Botanical Index No. 1142

Yarrow

achillea millefolium

Medicinal Actions

Astringent, Carminative, Cholagogue, Choleretic, CNS Depressant, Culicide, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Hypoglycemic, Hypotensive, Insecticide, Laxative, Sedative, Stimulant, Urinary Antiseptic, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Hemostat Swelling Vermifuge Alopecia Amenorrhea Anorexia Arthrosis Backache Bacteria Bleeding Burn Cancer breast foot liver penis spleen uterus Catarrh Chickenpox Cholecystosis Cold Condylomata Congestion Constipation Convulsion Cough Cramp Dermatosis Diarrhea Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Earache Enterorrhagia Enterosis Epilepsy Epistaxis Fever Fistula Flu Gas Gastrosis Grippe Headache Hematoma Hemorrhoid Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Hyperglycemia Hysteria Incontinence Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Leukorrhea Measles Melancholy Menorrhagia Mucososis Nerve Nervousness Pain Pleurisy Poison Ivy Pneumonia Rash Respirosis Rheumatism Sclerosis Smallpox Sore Throat Splenosis Thrombosis Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer UTI Varicosis Virus Wart Water Retention Wen Worm Wound Painful cramp-like conditions of psychosomatic origin in the lower part of the female pelvis as a sitz bath

General Dosage

1–2 tsp herb/cup water 3–4 ×/day; 4.5 g herb; 2–4 tbsp fresh herb; 3–6 g dry herb; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract 3 ×/day; 2–4 ml herb tincture 3 ×/day; 0.5–1 tsp herb tincture; 3 tsp herb juice; 2–4 g flower head, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1 g flower; 4.5 g dry flower:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b. Emmenagogue and uterotonic, hence contraindicated in pregnancy. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Commission E reports hypersensitivity to milfoil and other Asteraceae. Other sources report hypersensitivity to sesquiterpene lactones. Rare contact allergy. CAN reports that the sesquiterpene lactones are allergenic and can cause dermatosis. Because the thujone in the oil is reputed to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Contraindicated in allergies dermatosis, and epilepsy. Excessive doses may interfere with or augment anticoagulant, blood pressure, diuretic, and sedative medications.

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