YARROW TEA (Achillea Millefolium)

An amazing tea that can help with colds and flu, and also help you see in pure colour. Yarrow has an ancient history. The generic name comes from Achilles who, according to legend, saved the lives of his warriors by healing their wounds with yarrow leaves. Crushed and rolled in the hands the plant provides a temporary styptic to check blood flow. Millefolium means 'thousand leaves' which were reputed to help with binding a wound and helping a scab to form. One of this astringent herb's ancient names is 'Soldier's Woundwort', along with 'Carpenter's Weed', 'Staunchweed' and others that show its popularity and prolonged use over many centuries.

The herb tea has also been used in the past for stimulating appetite, helping stomach cramps, flatulence, gastritis, enteritis, gallbladder and liver problems and internal haemorrhage - particularly of the lungs. It's effect is described as 'diaphoretic', causing the dilation of surface capillaries and helping poor circulation. The promotion of sweating can be useful for fevers and colds. Yarrow mixed with Elderflower and Peppermint (sometimes Boneset) is an old remedy for colds. A decoction of yarrow has been used for all sorts of external wounds and sores from chapped skin or sore nipples. In China Yarrow is still considered to have sacred properties, readers of the I Ching will often use Yarrow stalks in their studies.

There is one danger to overuse of yarrow internally: prolonged use of this tea may render the skin sensitive to exposure to light. It is this 'side effect' that shows that Yarrow tea has some mild psychotropic effect. A couple of cups of this tea and you may notice a shift in the colour and intensity of light around you. For artists or photographers this photosensitiser can sometimes provide a useful shift in perception. However, another name attributed to Yarrow is 'Devil's Plaything' - one suspects that this name was given to several herbs used by the witches or 'Wise Women' who were systematically exterminated in the middle-ages in Europe.

Yarrow leaves have also been used in tobacco or snuff mixtures and a decoction rubbed into the head is said to delay balding. To make Yarrow tea add two or three fresh or dried leaves per person to boiling water and leave to infuse for 5 minutes or so. Sweeten this with honey if you like. Some people like it with a slice of lemon to give this tisane a clean edge.

Thanks to C. Esplan, D. Hoffman, J. Lust, R. Phillips

From an ebook called 'Wild Food' underway at simonthescribe. If you wish to republish this article (only with this resource box intact) you will find excellent quality pictures to accompany it at http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/yarrow.html

---

Why Your Search for Pain Relief Needs a Strategy

If you're like most of us who have known chronic... Read More

The Chevreul Pendulum - A Tool for Accessing Your Subconscious About Your Pain

The Chevreul pendulum is a simple device for communicating with... Read More

Organic Juices for Constipation

Organic fresh made juices have cleansing and laxative action, which... Read More

Bach Flower Remedies

Bach Flower remedies are 38 plant and flower based remedies... Read More

The Tribrain and Trauma Therapy

When someone experiences a trauma they go into immediate shock.... Read More

Make Your Own HGH - While You Sleep!

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) has long been viewed as a... Read More

What Is Thought Field Therapy?

Dr. Roger Callahan is and American psychologist who discovered Thought... Read More

Stage Hypnosis Vs Hypnotherapy - Understanding The Difference

We've all seen them, right? The stage hypnotist, who makes... Read More

Using Herbs to Relieve Hemorrhoids ? Aloe Vera, Bilberry, Butchers Broom

To relieve hemorrhoids first look for ways to get your... Read More

Muget Des Bois: A Healing Victory

Known by its other name as Lily of the Valley... Read More

Eucalyptus Oil for Colds and Flu

Recently I came down with a cold, flu, and some... Read More

The Raindrop Technique Massage

Raindrop Technique is a procedure for applying therapeutic grade essential... Read More

Healing Through Stories

Stories are powerful. How many times have you heard a... Read More

Iridology: A Natural Health 101 Article

What It IsIridology is the art of discovering weaknesses in... Read More

Aromatherapy ? Part III: Esoteric & Spiritual applications

The Way Essential Oils Effect the Etheric Body or Psycho-spiritual... Read More

Cure Arthritis? Right!

Arthritis sufferers are daily bombarded with new, better, more exciting... Read More

Easy Steps You Can Take Today to Erase Hip Pain

...and one of these tips you can get from a... Read More

Purchasing Essential Oil

Tips on Purchasing Essential OilsIt is important to purchase your... Read More

The Source of All Disease

So why is there disease? The very word means that... Read More

Food Combining for Indigestion

I'd like to share with you some basic food combining... Read More

Why Choose Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a system and philosophy of medicine that... Read More

Working with an Intuitive Counselor: Opening the Door to Yourself

"Oh, I've had a psychic reading before. They read some... Read More

Oral Chelation ? What Can It Do For You? (Part 2)

Intravenous chelation therapy was more popular than oral chelation initially.... Read More

What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a non-toxic system of medicine used to treat... Read More

Exercise: Tai Chi for Mind, Body, and Spirit

The practice of Tai Chi combines flowing movement and breathing... Read More

Healing Waters of California

Back in the late 1800's the railroad came to life.... Read More

The Flu Hysteria and Your Family

(originally in Nov. 2004 ZoneNet Newsletter)In this flu season, America... Read More

ADD May Carry the Gifts of Intuition

ADD/ADHD is a neurological disorder. According to the National Institute... Read More

Various Types of Herbal Medicine: Used for Thousands of Years to Successfully Treat Diseases

Interest in medicinal herbs is on the rise again and... Read More

Reflexology Therapy

Reflexology therapy, (an ancient art practiced by early Egyptians), is... Read More

Headache, Hypnosis, And Stress, A Case History

Now, more that ever, concerned physicians are beginning to ask... Read More

Drug Addiction Treatment Centers: A Fresh Start

Half a decade ago, I started working on a hotline... Read More

The Many Uses of Mint

There are many varieties of mint plants. If you want... Read More