.

Preparations & Dosage: Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse for l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day. To help diarrhea and as a mouthwash or lotion, a stronger dosage is made by boiling the herb for a few minutes to extract all the tannin. Tincture: take 1-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.

Best wishes

Sarah