Lady's Mantle
Alchemilla vulgaris
Use this herb for:
Actions
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Astringent
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Uterine Tonic
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Antiinflammatory
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Antihemorrhagic
Uses
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Heavy menses
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Menses that happens irregularly
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Prolapse (intestinal or vaginal)
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Sore throat
Constituents
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Ellagitannins (agrimoniin)
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Flavanoids
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Phytosterols
Energetics
Bitter and Cooling, slightly astringent.
For the Relaxed and Torpor tissue state.
In “The Spirit of Herbs” by M. Tierra this plant is associated with the Queen of Cups. This Court Royal card is connected to the element of water, more importantly water of water. In the Thoth tarot deck the mother is holding the seashell with a Scorpion in the middle of her chest. The Scorpion can often resemble the archetype Pluto as well as Scorpio. Often the scorpion and serpent are interchangeable. So often the scorpion and serpent get a negative connotation but in reality this symbol is the root of creation and wisdom; with Pluto the power creation through catabolic process. This card is the court royal of motherliness, nurses and doctors.
It is perfectly associated with Alchemilla as this plant is used almost exclusively for a woman’s womb, with some potential application for relaxed tissue states in the digestive tract. We don’t particularly use this plant while pregnant though we do use it to help become pregnant and potentially postnatal. Pregnancy is often seen constitutionally as a water state. Alchemilla collects rain droplets as well as produces its own magical water droplet. This is another example of this plant’s energetic potential of manipulating water.
Growing
This perennial plant is native to Southern Europe and commonly found in Britain. Alchemilla seeds can be directly sown in spring or fall and will grow to 12” to 24” tall. We harvest the aerial parts when in full bloom.
Cautions
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Do not use in pregnancy or lactation
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Avoid in known allergy or hypersensitivity
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Avoid if taking anticoagulants such as warfarin
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May reduce the absorption of nutrients if taken near a meal or supplementation