Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) is a perennial herb distributed in Europe, Asia and North America. It was introduced to Australia and New Zealand a long time ago, so today it is considered domesticated and invasive.
Yarrow is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family. The stem is upright, mostly simple, covered with woolly hairs, and grows up to 80 cm in height. The rhizome is horizontal, crawling. The leaves are alternate, oblong-lanceolate, double or triple pinnately divided into numerous fine small segments. The flower heads are 3-5 mm in diameter, gathered in dense, paste-like inflorescences at the top of the stem. They are composed of tubular flowers in the middle and tongue-shaped white or pink flowers on the rim. The fruit is a pod about 2 mm long.3
It grows wild all over Europe, usually in groups, on dry pastures, fields, meadows and as a weed in gardens. It is propagated by seeds or by dividing the roots in spring or autumn.3
Use for medicinal purposes
For medicinal purposes, the green parts of the plant Milefolli herba, harvested from VI-X months, or the flowers of the yarrow Milefolli flos are used. The dried flowers contain at least 0.02% of Milefolli aetheroleum essential oil. The stem has no medicinal properties, so it is unnecessary ballast.
The drug is obtained by drying the collected parts in a thin layer at a temperature of 35-40°C.
Ingredients
- essential oil in which: pinene, cineole, azulene, thujone, borneol, caryophyllene prevail
- formic acid
- valeric acid
- bitter substances: achillein
- aconic acid
- sesquiterpene lactones
- tannins
- flavonoids
Use for medicinal purpose
Yarrow is used in folk medicine to treat skin inflammation, pain, wounds, bleeding and gastrointestinal disturbances.
The bitter substance (achilein) acts as a tonic. It is used for stomach problems, lack of appetite and dyspepsia.
The results of a study conducted on mice show the anti-ulcer potential of the aerial parts, which is not accompanied by signs of toxicity even with very long chronic exposure.6
Milefolli aetheroleum essential oil is dark blue in color due to its azulene content. It should not be used orally, because it is neurotoxic due to the thujone content, but it is used in cosmetics. Azulene is a highly valued ingredient in suntan creams and oils. It also works well for inflammation of the mucous membrane and skin.
TAXONOMY
KINGDOM: Plantae
ORDER: Asterales
FAMILY: Asteraceae
GENUS: Achillea
SPECIES: Achillea millefolium
COMMON NAMES
Common yarrow, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand seal
FLOWERING TIME
VI, VII, VIII, IX month
References:
- Flora Croatica database, https://hirc.botanic.hr
- Josip Gelenčir, Jasenka Gelenčir: Atlas ljekovitog bilja, izdavač: Prosvjeta Zagreb 1991.
- Source: Stolisnik https://www.plantea.com.hr/stolisnik
- SCHAFNER, Willi: Ljekovito bilje: kompendij, Izdavač:Leo-commerce, 1999.
- Prof.dr.sc.Zdenka Kalođera, Sveučilište U Zagrebu, Farmaceutsko- biokemijski fakultet, Farmakognozija II, Zagreb, 2006/2007.
- Cavalcanti AM, Baggio CH, Freitas CS, Rieck L, de Sousa RS, Da Silva-Santos JE, Mesia-Vela S, Marques MC. Safety and antiulcer efficacy studies of Achillea millefolium L. after chronic treatment in Wistar rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Sep 19;107(2):277-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.011. Epub 2006 Mar 22. PMID: 16647233.
