Yarrow, dried herb, organic, Achillea milefolium.
The aerial parts of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) are considered to be one of the most important herbs for flu and fever treatment. Its actions are diaphoretic, hypotensive, astringent, diuretic, and antiseptic. Its constituents are flavonoids, tannins, and a bitter alkaloid. In traditional medicine, Yarrow tea is used as silica rich, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic remedy, to stop internal or external bleeding and promote healing.
Yarrow stimulates the appetite, enhances digestion, curbs diarrhea and stems bleeding from the lining of the gut. Yarrow tea will reduce excessive menstrual flow, muscle cramps, wind and colic and is believed to be of benefit in stomach ulcers.
The tea infusion is prepared by pouring a cup of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and steeping for 10-15 minutes.
For colds, Yarrow is often taken in combination with elderflower, boneset, peppermint, and with cayenne and ginger.
Achillea has been used in popular medicine for its anti-hemorrhagic, healing, and analgesic properties in the various regions throughout the world. It was used by northern European and North American native people as a contraceptive, abortifacient, and emmenagogue. Some of these traditional and folk usages have been evaluated showing the potential medicinal use of the plant. The medicinal properties of A. millefolium are worldwide recognized and the plant is included in the national Pharmacopoeias of countries such as Germany, Czech Republic, France and Switzerland. As it is reviewed in this paper, antioxidant and protective activity is of various species of Achillea is reported frequently. This might be due to high content of flavonoids and phenolics in these plants. It is noteworthy that oxidative stress is produced under diabetic condition and Achillea plants are considered for high hypoglycemic activity. Among the medicinal properties of Achillea, their cytotoxic and antiulcer effects are important especially when the species contain immunomodulatory constituents. The activity of these plants against different bacteria, fungi and parasites might be due to the presence of a broad range of secondary active metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, terpenoids (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes) and sterols which have been isolated. Finally, presence of anti-inflammatory compounds such as sesquiterpenes and alkamides is another reason for importance of these plants as the potential source of medicinal compounds and drugs in future.
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