Yarrow - effect and application

The common yarrow carries the medicinal plant already in the name: In Old High German means "garwe" roughly translated healer. In addition, our ancestors saw that sheep and other animals are crazy about the plant and eat it the first time they come to a new pasture. In the Iliad, Achilles heals the wounded soldiers with the herb, which leads to the Latin name Achillea. Here are the most important facts about yarrow in advance:

• Yarrow has been known since ancient times as a medicinal herb, and modern science confirms its healing properties.
• It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Yarrow works internally against gastrointestinal problems, menstrual problems in particular and abdominal pain in general, the generally soothing properties also help against headaches and mild toothache.
• Yarrow is non-toxic in all its parts, but has highly toxic doppelgangers. Therefore, you should inform yourself carefully and / or consult professionals when you collect the plant.

contents

• ingredients
• effect
• The sap
• The herb
• Yarrow oil
• tincture
• A bath
• Yarrow winding
• cream
• side effects
• allergies
• confusion
• biology
• Common names

ingredients

Yarrow inhibits inflammation and promotes wound healing, it relieves digestive problems, kidney problems, rheumatism and menstrual pain. The plant contains more than 80 substances that are used for healing. These include flavonoids, proazulen, achillein, camphor and caffeic acid derivatives.

The yarrow has been known for centuries as a medicinal plant and is used against a variety of ailments. (Image: visuals-and-concepts / fotolia.com)

effect

Since ancient times, yarrow has been known as a means to quench the flow of blood. Yarrow soothes and relieves spasms, promotes bile flow and slows down inflammation of the mucous membranes. The plant acts against bacteria, internally and externally. Particularly effective against inflammation is the essential oil of the yarrow, which can be distilled with steam.

The antispasmodic effect of the yarrow helps against spasmodic pain during the period. Yarrow tea works against an irritated bowel as well as a sore stomach. In addition, yarrow also promotes appetite, as it promotes the flow of bile.

Yarrow is traditionally used against diarrhea, flatulence, high blood pressure, diabetes, impaired circulation, cold, biliary colic, gastritis, headache, kidney failure and menopausal symptoms.

Applied externally, as oil, tea, extract or tincture, the plant helps against cracked hands, hemorrhoids, sunburn, eczema, pimples, acne and sunburn.

The sap

The squeezed juice can be both drink and apply to the skin, for example, on wounds, acne or sunburn. Outside in nature, without a first aid kit, the juice of the widespread plant is sometimes the first choice. All you have to do is cut off stems and place the interface on the burnt skin.

To drink, stir a teaspoon of the fresh juice in a glass of water.

The herb

The whole herb without soil remnants and parts of other plants can cook you to a tea and drink this as a home remedy for loss of appetite, flatulence or stomach pain. The tea can also be purchased in pharmacies and health food stores, where it is available as a bag or loose mixes.

Pour about one teaspoon of the dried leaves with a quarter of a liter of hot water, let it slide briefly and drink it. In addition, you can apply the tea to the skin with ulcers or irritated skin.

Yarrow tea can help with menstrual pain, an irritated bowel and a sore stomach. (Image: Madeleine Steinbach / fotolia.com)

Yarrow oil

The yarrow oil can be used internally, for example, in hot water or a herbal tea (only a few drops) and drink. If you want to apply it externally to a wound, 20 drops are mixed in a glass of water.

Inhalation: For inflamed mucous membranes in the nose, mouth or throat you can give about 20 drops in boiling water, put a towel over your head and inhale for ten minutes.

tincture

For a tincture, put half a glass of yarrow filled with dried yarrow with clear brandy, put a lid on it, and put this mixture in a place for two weeks. Then pour the liquid into another glass and the tincture is ready.

A bath

A bath with yarrow, for example, does well after a long hike with insect bites, small cuts on the ankles and sunburn. You can either add the fresh juice or the oil already obtained, but also dried cabbage into the bath water. You do not have to sit in yarrow, but you can infuse the whole herb with two liters of hot water, leave for 20 minutes and then pour the water into the bathtub.

Yarrow winding

If you have liver or kidney pain, use a cloth to soak in sheep's tartar and wrap around the kidney or liver area.

cream

You can buy creams with yarrow in the pharmacy or in health food stores. If you want to make such a cream yourself, you can melt 100 g of butter and add 20 g of freshly cut yarrow to rub it into the skin.

side effects

All parts of the yarrow are edible and side effects are unknown. At most, you may be allergic to yarrow and allied species. You will usually notice this when you get fresh juice on the skin and the skin itches or begins to turn red.

The fresh juice applied to the skin probably leads to an increased sensitivity of the skin - so you should not expose it to direct sunlight.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take yarrow - not because they are known to have negative effects, but because there are no valid studies available. In addition, yarrow causes convulsions and thus promotes labor.

The oil contains the active ingredients of the yarrow in highly concentrated form. For a known allergy to daisy family this should therefore be tested very carefully. (Image: Madeleine Steinbach / fotolia.com)

allergies

Those who have an allergy to daisy family are also sensitive to yarrow. Do you know that you are allergic to daisy family? Then you can brush yarrow diluted with water on a small area of ​​skin, repeat this process the next day and see if the skin reddens or if you feel pain.

confusion

Yarrow, unlike most other medicinal plants, is non-toxic in all its parts. Meanwhile, she has dangerous doppelgangers. The giant hogweed is confused with it at an early stage of its growth, after which it towers over the yarrow. Another "doppelganger" is the highly poisonous hemlock.

At each stage, the leaves of yarrow are a unique selling proposition. They are elongated, delicate and petite. The leaves are pinnate and form rosettes.

biology

Yarrow is a daisy family with white, yellow or red flowers and grows usually 80 cm high, up to 150 cm. In the flowering season it smells strongly. The common yarrow is widespread in Central Europe, related species colonize southern Europe and Asia. Today, yarrow grows from non-tropical Africa to the north of Scandinavia and also in America.

Common names

Firstly, yarrow is widespread and has served secondly since ancient times as human food, cattle feed and medicinal plant. Consequently, it carries a lot of names in German: Bleeding-weed and women's herb refer to the hemostatic effect and relieving menstrual pain. The feathery leaves gave the plant the name "millet leaf". More poetic is the term "eyebrow of Venus", which testifies to the old application as a love plant. Lämmerzunge is due to the fact that lambs regard the yarrow as a delicacy. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)