Alternative Medicine: Yarrow--It's Not Just for Greek Warriors

Disclaimer. I am not a licensed health practitioner. This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible. No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician. Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care. A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

When outdoorsy- and prepper-type people start delving into the world of alternative healing, one of the first herbs they come across is yarrow, Achillea millefolium. That's probably because it's been used for thousands of years and has a pretty cool history that the menfolk in particular enjoy. So if you were actually paying attention as you read the first sentence, you'd see that the genus name Achillea looks a lot like Achilles, for whom the genus is named, the Achilles of ancient Greek history who used yarrow to treat his bleeding soldiers' wounds. His soldiers carried little bags of it into war, and in classical times it was often called herba militaris for its ability to stanch the bleeding of battle wounds.  And indeed, that is also yarrow's most common use today.  

Many medicinal plants are used primarily in just a few ways; however, such is definitely not the case with yarrow.  It truly has a vast array of medicinal properties and variety of applications.

Time to harvest:  Yarrow is harvested from June to September, when it starts to flower.  The flowers, leaves, and sometimes the stem are used.  Harvest just the top one-third of the plant.

Medicinal uses:  Yarrow has historically been used to treat bleeding, colitis, cystitis, diverticulitis, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, gall stones, gastrointestinal inflammation, skin conditions,  and UTIs.

Food:  The leaves can be eaten raw or sauteed.  They are bitter and best used in salads when picked young.  They are sometimes substituted for tarragon.

Fresh leaves:  Use whole or crushed leaves to:

• stop bleeding
• alleviate toothache (chew fresh leaves)
• relieve a rash (chew fresh leaves and apply to rash; swallow the bitter juices of the chewed leaves) 

Essential oil:  Dilute a few drops in a carrier oil and rub onto afflicted area to treat:

• eczema
• bee stings
• bug bites

Tincture:  Prepare tincture in a 1:2 (fresh herb, and the preferred method) or 1:5 (dried herb) ratio (1 ounce dried herb by weight to 5 ounces of 80 proof alcohol).  Shake daily for six weeks.  Strain out herb and store the tincture in a dark bottle in a dark cabinet.  Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon 3 times per day.  The tincture has been used historically for treating:

• bleeding ulcers
• heavy menstrual periods
• uterine hemorrhage
• blood in the urine
• bleeding from the bowels
• any internal bleeding
• bleeding from tooth extraction
• toothache 

Dr. Patrick Jones utilizes yarrow to stop internal bleeding in dogs hit by cars with great effect.

Salve: 

• eczema
• abrasions
• lacerations
• bee stings and bug bites

Directions for making your own yarrow salve will be posted next week.  

Infusion:  Steep 1 teaspoon dried or 3 fresh leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for 10-15 minutes and strain.

• Drink hot, 3 cups per day for:
• colds
• fever
• cystitis
• urinary tract infection
• incontinence
• Drink cool or warm, 3 cups per day for:
• dysmenorrhea
• high blood pressure
• bleeding ulcers
• uterine hemorrhage
• blood in the urine
• bleeding from the bowels

Poultice:  Crush fresh leaves and mix with water.  Use to treat:

• minor wounds
• bleeding hemorrhoids
• lacerations
• puncture wounds (including dog and snake bites)
• abrasions
• mastitis (alternate between hot and cold compresses)

Wound powder:  Just like Achilles and his men used yarrow, dried, finely powdered flowers and leaves can be sprinkled on minor wounds or used to stop a nosebleed.

Baths:  Add tincture to a bath for treating:

• skin irritations
• cystitis
• vaginal infections
• bleeding fibroids
• hemorrhoids
• post-partum healing
• heavy periods
• chilblains 

Contraindications:  Avoid in pregnancy.  Do not take if already taking prescription blood thinners.  May interact with omeprazole, high blood pressure medications, and sleeping pills.  Do not use in large or frequent doses for a long time.  May cause photosensitivity or allergic reactions, especially in those sensitive to ragweeds.  May cause drowsiness when taken orally.

Links to related posts:
Bleeding
Juniper
Activated carbon
The Herbal Medic
The HomeGrown Herbalist  

For further reading:
All articles accessed on 5 April 2019
http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/habitats-and-ecology/plant-list-at-mount-pisgah-arboretum/achillea-millefolium/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077876/ (menorrhagia)
https://www.drugs.com/npp/yarrow.html
https://www.mottchildren.org/health-library/hn-2188008
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=yarrow%2C+insomnia
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834722/ (skin)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20857434 (asthma and high blood pressure)
https://articles.mercola.com/herbs-spices/yarrow.aspx

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20 december 2020