Yarrow

General description
History
Applications
Chemical properties
Precautions
Culinary
Other variants
Remaining images

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Yarrow is a remaining or fixed plant. The plant becomes 30 cm to 1 m high. The stems and leaves are hairy. The leaves are feather like, deep cut into and gloomily grayish green.



The plant flowers from June to September with small white (sometimes pink) flowers in rather flattened clusters.



Yarrow is a very general occurring plant on all kinds of soils. The plant is in the wild to find along paths and roads and on pasturelands. Yarrow, especially the pink variant, is also cultivated as an ornamental.

Yarrow has a preference for a sunny place with soil of an average fertility and moisture degree. Yarrow is possible to multiply by sowing or by dividing the root in spring or fall (tearing). Yarrow should be planted out on 30 cm of each other.
By removing the wilted flower heads, the plant gets a second bloom.
Yarrow is not suitable to be cultivated indoors.

The Latin name Achillea refers to the Greek hero Achilles. Achilles cured with this plant the wounds of his warriors after he had been attended to the blood stopping properties of Yarrow.
The name Millefolium refers to the leaves, Mille means thousand and folium means leaves.

Yarrow has also fever decreasing properties and was used before instead of quinine.
According to the herbalist Vogel, described in a document from 1794, Indian tribes used Yarrow to treat incised wound. The Micmacs used it to stimulate transpiration by fever and cold. Also the Indians drove away bad spirits with the smoke of Yarrow.

Chew, for notion of the voice of Yarrow, a piece of root and hold it in the mouth.
A tea of the leaves and flowers tells the rest of the story.
The stems of Yarrow are used by consulting the ancient Oriental oracle book the I Ching. On the basis of how 50 straight stems of equal length fall (as Mikado rods) a hexagram is chosen. Hereafter, it is possible to read what kind of changes you can expect in the future.


Also, long kept holy Yarrow stems, became used by the druids to predict the weather of a particular season in Europe.
European women threw the herb in the fire and looked in the flames to search their future man.

Stole the dried flower heads out.

Yarrow helps to resist adjoining plants illnesses and broadens their smell and taste.
Extract of the whole plant to make copper like fertilizers.
By mixing a fresh leaf to a wheelbarrow cargo of compost the decomposing is accelerated.

An extract of fresh flowers for a face-steam bath and refreshing lotion.
Use an extract of the flowers as a basis for a treatment of fat face skin or in a relaxing bath.
Push a fresh leave on a shave wound to stop the bleeding.

Properties and character.
Blood set pen, antiseptic, astringent, inflammations brake, sweat increasing, against flatus, cramp calming, strengthening for the blood vessels.

Through the content at chamazulene (like in Chamomile), the herb has an effect on mucous membranes against swelling and inflammations.
An extract as a tea works against digestive problems, it has a stimulating function on the stomach and bile secretion for want of appetite (bitters matter working) and bad digestion.
An extract as a tea also works to promote the body to purify and the content of flavonoids promotes the urine separation. An extract as a tea works to regulate the menstruation, to increase transpiration and to cure a cold.
A tea of equal quantities elder tree flowers, peppermint and Yarrow is delicious and good against flu and other fevers. Drink the tea hot and in large quantities (till a cup per two hours).
Against varicose veins add 30 drops of chestnut tincture (Aesculus hippocastanum) to 6 dl Yarrow tea and drink it one day long.
The same mixture is also applicable as a compress.
Use Yarrow oil for eczema.
To stop bleeding chew a single leaf soft and lay it on the wound (the alkaloids have a blood stopping function).

External.
As a cream or rinse for inflamed wounds and eczema.
To stop bleeding of wounds and to treat sores.

Internal.
To treat haemorrhoids in- and externally.
To treat fever to increase transpiration and to decrease fever.
Yarrow has been found suitable for children with fever
To treat bad blood circulation, cold feet and varicose veins.
To treat menstruation pains and pains in the pelvis area as consequence of constipation, earlier illnesses and inflammations.

The ethereal oil contains o. a. azulene and is because that sore arranged for the treating of skin problems. The oil has a blue till green colour, with a fresh sweetly-spicy smell and is won by water vapour distillation of the dried herb.
For who sensitively is and the tendency has the problems from the surroundings to self closed to pull is Yarrow a whole good oil to clean.
Yarrow works stimulated on the metabolism, liver and blood formation.

Use Yarrow among other things by:
Lit/ sensitive skin, acne, eczema, itch, head skin problems, scars, varicose veins, wound, rash, artery hardening, thromboses, rheumatic arthritis, cramps, haemorrhoids, indigestion, bladder inflammation, cystitis, infections at urine passage, menstruation problems, transitions complaints, cold, flu, fever, hypertension, insomnia, stress.

Here a few applications of the ethereal oil of Yarrow follow.

By inflamed, sensitive skin, acne.
Mix 4 drops Yarrow, 7 drops Chamomile and 5 drops Rose oil with 40 ml Jojoba oil and 10 ml wheat germ oil. With this mixture rub the skin 2x per day.

By eczema, red spots and itch.
Mix 3 drops Yarrow and 2 drops Lemon with 40 ml Aloe Vera macerate and 10 ml Calendula macerate. With this mixture treat the skin 2x daily.

By head skin problems.
Add 3 drops Yarrow at the furrow the washing required shampoo.
Powerfully massage by the washing the head skin, let work in 5 minutes, rinse well.

Evaporate.
6 to 10 drops Yarrow in the aroma lamp give rest and clarity by confusion.
The workings of Yarrow is more powerful than that of Chamomile, in many cases Chamomile can become used instead of Yarrow.

The essential oil and large doses of fresh preparations are not advisable during pregnancy.
Exuberant use of the leaves of Yarrow can make the skin more sensitively for light.
The most ethereal oils cannot be taken in without risk.
Use ethereal oil exclusive internal if you have sufficient knowledge or consult a (homeopathic) physician. In general however the working by external use is stronger than internal use.

Literature

[1]. Bremness, Lesley;- The Complete Book of Herbs: A Practical Guide to Growing and Using Herbs - Fifth edition; Studio (1994). ISBN 0140238026
[2]. Shaw, Non; - Herbalism: An Illustrated Guide - First edition; Element Books Ltd. (2000). ISBN 1862042241
[3]. Dr. C. Norman Shealy; - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies - First edition; Element Books Ltd. (2000). ISBN 186204516X
[4]. Rüdt, U.; - Therapeutic and poisonous plants - First edition; Zutphen: B. V. W. J. Thieme &
Cie (1973). ISBN 90-03-94630-2
[5]. Britton, Jade & Kircher, Tamara; - Herbal Remedies - First edition; Marshall Editions (1998). ISBN 1840280719



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