Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Also known as Herba militaris, Bloodwort, Milfoil, Sanguinary, Stanchgrass, Thousand-leaf
$2.50 per Ounce
History: Yarrow is native to Europe and Asia; however, it has been established in North America and now grows wild. Since 1200 BC, Yarrow has been used in food and medicine. In Homer’s Iliad, he Spartan hero Achilles takes the advice of a centaur and uses Yarrow’s medical properties to heal his soldiers. It is from this story that Yarrow received it genus name “Achillea.” Historically yarrow has been used for Fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal discomfort, wounds, to induce sweating, to stop bleeding from hemorrhoids, and as a sitz bath for painful, lower pelvic, cramp-like conditions in women.
Modern Uses: The Commission E approved the internal use of yarrow flower for loss of appetite and dyspeptic ailments, such as mild, spastic discomforts of the gastrointestinal tract, and externally as a sitz bath for painful, cramp-like conditions of psychosomatic origin in the lower part of the female pelvis.
The British Herbal Compendium lists its internal use for feverish conditions, common cold, and digestive complaints; and its topical use for slow-healing wounds and skin inflammations (Bradley, 1992). The German Standard License for yarrow tea indicates its use for mild cramp-like or spasmodic gastrointestinal-bilious complaints, for gastric catarrh, and for appetite stimulation
Active Ingredients: linalool, sabinene, allo-ocimene, azulene, eugenol, menthol, alpha-pinene, borneol, cineole, limonene, camphor, chamazulene, apigenin, artemetin, casticin, luteolin, rutin, achiceine, achilletin, betaine, betonicine, choline, moschatine, stachydrine, trigonelline, alanine, histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, and tannins,
Actions: anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, astringent, diuretic, antiseptic, anti-catarrhal, emmenagogue, hepatic, tonic
Complementary Herbs: Meadowsweet, Agrimony, Peppermint