Synonyms in a broader sense
Latin name: Achillea millefolium Popular name: Achilles, yarrow, goose tongue, cricket, sheep’s tongue Family: composite plants
Plant description
Up to knee-high plant with tough, cylindrical stem, slightly hairy. It grows from a leaf rosette. White, more rarely reddish inflorescences form as risky false umbels.
The leaves are double pinnate. Flowering time: June to October Occurrence: Throughout Europe widespread in meadows, along roadsides and field margins. Very undemanding and hardy, does not grow on wet and damp soils.
Medicinally used plant parts
The whole flowering herb. Usually the thicker stem parts are not included.
Ingredients
Essential oil with azulene and eucalyptol, bitter substances, tannins, flavonoids, various minerals (mainly potassium)
Effect and application
As an aromatic bittering agent internally for lack of appetite, stomach, intestinal and bile complaints. Azulen has a disinfecting, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect. Together with the other active ingredients, the potassium it contains stimulates kidney activity.
Yarrow is therefore often used in tea blends for spring and/or autumn cures. It is also used for irregular and painful menstruation, often associated with back pain. Yarrow also has a haemostatic effect. Externally, yarrow herb is used for compresses and baths for poorly healing wounds. It has a very similar effect to camomile flowers.
Preparation
Tea: Pour 1⁄4 l boiling water over 2 teaspoons of yarrow herb and let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain and drink one cup at a time with each meal, preferably unsweetened. Yarrow herb as bath additive or for envelopes: One takes 2 good tablespoons full cut drug and pours over with 3⁄4 l boiling water, lets it pull out 15 minutes, strain. Add the liquid to the full bath or use it for compresses.
Combination with other medicinal plants
Against all, so far addressed complaints there are still many other effective means from the plant kingdom, which work together as tea mixture very well. The following tea mixture is recommended for stomach, intestinal and gall bladder complaints: Yarrow 30.0 gCamomile flowers 50.0 gPeppermint 50.0 g This tea is also suitable for stimulating the appetite.
