History Of The Yarrow Plant
Other Common Names: Biranjasif, Bloodwort, Carpenter's Weed,
Cickafarkkoro, Civanpercemi, Common Yarrow, Devil's Nettle, Devil's
Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, Duizendblad, Milefolio, Milenrama,
Milfoil, Millefeuille, Millefoglio, Millefolium, Nose Bleed,
Plumajillo, Rojmari, Rolleka, Rollike, Schafgarbe, Soldiers Woundwort,
Staunchweed, Thousand Seal, Tlalquequetzal, Western Yarrow, Woundwort,
Plumajillo, Yarroway, Achillea millefolium
Range: Asia; Britain; Canada; China; Denmark; Europe; France;
Germany; Hungary; India; Italy; Mexico; Netherlands; Portugal; Spain;
Sweden; Turkey; USA
Habitat: Meadows, pastures, lawns etc. on all but the poorest soils, it becomes a troublesome weed in gardens.
The name Yarrow is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon name for the plant - gearwe; the Dutch, yerw.
Yarrow was formerly much esteemed as a vulnerary, and its old names
of Soldier's Wound Wort and Knight's Milfoil testify to this. The
Highlanders still make an ointment from it, which they apply to wounds,
and Milfoil tea is held in much repute in the Orkneys for dispelling
melancholy. Gerard tells us it is the same plant with which Achilles
stanched the bleeding wounds of his soldiers, hence the name of the
genus, Achillea. Others say that it was discovered by a certain
Achilles, Chiron's disciple. It was called by the Ancients, the Herba
Militaris, the military herb.
Its specific name, millefolium, is derived from the many segments of
its foliage, hence also its popular name, Milfoil and Thousand Weed.
Another popular name for it is Nosebleed, from its property of
stanching (stopping) bleeding of the nose, though another reason given
for this name is that the leaf, being rolled up and applied to the
nostrils, causes a bleeding from the nose, more or less copious, which
will thus afford relief to headache. Parkinson tells us that 'if it be
put into the nose, assuredly it will stay the bleeding of it' - so it
seems to act either way.
It was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, in earlier days,
being sometimes known as Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's
Plaything, and was used for divination in spells.
Yarrow has a high reputation and is widely employed in herbal
medicine, administered both internally and externally. It is used in
the treatment of a very wide range of disorders but is particularly
valuable for treating wounds, stopping the flow of blood, treating
colds, fevers, kidney diseases, menstrual pain etc. The whole plant is
used, both fresh and dried, and is best harvested when in flower. Some
caution should be exercised in the use of this herb since large or
frequent doses taken over a long period may be potentially harmful,
causing allergic rashes and making the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
The herb is antiseptic, antispasmodic, mildly aromatic, astringent,
carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue,
odontalgic, stimulant, bitter tonic, vasodilator and vulnerary. It also
contains the anti-inflammatory agent azulene, though the content of
this varies even between plants in the same habitat. The herb is
harvested in the summer when in flower and can be dried for later use.
Leaves - raw or cooked. A rather bitter flavor, they make an
acceptable addition to mixed salads (In the seventeenth century it was
an ingredient of salads.) and are best used when young. The leaves are
also used as a flavoring and preservative for beer etc. Although in
general yarrow is a very nutritious and beneficial plant to add to the
diet, some caution should be exercised. See the notes on possible
toxicity.
An aromatic tea is made from the flowers and leaves.
An essential oil from the flowering heads is used as a flavoring for soft drinks.
The growing plant repels beetles, ants and flies. The plant has been burnt in order to ward off mosquitoes.
Yarrow is an excellent plant for growing in lawns, meadows, orchards
etc., it is tolerant of repeated close cutting and of being walked on.
It works to improve the soil fertility. A very good companion plant, it
improves the health of plants growing nearby and enhances their
essential oil content thus making them more resistant to insect
predations.
A good bee plant, it is an important nectar source for many insects.
Known Hazards: Extended use of this plant, either medicinally
or in the diet, can cause allergic skin rashes or lead to
photosensitivity in some people.
Other Common Names: Biranjasif, Bloodwort, Carpenter's Weed,
Cickafarkkoro, Civanpercemi, Common Yarrow, Devil's Nettle, Devil's
Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, Duizendblad, Milefolio, Milenrama,
Milfoil, Millefeuille, Millefoglio, Millefolium, Nose Bleed,
Plumajillo, Rojmari, Rolleka, Rollike, Schafgarbe, Soldiers Woundwort,
Staunchweed, Thousand Seal, Tlalquequetzal, Western Yarrow, Woundwort,
Plumajillo, Yarroway, Achillea millefolium
Range: Asia; Britain; Canada; China; Denmark; Europe; France;
Germany; Hungary; India; Italy; Mexico; Netherlands; Portugal; Spain;
Sweden; Turkey; USA
Habitat: Meadows, pastures, lawns etc. on all but the poorest soils, it becomes a troublesome weed in gardens.
The name Yarrow is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon name for the plant - gearwe; the Dutch, yerw.
Yarrow was formerly much esteemed as a vulnerary, and its old names
of Soldier's Wound Wort and Knight's Milfoil testify to this. The
Highlanders still make an ointment from it, which they apply to wounds,
and Milfoil tea is held in much repute in the Orkneys for dispelling
melancholy. Gerard tells us it is the same plant with which Achilles
stanched the bleeding wounds of his soldiers, hence the name of the
genus, Achillea. Others say that it was discovered by a certain
Achilles, Chiron's disciple. It was called by the Ancients, the Herba
Militaris, the military herb.
Its specific name, millefolium, is derived from the many segments of
its foliage, hence also its popular name, Milfoil and Thousand Weed.
Another popular name for it is Nosebleed, from its property of
stanching (stopping) bleeding of the nose, though another reason given
for this name is that the leaf, being rolled up and applied to the
nostrils, causes a bleeding from the nose, more or less copious, which
will thus afford relief to headache. Parkinson tells us that 'if it be
put into the nose, assuredly it will stay the bleeding of it' - so it
seems to act either way.
It was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, in earlier days,
being sometimes known as Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's
Plaything, and was used for divination in spells.
Yarrow has a high reputation and is widely employed in herbal
medicine, administered both internally and externally. It is used in
the treatment of a very wide range of disorders but is particularly
valuable for treating wounds, stopping the flow of blood, treating
colds, fevers, kidney diseases, menstrual pain etc. The whole plant is
used, both fresh and dried, and is best harvested when in flower. Some
caution should be exercised in the use of this herb since large or
frequent doses taken over a long period may be potentially harmful,
causing allergic rashes and making the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
The herb is antiseptic, antispasmodic, mildly aromatic, astringent,
carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue,
odontalgic, stimulant, bitter tonic, vasodilator and vulnerary. It also
contains the anti-inflammatory agent azulene, though the content of
this varies even between plants in the same habitat. The herb is
harvested in the summer when in flower and can be dried for later use.
Leaves - raw or cooked. A rather bitter flavor, they make an
acceptable addition to mixed salads (In the seventeenth century it was
an ingredient of salads.) and are best used when young. The leaves are
also used as a flavoring and preservative for beer etc. Although in
general yarrow is a very nutritious and beneficial plant to add to the
diet, some caution should be exercised. See the notes on possible
toxicity.
An aromatic tea is made from the flowers and leaves.
An essential oil from the flowering heads is used as a flavoring for soft drinks.
The growing plant repels beetles, ants and flies. The plant has been burnt in order to ward off mosquitoes.
Yarrow is an excellent plant for growing in lawns, meadows, orchards
etc., it is tolerant of repeated close cutting and of being walked on.
It works to improve the soil fertility. A very good companion plant, it
improves the health of plants growing nearby and enhances their
essential oil content thus making them more resistant to insect
predations.
A good bee plant, it is an important nectar source for many insects.
Known Hazards: Extended use of this plant, either medicinally
or in the diet, can cause allergic skin rashes or lead to
photosensitivity in some people.
- Grieve. M. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
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