Lady's mantle, cut aerial part – Alchemilla vulgaris

A perennial plant of the Rosaceae family, lady's mantle is recognizable by its fan-shaped lobed leaves, often beaded with water droplets in the morning. Widespread in high-altitude meadows or damp pastures, it is traditionally considered a woman's ally and appears in European folk pharmacopoeias.

Description

Lady's mantle is a hardy herbaceous plant growing 10 to 40 cm tall. The velvety, cut leaves retain dew, giving it its name associated with alchemy. The greenish flowers are grouped into small inflorescences. The entire plant is harvested before the end of flowering, then dried and cut to preserve its aromas and volatile compounds.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Lady's mantle, lady's mantle, lion's foot
• Latin name: Alchemilla vulgaris
• Family: Rosaceae
• Part used: Aerial parts (leaves, flowering stems)
• Form: Cut, dried
• Origin: Europe, temperate wetlands
• English name: Lady's mantle
• Name in German: Frauenmantel
• Name in Spanish: Dama's Mantle
• Name in Italian: Mantello della Madonna
• Name in Arabic: عباءة السيدة (ʿAbā'at as-Sayyida)

Main virtues

Aside from its traditional feminine uses, lady's mantle is also used in skin care for its astringent properties. It is also used in dew rituals or as a seasonal transition plant in certain folk rites.

Main constituents

Tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, phytosterols, mucilages.

Use and dosage

• Infusion: 1 tablespoon for 250 ml of water, infuse for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Decoction: 2 tablespoons for 500 ml, simmer for 5 minutes, then let infuse for 10 minutes.
• External use: as a lotion, compress or sitz bath according to popular tradition.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Not recommended in case of anticoagulant treatment or serious circulatory disorders.
• Respect the recommended dosages, especially for prolonged use.
• If in doubt, seek advice from a healthcare or herbalist professional.

History and origin

Lady's mantle takes its name from alchemy, from the drops collected on its leaves, which are believed to have mystical properties. It was renowned in medieval medicine for accompanying women at every stage of their lives. It is mentioned in numerous ancient treatises, from Hildegard of Bingen to the popular herbals of Central Europe.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: in a dry place, away from light and heat.
• Packaging: opaque kraft bag or airtight box.
• Appearance: Green fragments of leaves and flowering stems.
• Odor: herbaceous, slightly bitter.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Central European Herbalism
• Medieval Traditional Herbal Medicine Texts
• Ancient and modern botanical references

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