Everything You Need to Know About

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)

Botanical family: Rosaceae
Parts used: Stems, Leaves
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)
by Malek Murison
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Overview and Health Benefits

Lady's mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) has been a staple in herbal medicine for centuries, valued for its astringent, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. Traditionally favoured to support women's health, lady's mantle is often used to regulate menstrual cycles, reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, alleviate menstrual cramps, promote fertility, aid childbirth and postpartum recovery, and ease menopausal symptoms (McIntyre, 2019; Mills & Bone, 2013). Its gentle astringency also makes it helpful to support wound healing (Choi et al., 2018) and to ease digestive concerns such as diarrhoea and gastrointestinal inflammation (e.g., gastritis, colitis, gastro-enteritis) (McIntyre, 2019).

Key Benefits:

  • Supports menstrual health and alleviates menstrual pain
  • Promotes healing of wounds and reduces inflammation
  • Can ease digestive inflammation and diarrhoea
  • Can be used to support childbirth and postpartum recovery
  • Aids in the management of menopausal symptoms
  • Strengthens and tones tissues, especially in the abdominal area

Lady's mantle is particularly renowned for its aforementioned benefits in women's health, from menstruation to pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum to menopause. The herb's astringent nature helps to tone the uterus and abdominal tissues, making it beneficial postpartum to restore muscle tone and support overall recovery (Wood, 1997).

In addition to its applications in women's health, lady's mantle is effective in promoting wound healing. Its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties make it useful for treating cuts, sores, and ulcers. An infusion or poultice of the leaves can be applied topically to help close wounds and reduce inflammation (Shrivastava, Cucuat & John, 2007; Hoffmann, 1998).

The herb also offers relief from menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, through its balancing effects on hormone levels (Mills & Bone, 2013).

Furthermore, lady's mantle exhibits strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These properties make it a valuable herb for protecting against oxidative stress and fighting off infections. The presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids contributes to its ability to neutralise free radicals and inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms (Denev et al., 2014).

Safety 

While Lady's Mantle is generally seen as a safe herb, with no major reported adverse reactions (Natural Medicines Database, 2024), allergic reactions may always occur (particularly in individuals with allergies to the Rosaceae family) (Hoffmann, 1998). Due to its astringent properties, excessive use may lead to constipation or gastrointestinal discomfort (Mills & Bone, 2013). As with any herbal remedy, it is prudent to consult with a healthcare professional before using lady's mantle, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are taking any prescription medications.

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Key Body Systems Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) relates to

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)
Endocrine and or Reproductive System
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)
Digestive System

Energetics

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)
Cooling
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)
Drying

Key actions

  • Astringent
  • Antihemorraghic
  • Uterine tonic
  • Hormone balancer
  • Anti-inflammatory
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)

Key uses

  • Diarrhoea
  • Pre-menstrual syndrome
  • Heavy, painful and irregular periods
  • Reproductive hormone balancing
  • Fibroids
  • Endometriosis

Where to Find Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)

Lady's Mantle is a charming and distinctive herb that can be easily recognised in the wild, or in gardens. This perennial plant features soft, fan-shaped pleated leaves with scalloped edges, typically covered in fine, silky hairs. One of its most enchanting characteristics is the way dew collects in the centre of its pleated leaves, sparkling like tiny jewels in the morning light. This unique feature made it a favourite of mediaeval alchemists who believed these dew drops were invaluable in their search for the "philosopher's stone" (McIntyre, 2019). The plant bears clusters of small, yellow-green flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer.

The common name “Lady’s Mantle” is a reference to the Virgin Mary, as the leaves were thought to resemble her cloak (McIntyre, 2019).

You can find this herb thriving in the wild across temperate regions of Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. It prefers well-drained soils and is commonly found in meadows, along roadsides, and in open woodland areas. This plant thrives in both sunny and partially shaded conditions and is particularly abundant in areas with cool, moist climates.

References

Bone, K., & Mills, S. (2013). Principles and practice of phytotherapy (2nd ed.). Elsevier.

Choi, J., Park, Y.-G., Yun, M.-S., & Seol, J.-W. (2018). Effect of herbal mixture composed of Alchemilla vulgaris and Mimosa on wound healing process. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 106, 326-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.141

Denev, P., Kratchanova, M., Ciz, M., Lojek, A., Vasicek, O., Blazheva, D., Nedelcheva, P., Vojtek, L., & Hyrsl, P. (2014). Antioxidant, antimicrobial and neutrophil-modulating activities of herb extracts. Acta Biochimica Polonica, 61(2), 359-367. https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.2014_2045

Hoffmann, D. (1998). The herbal handbook: A user's guide to medical herbalism. Healing Arts Press.

McIntyre, A. (2019). The complete herbal tutor: The definitive guide to the principles and practices of herbal medicine. Aeon.

Natural Medicines Database. (2024). Alchemilla vulgaris. Retrieved from https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/ 

Shrivastava, R., Cucuat, N., & John, G. W. (2007). Effects of Alchemilla vulgaris and glycerine on epithelial and myofibroblast cell growth and cutaneous lesion healing in rats. Phytotherapy Research, 21(4), 369-373. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2060

Wood, M. (1997). The book of herbal wisdom: Using plants as medicines. North Atlantic Books.