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Yarrow | | Name : | Yarrow | | Botanical : | Achillea millefolium | | Synonyms : | Bloodwort
Gandana(Sanskrit name)
I-chi-kao(Chinese name)
Ladies'mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)
Milfoil
Millifolium
Nobleyarrow
Nosebleed
Oldman's pepper
Sanguinary
Soldier'swoundwort
Stanchgrass
Thousandleaf
Thousandleal
Thousandseal
| | Family : | Compositae | | Parts Used : | Whole plant in flower, dried in the shade. (usually leaves and flowers) | | Habitat : | Native to Europe, now commonly found growing wild in North America(except far north). Yarrow is a familiar plant in meadows and fields,along the sides of country lanes, roadsides, on embankments, and inlandfills and garbage dumps. | | Description : | The stem is angular and rough, the leaves alternate, 3 to 4 inches long and 1 inch broad, clasping the stem at the base, bipinnatifid, the segments very finely cut, giving the leaves a feathery appearance.
It flowers from June to September, the flowers, white or pale lilac, being like minute daisies, in flattened, terminal, loose heads, or cymes. The whole plant is more or less hairy, with white, silky appressed hairs.
Yarrow was formerly much esteemed as a vulnerary, and its old names of Soldier's Wound Wort and Knight's Milfoil testify to this. The Highlanders still make an ointment from it, which they apply to wounds, and Milfoil tea is held in much repute in the Orkneys for dispelling melancholy. Gerard tells us it is the same plant with which Achilles stanched the bleeding wounds of his soldiers, hence the name of the genus, Achillea. Others say that it was discovered by a certain Achilles, Chiron's disciple. It was called by the Ancients, the Herba Militaris, the military herb.
Its specific name, millefolium, is derived from the many segments of its foliage, hence also its popular name, Milfoil and Thousand Weed. Another popular name for it is Nosebleed, from its property of stanching bleeding of the nose, though another reason given for this name is that the leaf, being rolled up and applied to the nostrils, causes a bleeding from the nose, more or less copious, which will thus afford relief to headache. Parkinson tells us that 'if it be put into the nose, assuredly it will stay the bleeding of it' - so it seems to act either way.
It was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, in earlier days, being sometimes known as Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, and was used for divination in spells.Yarrow, in the eastern counties, is termed Yarroway, and there is a curious mode of divination with its serrated leaf, with which the inside of the nose is tickled while the following lines are spoken. If the operation causes the nose to bleed, it is a certain omen of success: 'Yarroway, Yarroway, bear a white blow,If my love love me, my nose will bleed now.' An ounce of Yarrow sewed up in flannel and placed under the pillow before going to bed, having repeated the following words, brought a vision of the future husband or wife:'Thou pretty herb of Venus' tree, Thy true name it is Yarrow; Now who my bosom friend must be, Pray tell thou me to-morrow.' ---(Halliwell's Popular Rhymes, etc.)It has been employed as snuff, and is also called Old Man's Pepper, on account of the pungency of its foliage. Both flowers and leaves have a bitterish, astringent, pungent taste.
In the seventeenth century it was an ingredient of salads. | | Constituents : | A dark green, volatile oil, a peculiar principle, achillein, and achilleic acid, which is said to be identical with aconitic acid, also resin, tannin, gum and earthy ash, consisting of nitrates, phosphates and chlorides of potash and lime. | | Uses : | Diaphoretic, astringent, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic.
Yarrow Tea is a good remedy for severe colds, being most useful in the commencement of fevers, and in cases of obstructed perspiration. The infusion is made with 1 OZ. of dried herb to 1 pint of boiling water, drunk warm, in wineglassful doses. It may be sweetened with sugar, honey or treacle, adding a little Cayenne Pepper, and to each dose a teaspoonful of Composition Essence. It opens the pores freely and purifies the blood, and is recommended in the early stages of children's colds, and in measles and other eruptive diseases.
A decoction of the whole plant is employed for bleeding piles, and is good for kidney disorders. It has the reputation also of being a preventative of baldness, if the head be washed with it. | | Dosage : | For medicinal purposes, all the flowering parts above ground areused, everything except the lower, lignified parts of the plant. Cutit up to dry in the open air, then cut it into small pieces and storeit in containers that can be tightly closed, protected from lightand dampness.
One or two cups of tea made from the leaves or blossoms is reputedto stop nausea within minutes.
Tea: steep 1 heaping tsp. in 1 cup boiling waterfor 30 minutes. Drink 3 or 4 cupsper day an hour before meals and upon retiring. It must be warm tobe effective.
Take one wineglassful night and morning of a standard infusion fromthe leaves and occasional flowers. | | Safety : | Yarrow interferes with the absorption of iron and other minerals.
Small numbers of cases of allergic reactions have been reported uponcontact with the plant; their skin turned red and an itchy rash developed.Such people also cannot tolerate yarrow tea or yarrow baths. Discontinuethe treatment at once if problems of this kind appear. Then the allergicreaction will disappear quickly. Avoid large doses in pregnancy becausethe herb is a uterine stimulant.
Large or frequent doses taken over a long period may be potentiallyharmful. Contains thujone, considered toxic. Consult with the doctor. | | Myths : | Yarrow has been used medicinally for centuries. Its ancient pedigreeis clear from its generic name, Achillea: the Greek hero Achilleswas taught by the centaur Chiron to use yarrow to heal wounded soldiersat Troy during the Trojan War. The noble and valiant Achilles, whoseacts were described by Homer, is said to have used yarrow to curethe wounds and sores of Telephus, the son of Hercules. Today yarrowis grown for its lovely, flat-headed flower clusters and interestingfoliage.
This herb has a long history of association with the occult and mystical.The stalks are used for divining the Chinese I Ching.
Yarrow was one of the witch herbs, and it was believed that carryingit at weddings guaranteed seven years of married bliss. (Then theseven-year itch probably set in?) |
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