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Plant
Remedies Yarrow
Yarrow achillea
millefolium
The plant’s latin name is derived from the
Greek here Achilles and was used during the Trojan wars to treat wounds.
Yarrow grows everywhere,
in the grass, meadows, pastures and by the roadside.
Its specific name, millefolium, is derived from
its many segments of its foliage.
Today, it is valued for its action in colds and
influenza, and for its effect on the circulatory, digestive and urinary
systems. The parts used are the flowers, leaves and dried aerial parts. A
decoction of the whole plant can be used in piles which bleed.
Its folk name
"nosebleed" also confirm its traditional first-aid value to stop
bleeding.
Constituents
Volatile oils – proazulenes, isovalerianic
acid, salicylic acid, sterols, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins
Character
Chinese herbal
medicine regards it as cool, dry, sweet, astringent and slightly bitter
Action
The plants aerial parts traditionally act as an
astringent, promote sweating, relax peripheral blood vessels, digestive
stimulant and is a restorative for the menstrual system. As an essential
oil, it can be used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and
anti-allergenic.
Application
Flowers
Infusion This has been traditionally drunk for colds and fevers, upper
respiratory catarrh or can be used externally as a wash for eczema
Inhalation This is traditionally used for
hay fever and mild asthma in fresh boiling water
Aerial parts
Tincture This is traditionally prescribed for urinary disorders, or
menstrual problems.
Infusion This is traditionally prescribed
to help reduce fevers and act as a digestive tonic
Compress This is traditionally used to
soothe varicose veins by soaking a pad in the infusion or diluted tincture
Essential oil
Chest rub Dissolving 20 drops in 25ml of almond oil or sunflower oil
can be used for chest infections. It can be combined with eucalyptus,
peppermint or hyssop.
Massage oil Dissolving 5-10 drops of
yarrow oil in 25ml infused St John’s wort oil can help relieve inflamed
joints
Cautions
In rare cases, yarrow
can cause severe allergic skin rashes; prolonged use can increase the skin’s
photosensitivity
Avoid large doses in pregnancy as the herb is a
uterine stimulant
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This page was last updated on 02 July 2005 00:00:00
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