Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Achillea Millefolium - COMPOSITAE - Milfoil, Yarrow, Dog Daisy, Soldier’s Woundwort
Achillea Millefolium
COMPO SITAE
milfoil, yarrow, old man’s pepper, thousand-leaved, nosebleed, thousand-seal, dog daisy, knight’s milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, devil’s plaything.
Both scientific and common names reveal a great deal of the story behind plants, and Achillea is no exception. Myth has it that Achilles first revealed the uses of the plant to mankind. From the finely cut, fernlike foliage we get the species name Millefolium, or thousand-leaved. Its family name reveals that it is a member of the Daisy family, which is easy to see when we examine the tiny florets which make the head of (generally white, sometimes pink) flowers. Old man’s pepper refers to its mildly pungent taste and smell, while nosebleed goes back to its use both to induce nosebleed, and, because of its astringent quality, to stop mild bleeding.
We are further told that it was known anciently as Herba Militaris, knight’s milfoil, and soldier’s woundwort, all of which suggest that it was used as a ready-to-hand field bandage for battle wounds, although its value for staunching flows of blood is doubtful. Its last name, devil’s plaything, refers to its use in divination. We can well suppose that this was one of the herbs used by the witches in Macbeth.
Milfoil was brought to this country probably for medicinal use by early settlers. It is now widely distributed in fields and meadows, blooming in early August, when it may be gathered and dried for later use.
Youngken, in his Textbook, lists it as an “aromatic bitter, diaphoretic and emmenagogue.” One recipe recommends 1 ounce of the dried herb steeped in 1 pint of warm water, this infusion to be taken at the rate of a wineglassful several times a day. For colds, it is suggested that dried elder flowers and mint be added to the brew.