Of the many medicinal plants that are known to man today, yarrow is undoubtedly one of the most common. Since ancient times, its healers have been used by traditional healers all over the world.
Description
Yarrow, whose benefits have been confirmed by scientists and tested by time, is a perennial plant with a height of about 80 cm. It has small leaves. On their lower side you can see numerous oil glands, the contents of which have a rich spicy smell.
Flowers can be painted in different colors: from snow-white to burgundy. They are collected in small basket inflorescences, and the latter form a large corymbose inflorescence. Each basket has female edge reed flowers, usually white, much less often, pink, and middle - bisexual tubular yellow flowers.
The stalk is thin, pubescent, erect. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate, sessile. Plants have a somewhat specific aroma and a bitter taste. Flowering begins in late spring and continues until the end of September.
The fruit of the plant - achene, painted in silver-gray color, flat and oblong in shape, no more than 2 mm long, ripens at the very end of summer - early fall.
origin of name
There are several versions of the appearance of the name of this plant. One of them says that the yarrow (Achillea) got its name in honor of the myth hero Achilles, who, according to legend, used the plant to treat wounds after fights. Some sources claim that the name comes from the Greek word achillos, which translates as "plentiful food." The most plausible version is that the plant is named after the Greek achillon, which means "thousand."
Spread
The plant is distributed almost throughout Eurasia, imported to other continents. On the territory of our country it is found everywhere, except for the Arctic deserts. It prefers forest land meadows, thickets of woodlands, shrubs, forest edges, meadow steppes, abandoned fields, landfills, vacant lots, ravines, banks of water bodies, roadsides, etc.
Composition
It is justifiably considered a powerful medicinal plant millennium. Its use is due to the complex chemical composition:
- organic acids;
- amino acids;
- tannins ;
- natural essential oils;
- resins;
- B vitamins;
- polysaccharides.
And this is not a complete list. The plant is rich in vitamins, macro - and microelements. The seeds contain almost 20% of healthy fatty oil. The presence of a large number of biologically active substances with useful and medicinal properties has made yarrow an indispensable component in the arsenal of folk healers. Benefit and harm are combined in it, but we will talk about this below.
Beneficial features
The benefits of yarrow for the body are confirmed by numerous reviews of patients suffering from internal bleeding. Preparations based on it provide effective assistance in the fight against this ailment, due to the presence of achillein alkaloid in its composition.
Yarrow herb has gained wide distribution in gynecology. Its benefit lies in its ability to cure many serious female diseases without the use of traditional synthetic drugs. For example, the plant has a healing effect on the cervix during erosion, has a powerful antimicrobial effect, facilitates the flow of menstruation and normalizes the menstrual cycle. However, it is not recommended to use it during pregnancy, since it stimulates the uterus and can provoke a miscarriage.
The beneficial properties of this plant are noted when used during epidemics of influenza. It accelerates recovery from respiratory diseases, relieves febrile conditions. People suffering from allergic reactions should also pay attention to yarrow. The usefulness of this plant in the fight against this common disease today is obvious. By the strength of the effect on the body and its effectiveness, it can be compared with strong antihistamines.
Yarrow significantly alleviates the symptoms of a patient who suffers from bronchial asthma, due to the presence of substances with an astringent effect in its composition.
With rheumatoid arthritis, its use as a prophylactic agent is justified. This is due to the fact that tea based on yarrow removes uric acid from joints and muscles, improving their work.
Indications for use
Yarrow-based preparations, as well as the fees to which it is included, are recommended for the treatment of the following conditions:
- various internal bleeding;
- metabolic disorders;
- digestion problems;
- non-healing wounds, prone to suppuration;
- insufficient bile secretion;
- hypoacid gastritis;
- kidney stone disease;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and duodenum;
- skin diseases.
As you can see, nature has generously rewarded the yarrow with healing properties. Its benefits are obvious. However, they must warn everyone who believes that this herb is completely harmless: this is a profound error.
Can yarrow harm the body?
You need to know that this is a fairly poisonous plant. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage when preparing and using preparations based on it. Yarrow is not recommended for people with increased blood coagulation. Often there are difficulties with the selection of dosage for patients with reduced coagulation.
It is strictly forbidden to use this plant for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Moreover, this applies not only to ingestion, but also to the use of grass in any form, including foot baths against corns. The fact is that active yarrow alkaloids have the ability to accumulate in the body and their effect on the course of pregnancy and the health of newborns has not been fully studied.
Today, lovers of diets and quick weight loss began to use hellebore and yarrow. The benefit of this recipe is very doubtful. Both of these plants are toxic, and when combined, enhance their negative effect. Such weight loss can trigger the development of serious liver diseases, as well as systemic poisoning of the body.
Yarrow can cause an allergic reaction, so people predisposed to this disease need to be very careful in its use.
Preparation of medicinal compounds
Since ancient times, folk healers used yarrow. The use of this plant was noted when using tea in the treatment of colds. More recently, in the fifties of the last century, rural residents languished "napar" in a cauldron in a Russian stove, and the whole family drank it with honey.
In addition, the plant has been successfully used to treat other ailments. At home, it is easy to make tea from yarrow, the use of which has been tested by time, a decoction, infusion, ointment, tincture. Below we will present you some recipes that may be useful for you in the treatment of various diseases.
Yarrow (broth): benefit
This tool is widely used in the treatment of various diseases. The broth is effective for bleeding (nasal, uterine, hemorrhoidal). It is recommended to take it in the absence of appetite, headaches, dizziness, metabolic disorders, to improve liver function, with insomnia,
With neuralgia or stress, you can drink a decoction or take a bath. Such procedures significantly alleviate the condition of patients with certain skin diseases (eczema, scabies, dermatitis, lichen). Chilled broth is used for douching and microclysters for exacerbation of hemorrhoids. I found application in yarrow broth in cosmetology. They rub the skin with acne.
Preparing a decoction is not difficult. Fifteen grams of crushed dry grass pour 250 ml of water at room temperature. Place the grass container in the water bath for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. After this, cool the composition, strain and add to the original volume with boiled water. Take a decoction in the form of heat in a tablespoon three times a day after meals.
Yarrow Juice
This recipe can be used only in the summer. Rinse fresh yarrow leaves under running water. Grind them into pulp using a blender. Squeeze the resulting mass through cheesecloth. Juice is used for skin diseases for irrigation, in the treatment of periodontal disease in the form of rinses.
Yarrow tea: benefits and harms
This herb has a pleasant spicy aroma, but tea has pronounced notes of bitterness that not everyone likes. Phytotherapists usually recommend smoothing them with honey and lemon - it is more pleasant to drink such tea, and its benefit is significantly increased. There are two ways to brew tea.
I way
Boil boiling water over the teapot and put inside a pinch of dry leaves of grass. Give her a little "rest", and only then pour hot water. We emphasize - hot, not boiling water. Water temperature - 95–99 ° C. This method allows you to reveal all the healing properties of the herb and make the tea much tastier.
II method
Boil the grass for about ten minutes, while avoiding strong boiling. Let the composition brew for an hour.
To prepare tea, it is necessary to use filtered soft water. There are no contraindications to the use of tea as such, but it should not be taken for a long time, as slight dizziness, skin rash (as an allergic reaction) can occur. We must not forget about the individual intolerance of the plant. Before starting treatment with any yarrow-based drugs, a consultation with the attending physician is necessary.