yarrow

	Yarrow tea is a good wound wash. Candace Corson MD (see Diet for Natural Health video) makes a salve from yarrow and passes it out to needy friends Dr. Corson's Recipe (Adapted from the recipe of Native American Patsy Clark). (More)
Achillea, yarrow, in medicinal garden, Loire river, France.

SPANISH MEDICINE: The entire plant used as an antispasmodic, emmenagogue, tonic, carminative,
digestive aid and wound healing. Infusion of the aerial parts is used as a carminative, digestive aid, tonic
and emmenagogue. Wound healing is facilitated by an infusion in distilled water and application as a
wash to the wound site. It is used to flavor many liqueurs. Internal use contraindicated during gestation
due to uterine stimulating propensity. This is a not so secret ingredient in great European beers.

Native American Uses: Whole plant (aerial parts) infused and used to treat acute infections: colds, fever, flu. Infusion of whole plant as a diuretic. Whole plant infusion to control coughing. Whole plant used as a wash (infusion) for bites, stings, snake bites. Root decoction used as a wash for pimples. Leaves: Leaves infused and consumed as tea for inducing sleep. Leaf infusion for poison ivy. Infusion of leaves antidiarrheal. Infusion of leaves to reduce fever (febrifuge). Smoked leaves to treat cataarh. Leaves in infusion as an astringent (styptic) to treat internal and external bleeding (to treat piles) and to treat conditions causing bloody urine (kidney and bladder infections?). Leaves dried, crushed and snorted as snuff for headaches, also placed in nose to stop bleeding. Also, fresh or dry leaves as a poultice over wounds. Leaves crushed and used as a fomentation or poultice over breast (nipple) abscesses. Leaf decoction as a hair rinse. Bella Coola chewed leaves and used as a poultice to treat burns and boils. Flowers: Leaves and flowers in decoction for headaches or for chest pains. Poultice of flowers (masticated) applied to reduce edema.

Animal grease and leaves used as a poultice on chest and back to treat bronchitis.

Juice of aerial parts or decoction of aerial parts considered a general tonic and particularly a tonic for internal organs.

Leaves and stems smudged as a mosquito repellent. Whole aerial parts used to preserve fish by stuffing them in cleaned body cavity.

Yarrow (Ranked as one of the most important herbs used by Native Americans)

Description: Spreading perennial with soft feather like leaves to three to four feet in height. Fragrant. White flowers in flat clusters, flowers have five petal-like rays.

Location: Broadly distributed roadsides, fields, yards, gardens, edges of woods nationwide.

Traditional Uses: Traditionally the tea made from the aerial parts (leaves and flowers) said to increase perspiration and reduce inflammation; used both externally and internally. In China, the tea is taken to protect against thrombosis after stroke or heart attack and is used over wounds, for hemorrhoids, inflamed eyes, nosebleeds, and ulcers. Can be combined with elderberry flowers and/or berries. Native American Uses: Whole plant (aerial parts) infused and used to treat acute infections: colds, fever, flu and as a diuretic. Whole plant infusion also used to control coughing. Wash (infusion) of whole plant for bites, stings, snakebites. Root decoction used as a wash for pimples. Leaves infused and consumed as tea for inducing sleep. Leaf infusion a poison ivy treatment. Infusion of leaves anti-diarrhea. Infusion of leaves used to reduce fever (febrifuge). Leaves in infusion used as an astringent (styptic) to treat internal and external bleeding (to treat piles) and to treat conditions causing bloody urine (kidney and bladder infections?). Leaves dried, crushed and snorted as snuff for headaches, also placed in nose to stop bleeding. Also, fresh or dry leaves used as a poultice over wounds. Leaves crushed and used as a fomentation or poultice over breast (nipple) abscesses. Leaf decoction as a hair rinse. Bella Coola chewed leaves and applied them as a poultice to treat burns and boils. Flowers: Leaves and flowers in decoction for headaches or for chest pains. Poultice of flowers (masticated) applied to reduce edema. And leaves mixed with animal grease used as a poultice on chest and back to treat bronchitis. Juice of aerial parts or decoction of aerial parts considered a general tonic. Leaf decoction used as an inhalant for headaches.

Modern Uses: Commission E (see Appendix G for description of Commission E) approved to treat loss of appetite, liver and gall bladder complaints, dyspepsia. In Europe the entire plant used as an antispasmodic, emmenagogue, tonic, carminative, digestive aid and wound healing. Infusion of the aerial parts is used as a carminative, digestive aid, tonic and emmenagogue. Wound healing is facilitated by an infusion in distilled water and application as a wash to the wound site. It is used to flavor many liqueurs. However, internal use contraindicated during gestation due to uterine stimulating propensity, also avoid during lactation.

Caution: Drinking the tea and applying the herb has induced photosensitivity, sensitivity to light. The tea may also contains small amount of thujone, a carcinogen and liver toxin. As with all plants, allergic reactions are possible.

Notes: This herb should be in everyone’s garden. Yarrow is one of the “secret” ingredients in fine beers. The bitter tea is a good digestive and anti-inflammatory that may protect you from infection. Use it when you have been exposed to infective organisms or infected individuals. I use lard for oil extractions from this herb, because lard penetrates deeper than olive oil and other plant based oils.

Wildlife/Veterinarian: Leaves and stems smudged as a mosquito repellent. Whole aerial parts used to preserve fish by stuffing them in cleaned body cavity. Used in Brain Cool, a herbal formulation that reportedly helps rebuild damaged nerves in horses. Some training mixes for horses contain the herb and the supplement called Joint Support contains yarrow.