Of the many medicinal plants that are known to man today, yarrow is undoubtedly one of the most common. Its beneficial properties have been used by traditional healers all over the world since ancient times.
Description
Yarrow, the benefits of which have been confirmed by scientists and time-tested, is a perennial plant about 80 cm high. It has small leaves. Numerous oil glands can be seen on their underside, 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 marginal reed flowers, usually white, much less often, pink, and median bisexual tubular flowers of yellow color.
The stem is thin, pubescent, erect. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, sessile. The plant has a somewhat specific aroma and bitter taste. Flowering begins in late spring and continues until the end of September.
Fruitplants - achene, painted in silver-gray, flat and oblong in shape, no more than 2 mm long, ripens at the very end of summer - early autumn.
Origin of the 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 mythical hero Achilles, who, according to legend, used the plant to heal wounds after fights. Some sources claim that the name comes from the Greek word achillos, which translates as "abundant food". The most plausible version is that the plant is named from the Greek achillon, which means "thousand".
Distribution
The plant is distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Eurasia, and has been introduced to other continents. On the territory of our country it is found everywhere, except for the Arctic deserts. Prefers forest upland meadows, thickets of woodlands, shrubs, forest edges, meadow steppes, abandoned fields, landfills, wastelands, ravines, banks of water bodies, roadsides, etc.
Composition
Quite rightly considered a powerful medicinal plant yarrow. Its benefits are due to its complex chemical composition:
- organic acids;
- amino acids;
- tannins;
- natural essential oils;
- resin;
- B vitamins;
- polysaccharides.
And this is not a complete list. The plant is richvitamins, macro- and microelements. The seeds contain almost 20% he althy fatty oil. The presence of a large number of biologically active substances with useful and healing properties has made yarrow an indispensable component in the arsenal of traditional healers. It combines benefits and harms, but we will talk about this below.
Useful properties
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 disease, due to the presence of the achillein alkaloid in its composition.
Yarrow herb is widely used in gynecology. Its benefit lies in the ability to cure many severe 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 menstruation and normalizes the menstrual cycle. However, it is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it stimulates the uterus and may cause miscarriage.
Useful properties of this plant are noted when used during influenza epidemics. It accelerates recovery from respiratory diseases, relieves feverish conditions. People suffering from allergic reactions should also pay attention to yarrow. The benefits of this plant in the fight againstthis common disease today is obvious. In terms of its effect on the body and its effectiveness, it can be compared with strong antihistamines.
Yarrow greatly relieves the symptoms of a patient who suffers from bronchial asthma, due to the presence of substances with an astringent effect in its composition.
In rheumatoid arthritis, its use as a prophylactic is justified. This is due to the fact that yarrow-based tea removes uric acid from the joints and muscles, improving their work.
Indications for use
Yarrow-based preparations, as well as the fees in 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 yarrow with healing properties. Its benefit is obvious. However, we must warn anyone who believes that this herb is completely harmless: this is a deep delusion.
Can yarrow harm the body?
You need to know that this is a rather poisonous plant. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage in the preparation and use of preparations based on it. It is not recommended to takeyarrow for people with increased blood clotting. Often there are difficulties with the selection of dosage for patients with reduced clotting.
It is strictly forbidden to use this plant for pregnant women and nursing mothers. And 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 he alth of newborns has not been fully studied.
Today, lovers of diets and quick weight loss began to use hellebore and yarrow. The usefulness of such a recipe is highly questionable. Both of these plants are toxic, and in combination they increase their negative effect. Such weight loss can provoke the development of serious liver diseases, as well as systemic poisoning of the body.
Yarrow can cause an allergic reaction, so people who are predisposed to this disease need to be very careful in using it.
Preparation of medicinal formulations
Since ancient times, traditional healers have used yarrow. The benefits of this plant have been noted when using tea in the treatment of colds. More recently, in the fifties of the last century, the villagers simmered "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. It is easy to make yarrow tea at home,the benefits of which are time-tested, decoction, infusion, ointment, tincture. Below we will present you with a few recipes that may be useful for you in the treatment of various diseases.
Yarrow (decoction): benefits
This remedy is widely used in the treatment of various diseases. The decoction is effective for bleeding (nasal, uterine, hemorrhoidal). It is also recommended to take it in case of lack 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 greatly facilitate the condition of patients with certain skin diseases (eczema, scabies, dermatitis, lichen). A chilled decoction is used for douching and microclysters during exacerbation of hemorrhoids. A decoction of yarrow has also been used in cosmetology. They rub the skin with acne.
Preparing a decoction is not difficult at all. Fifteen grams of chopped dry grass pour 250 ml of water at room temperature. Send the container with the herb to a water bath for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. After that, cool the composition, strain and add boiled water to the original volume. Take a warm decoction in a tablespoon three times a day after meals.
Yarrow juice
This recipe can only be used in the summer. Rinse fresh yarrow leaves well under running water. Grind them into a pulp with a blender. Squeeze the resulting mass well through cheesecloth. Juiceused 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 the tea has a pronounced bitterness that not everyone likes. Herbalists usually recommend smoothing them with honey and lemon - such tea is more pleasant to drink, and its benefits are greatly increased. There are two ways to brew tea.
I way
Pour boiling water over the teapot and put a pinch of dry grass leaves inside. Give her a little "rest", and only after that 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 way
Simmer the herb for about ten minutes, while avoiding a strong boil. Let the composition brew for an hour.
To make tea, 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) may occur. We must not forget about the individual intolerance of the plant. Before starting treatment with any preparations based on yarrow, a consultation with the attending physician is necessary.
