“Yarrow”
Plant’s latin name is derived from the Greek hero Achilles. During the Trojan wars, Yarrow was reputedly used to treat wounds. Later known as ‘Wound-wort’ & ‘Carpenter’s Weed’.
A folk name, ‘Nosebleed’, confirms its traditional first aid use as an emergency styptic to stop bleeding.
In China – divining sticks are made from yarrow stalks.
Latin Botanical: Achillea millefolium
Family: Asteraceae
Part Used: Aerial Parts – Harvest during Flowering. A Creeping herb.
Qualities: Cool, dry (Holmes), Sweet & Astringent with slightly BITTER TASTE (Ody), Dry 1st Degree, warm 1st Degree (Thomsen & Gennat).
Energetic/Emotional: Psychic protection and protection from radiation. Wood says American Indian Practitioners have used Yarrow to revive people from a coma. Heightens conciousness. Good for people who are ‘too delicate – susceptible to their environment’. ‘Wounded warrior remedy – modern day servants – e.g. doctors, lawyers, therapists – those who jump in to save the day but get hurt’.
“Most men say that the leaves chewed, and especially greene, are a remedy for toothache” – John Gerard, 1597
Constituants:
- Volatile oil (chamazulene, azulene & thujone) – stimulate mucosa of respiratory tract
- Flavonoids (including rutin)
- Sesquiterpene Lactones (Achillicin-bitter)
- Tannins and Alkaloids
- Vitamins A,C,E & K
- Minerals Cu, Mg, K, Fe, Iodine
- CAMPHOR
Actions:
- Antipyretic
- Diaphoretic
- Peripheral vasodilator
- Hypotensive
- Venous Tonic
- Astringent / Antihemorrhagic
- Haemostatic / Styptic (local, such as nose bleeds)
- Anti-platelet- achilleine, an alkaloid constituent, may ↓ clotting time
- Antimicrobial
- Antiinflammatory (chamazulene / volatile oil)
- Spasmolytic
- Bitter tonic
- Vulnerary
- Stimulant
- Emmenagogue (abortifacient – thujone) – may work to release stagnant blood
- Thins the blood & some herbalists consider it a blood cleanser
Indications:
- Fever
- Common Cold / Flu
- URTI’s
- Digestive complaints i.e. anorexia, dyspepsia, GIT spasm – stimulates digestion & may act as a catalyst to ‘clean out the digestive tract from bottom layer up’ — tones mucosa & increase cellular activity & secretion
- Loss of Appetite (Commission E)
- Diarrhoea
- Dysentery
- Hypertension
- Varicose veins
- Haemorrhoids – specifically those that bl
- Varicose veins (sitz bath)
- Diverticulitis & colitis (Wood)
- Intestinal inflammation – IBS, liver congestion, skin lesions associated with digestive symptoms
- Amenorrhoea – stagnant blood
- Menorrhagia
- UTIs
- Mild uterine bleeding – tones mucus membranes of reproductive tract
- Pelvic cramping (Commission E)
- Uterine Fibroids (sitz bath)
- ‘Restlessness due to hormonal shifts’
- Aneurism – suck up blood leaking out of vessel (Wood).
- Topically for wounds and to stop bleeding – slow healing wounds
- Topically – cuts and bruises of VIOLENT ORIGIN
- Topically Skin Disorders – inflammatory
**Specific Thrombotic conditions with hypertension including cerebral
thrombosis and coronary thrombosis**
For ‘cuts to the bone & cuts to the third level of the blood’ (Wood). Arteries. Deep cuts – to stop bleeding. Hot, feverish. Mind – dimmed, restless. Tongue – red & dry in centre. Pulse – rapid. Use to ‘expel heat’. May bring on sleep when given in time of fever.
- FULL, RAPID PULSE
- TONGUE RED – Dry in centre moist outer
- RUDDY, RED COMPLEXION
SUMMARY: Used for…
- Catarrhal conditions – COLDS & FLUS
- Bitter Tonic – to ENCOURAGE BILE FLOW
- DIURETIC Action
- Tonic for BLOOD
- Stimulate CIRCULATION
- Used for HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
- MENSTRUAL Disorders
- Sweating Remedy – to bring down FEVERS
Contraindications/Cautions: Known Allergy and Pregnancy are both contraindicated
Cautions:
- Lactation (CC)
- Sensitivity to plants containing sesquiterpenes (eg laurel, magnolia, liverworts) or Asteraceae plants
**Prolonged use can increase skin’s photosensitivity**
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
- Anti-coagulants/anti-platelet drugs CAUTION due to theoretical increased risk of bleeding
- Barbiturates CAUTION due to theoretical increased sedation
- Lithium CAUTION due to theoretical increased risk of drug toxicity
(Hechtman 2018)
Dosage:
Liquid Extract:
2 – 6ml 1:2 liquid extract / day
20- 40 ml 1:2 liquid extract / week
DROP DOSE: 1 to 3 drops t.d.s. (Wood) or 20-40 drops t.d.s. (PPC)
Dried Plant Equivalent:
6 – 12 g / day dried aerial parts (infusion). Use infusion of leaves to reduce fevers and a digestive tonic. Use infusion of flowers externally as a wash for eczema.
Compress – bruising, cuts, stop bleeding
Combinations:
FEVER — YEP tea – Yarrow, Elderflower and Peppermint
Angelica (1 part) + Yarrow (1 part)
DEEP WOUNDS with POTENTIAL NERVE DAMAGE – St John’s Wort
ANEURISM –Wood Betony & Rescue remedy (Wood)
TENSION & RESTLESNESS/ HYPERTENSION: Combine with tilia
OTHER USES:
- To stop a Nosebleed: Insert Leaf into Nostril
- Poultice: Bind washed, fresh leaves to cuts and grazes
- Inhalation: For hay fever and mild asthma, use fresh flowers in boiling water
- Compress: Soak a pad in the infusion of aerial parts or dilute tincture to soothe varicose veins
- Sitz bath for Uterine Fibroids – 2 x week. 100 g whole, cut herb seeped in cold water overnight – bring to boil and then pour into a bath. Also good for varicose veins
ARTICLE & MONOGRAPH LINKS:
REFERENCES:
Bone, Kerry (2003). A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs: Herbal Formulations for the Individual Patient. St. Louis: Churchill Livingston
Ody, Penelope (1998). The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal. Milan: Dorling Kindersley
