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Common Name
Yarrow
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Botanical Name
Achillea millefolium
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Part Used
Herb
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Clinical Summary
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Alcohol
30%
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Dose
15 to 80mL weekly
The familiar wildflower yarrow is a highly versatile remedy, with countless virtues, famous for healing haemorrhage and fever. It is also used for urinary tract infections, as a bitter tonic to stimulate digestion and for menstrual irregularities. Yarrow is useful in chronic health challenges but is perhaps best known for acute injuries (it has long been thought of as a soldier’s herb) where its styptic and antimicrobial actions promote the healing of cuts and wounds, burns, ulcers and inflammatory skin conditions.
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Traditional Use
Yarrow is a panacea herb, a veritable herbal first aid kit, and has a myriad of uses. It can be used to heal wounds and was famously used on Roman battlefields so has long been thought of as a soldier’s herb.
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Actions
Antiseptic, bitter, antimicrobial, astringent, antispasmodic, carminative, peripheral vasodilator, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, styptic, vulnerary, antipyretic
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Indications
• Wounds, bleeding wounds, infections, circulatory problems, varicose veins, haemorrhoids
• Urinary tract infections
• Cold and flu symptoms, fevers, sore throat
• Menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, menorrhagia
• To support healthy digestion, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome -
Energetics
Cooling, warming, drying.
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Use in Pregnancy
Not recommended.
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Contraindications & Cautions
Known allergy.
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Drug Interactions
Caution with barbiturates, lithium and anticoagulant/antiplatelet (such as warfarin) drugs. Monitor with acid reducing drugs such as antacids, H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors.
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Dietary Information
Vegan friendly. Gluten and dairy free
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Substitutes
White Willow, Elder Flowers, Sweet Wormwood, Andrographis, Feverfew, Peppermint