Achillea millefolium
(Yarrow)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Anodyne - due to prostaglandin-inhibiting action
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiseptic
• Antispasmodic
• Astringent
• Bitter tonic
• Carminative
• Cholagogue
• Decongestant
• Diaphoretic
  
  Hot infusion - stimulating diaphoretic effect
  Cold infusion - diuretic effect or tones gastric organs
• Diuretic
• Hemostatic
• Hypotensive
• Stimulant
• Urinary antiseptic

Clinical Indications:

• Allergies
• Dysmenorrhea
• Hemorrhoids
• Peptic ulcer
• Antibacterial:
  
  Gram positive bacteria
  Gram negative bacteria
• Circulatory disorders
• Hemorrhaging disorders
• Influenza and colds
• Lacerations and puncture wounds - topically
• Menorrhagia with uterine atony
• Pain associated with pelvic disorders
• Uterine spasms
• Vaginitis with vaginal atony

Contraindications:

• External use:
  
  Contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals
• Gastrointestinal inflammation:
  
  Crohn's disease
  Irritable bowel syndrome
  Ulcerative colitis
• Increased central nervous system function (CNS hyperfunction)
• Pregnancy:
  
  Due to the emmenagogue and abortifacient effects

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Counterproductive to use medications that inhibit stomach acid production, ie antacids, gastric acid secretion inhibitors and histamine H2 receptor antagonists, since yarrow promotes stomach acid secretion

Chemical Constituents:

• Achilleic acid (identical to aconitic acid)
• Alkanes
• Alkaloids:
  
  Achilleine
  Betonicine
  Stachydrine
• Apigenin, an antispasmodic agent
• B-iso-thujone, see Toxicity
• Betaine
• Earthly ash consisting of nitrates, phosphates, and chlorides of potash and line
• Fatty acids:
  
  Linoleic
  Oleic
  Palmatic
• Lactones
• Potassium and calcium salts
• Rutin
• Salicylic acid (anti-inflammatory anodyne organic acid
• Saponins
• Sterols - Beta sitosterol
• Succinic acid
• Trigonelline
• Volatile oils:
  
  Azulene
  Camphor
  Cineol
  Sabinene
  Pinene

Toxicity:

• B-iso-thujone can cause:
  
  Vomiting
  Stomach and intestinal cramps
  Retention of urine
  
• Extreme cases with large doses:
  
  Convulsions
  Renal damage
  Tremors
  Vertigo

  Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).