About Lady's Mantle

At dawn, before the morning dew has disappeared, you'll find a delicate gift nestled among the leaves of Alchemilla vulgaris, also known as lady's mantle. Its soft, velvety leaves gather moisture, forming glistening silver droplets—a simple yet captivating sight. This alone makes it worth growing, but beyond its beauty, lady's mantle has many other benefits.

Historically, lady's mantle was prized for healing wounds, stopping bleeding, and treating various ailments, particularly those related to excess discharge. Despite being underutilized today, it deserves more attention for its many healing properties.

Lady's Mantle as an Astringent

Rich in tannins, lady's mantle has a moderate astringency, making it useful for tightening and toning swollen or leaky tissues, which can aid in healing wounds or reducing excessive discharges. While many plants in the Rosaceae family share these astringent qualities, each has its own specialty. For instance, wild rose is often used for emotional heart health, while blackberry root helps with diarrhea.

Lady's mantle is traditionally harvested in bloom, though studies have shown it contains more tannins later in the season. It has been used for common astringent purposes like treating mild diarrhea, but its history includes applications in menstrual and postpartum care.

Healing Wounds (Including Canker Sores)

Native to Europe, lady's mantle has a long history as a wound healer. Nicholas Culpepper, a famous 17th-century herbalist, praised it for drying up wounds, reducing inflammation, and treating infections. Modern research supports this, with a 2019 study showing lady's mantle accelerates wound healing. Another study found it effective for healing canker sores, or aphthous stomatitis, when prepared with glycerin.

Toning the Uterus and Breasts

Lady’s mantle is widely used today for addressing lax tissues in the uterus and vaginal membranes, particularly in cases of excessive discharges, menstrual issues, fibroids, and endometriosis. It can both reduce excessive menstrual flow and stimulate blood circulation, promoting regular cycles.

Lady’s mantle is also commonly used to promote fertility and is often paired with herbs like red raspberry leaves, red clover, and stinging nettle. Herbalist Gail Faith Edwards recommends it for swollen or achy breasts before menstruation, while 18th-century botanist Elizabeth Blackwell noted its ability to firm sagging breasts.

In addition to its physical benefits, lady's mantle is recommended for emotional support, particularly after traumatic experiences like miscarriage or surgery.

Postpartum Care

Lady's mantle has long been used to support postpartum recovery, particularly for prolapse, tears during labor, and hemorrhoids. It’s often prepared as a sitz bath, sometimes combined with other healing herbs like yarrow and calendula. While historically used for postpartum hemorrhage, it’s essential to seek immediate medical care for such serious conditions. Herbalists often recommend lady’s mantle tea or tincture to help tone breast tissue post-lactation.

Support During Menopause

Lady’s mantle is also beneficial for women transitioning through menopause. A survey of British herbalists found that 39% recommend it for managing symptoms like excessive bleeding. It’s a trusted ally during this stage of life, providing relief and support.

Growing Alchemilla vulgaris

Lady’s mantle is a hardy perennial native to Europe, with over 300 species in the Alchemilla genus. It thrives in shaded, moist areas but can also tolerate drier conditions. Its clump-forming growth and semi-circular, fan-like leaves are distinctive, with small yellow-green flowers that bloom in clusters.

This easy-to-grow plant is often one of the first to appear in gardens, bringing beauty and utility throughout the season.

Preparing Lady's Mantle

Lady’s mantle can be used as a tea, tincture, poultice, sitz bath, or wash. For tea, use 5-15 grams of dried leaves and flowers per day. If using a tincture, 3-5 mL can be taken three times a day.

Safety Considerations

Lady’s mantle is considered safe for all users, making it a reliable herb to incorporate into your daily routine.