Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

The Herbal Bandage

Family: Compositae; (includes Daisy, Dandelion, Marigold)

Genus and Species: Achillea Millefolium

Also known as: Thousand Weed, Milfoil, Soldier’s Woundwort, Herbe Militaire, Nose Nleed, Bloodwort, Bad Man’s Plaything

Parts used: Leaves, stems, flower tops

Legend has it that during the Trojan War, Achilles stopped the bleeding of his fellow soldiers’ wounds by applying yarrow’s fernlike leaves. Scientists have discovered the mythological hero may have been right. Yarrow contains substances that may help stop bleeding and have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties potentially helpful in wound treatment. It also appears to have potential as a digestive aid, menstrual remedy, and mild sedative.

Soldier’s Woundwort

Achilles defined yarrow’s use in herbal Healing for more than 2,500 years. Dioscorides, a physician attached to Roman legions, recommended rubbing the crushed plant on wounds. The herb’s many popular names-herbe militaire, nose bleed, soldier’s woundwort. and bloodwort-attest to its use as a blood stopper during the Middle Ages. (Wort is Old English for plant.) Perhaps from an association with brawling, yarrow also became linked to ruffians and earned the name, “bad man’s plaything.”

Around Achilles’ time, ancient Chinese physicians were also using Asian yarrow to treat inflammations, bleeding, heavy menstrual flow, and dog and snake bites. The Chinese also used yarrow in the ritual of the I Cfling, the oracle consulted to predict the future. Coins are typically used today, but the traditional way to cast the I Cfling involved dried yarrow stems.

India’s Ayurvedic physicians used yarrow to treat fevers.

Stops the Bleeding

Herbalist John Gerard recommended yarrow for “swellings. of the privie parts.” In the 17th century, John Parkinson advised, “If it be put into the nose, assuredly it will stop the bleeding of it.” And Nicholas Culpeper wrote: “an ointment of the leaves cures wounds … restrains violent bleedings … is good for inflammations and ulcers … and is excellent for the piles [hemorrhoids].”

Colonists introduced yarrow into North America, and the Indians adopted it enthusiastically as an external treatment for wounds and burns, and internally to treat colds, sore throat, arthritis, toothache, insomnia, and indigestion.

The 19th-century Eclectics considered yarrow a “tonic upon the venous system,” but downplayed its age-old role in wound treatment. Their text, King’s American Dispensatory, recommended it for bloody urine (hematuria), incontinence, hemorrhoids, menstrual cramps, diarrhea, dysentery, and “hemorrhage where the bleeding is small in amount.”

Contemporary herbalist Steven Foster recommends yarrow as “an herbal Band-Aid.” Other herbalists prescribe yarrow for fevers, urinary tract infections, and as a digestive aid.

If Achilles had had some yarrow on hand when his vulnerable heel was wounded, he might have survived the Trojan War.

Wound Treatment - Yarrow contains many chemicals that support its traditional use in wound treatment. Two-achilletin and achilleine-spur blood coagulation. Several-azulene. camphor, chamazulene. eugenol, menthol, quercetin, rutin, and salicylic acid-have anti-inflammatory and painrelieving action. Several others-tannins, terpeniol, and cineol-are antiseptic.

Digestive Aid - Yarrow contains a chemical also present in chamomile and chamazulene. that helps relax the smooth muscle tissue of the digestive tract, making itan antispasmodic. Scientists do not consider yarrow’s digestive action as potent as chamomile’s, however.

Women’s Health - Antispasmodics relax not only the digestive tract but other smooth muscles, such as the uterus, as well, lending some credence to yarrow’s use in treating menstrual cramps.

Tranquilizer, Sedative - Yarrow also contains a small amount of a hypnotic chemical, thujone. the effects of which have been compared to marijuana. The thujone in yarrow may account for its traditional use as a sedative. In large amounts, thujone is poisonous, but recommended amounts of yarrow do not contain enough to cause harm.

Intriguing Possibility - Two animal studies show yarrow protects the liver from toxic chemical damage. And a scientifically conducted trial in India showed yarrow helps treat hepatitis. If you have liver disease, ask your physician about using yarrow in addition to standard therapies.

Rx for Yarrow

For wound treatment, press fresh leaves and flower tops into cuts and scrapes on the way to washing and bandaging them.

For a possible tranquilizing infusion to help aid digestion or help treat menstrual cramps, use I to 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 to 15 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day. Yarrow tastes tangy and bitter with some astringency. To improve flavor, add honey, sugar, or lemon, or mix it with an herbal beverage blend.

To help promote healing, apply it externally to clean wounds and inflammations.

In a tincture, use ½ to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day. Medicinal yarrow preparations should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary.

High doses of yarrow may turn urine dark brown. Do not become alarmed.

The medical literature contains no reports of harm from yarrow; however, those allergic to ragweed might develop a rash.

Thujone-free extracts of yarrow are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in beverages. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, yarrow is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.

Yarrow should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If yarrow causes minor discomforts, such as a rash or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Fuzzy Plant Is Easy to Grow

Yarrow is an attractive 3-foot perennial covered with delicate hairs. Its feathery leaves are divided into what seem like thousands of tiny leaflets, hence its names, thousand weed and milfoil. a corruption of the French term for 1,000 leaves, mille feuille. Yarrow’s numerous, tiny, white flowers develop in dense clusters on flat-topped, umbrella-like stalks in summer.

Yarrow grows easily from seeds or root divisions planted in spring or fall. Sow seeds just under the surface of fine soil and keep them moist until they germinate, usually within two weeks. Thin seedlings to 12-inch spacing. Yarrow adapts to many soil types but needs good drainage and does best in moderately rich soil under full sun. Divide plants every few years to keep them growing vigorously.

Harvest yarrow when the plants are in bloom. Hang them to dry.