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Yarrow

Greg Montgomery 9/11/11

Achillea millefolium
Yarrow. Common names include Soldiers Woundwort, Herbe Militaris, /thousand Weed, Sanguinary, Bloodwort, Staunchweed, Gearve, Knights Milfoil Compositae Family Description An upright perennial, growing to 3ft. in height in clumps, with a single main stem is rough and angular with green alternate fern-like leaves 3 to 4 inches long clasping the stem at the leaf base, bipinnatafid with finely cut segments. White flowers in loose cymes in a flat top coymbose head are white or pale lilac. Flowering occurs from Amy through October and most sources recommend collecting the plant for medicinal use in July or August. The whole plant is hairy with white appressed hairs. Yarrows habit is that of a weed, growing commonly in meadows and pastures. It prefers well drained soil and will improve soil and helps keep insects away from other plants.

Historical Uses Yarrows medicinal uses go back probably to Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides who were most likely referring to yarrow when describing an herb used to control bleeding (vulnerary). The use of yarrow on wounds is widely known in the literature and accounts for some of the common names of the plants related to soldiers wounds. Ointments and poultices were made from yarrow and applied to the wound. Yarrow is mentioned in old English Medical books for the treatment of inflammation, wounds, diarrhea, intestinal pain, heartburn, lung disease, toothaches, headaches, animal bites and urination difficulty. DNA analysis confirmed that yarrow was among the medical supplies found in a sunken Roman ship from the period 140 to 120 BCE. Other traditional uses of yarrow in Europe today include treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, as a diaphoretic, for wounds, for menstrual bleeding (as a douche) and to stimulate appetite. The German Commission E approves yarrow for mild gastrointestinal disturbance, dyspepsia and stimulation of appetite. In Hungary it is used for kidney problems, burns, diarrhea and bronchitis. In China yarrow is used to treat bleeding sores,wounds, tuberculosis, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and snakebites. Medicinal Actions Yarrow is a bitter, astringent, diaphoretic, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic. It is useful for cases where patients are unable to sweat and is useful in treating colds for bringing on a fever. A decoction of the whole plant has been used to treat piles and kidney disorders. Yarrow is antibiotic, carminative and emmenagogue. Constituents Yarrow phytochemistry includes proazulenes (blue compounds) and alkamides. The subspecies alpestris has been found to contain chamazulene, known for its occurrence in chamomile. Essential oil of yarrow includes linalool, camphor, sesquiterpene lactones, flavinoids, alkaloids including achillene, polyacetylenes, triterpenes, salicylic acid, coumarins, and tannins.

Scientific Validation Tests using a hexane-ether-methanol, or methanol extract or yarrow essential oil of yarrow showed an antibacterial activity against E. coli, staph, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Clostridium perfringens, Acinetobacter Iwoffii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumonia. The hexane-ether-methanol extract was also effective against Aspergillis niger and Candida albicans. In the concentration of 1 mg/ml, an 80% inhibition of antimalarial and antibebesial (Babesis gibsoni is a tick born canine pathogen) was demonstrated. In vitro, yarrow extract also inhibited proteases associated with the inflammatory process. The hemostyptic activity of yarrow in vitro has also been demonstrated. In a study of hepatitis in mice, yarrow aqueous-methanol extract limited histopathology, improved liver

enzymes and lowered mortality from 100% to 40%. Yarrow extracts have also been found to stimulate bile production in rats, reduce conflict behavior and a diet of 1% yarrow was show to improve weight gain in chicks. Adverse Reactions Contact dermatitis was consistently observed in certain people using topical yarrow. The effect is thought to be caused by the sesquiterpenes known as guaianolides. Yarrow tea, along with black tea, nettle, rutin and quercitin have been shown to be slightly genotoxic in the Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test using Drosophila. Several short and long term studies on rodents and birds however showed no toxic effects. Pregnancy contraindication conclusions from a study that showed decrease in fetal weight in rats have been shown to be in error due to errors in data interpretation and methodology. Yarrow therefore has yet to be shown to cause reproductive toxicity.

References: American Botanical Council Henriettes Herbal A Modern Herbal, Mrs. M. Grieve www.sandmountainherbs.com www.herbs2000.com www.altnature.com

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