Yarrow
OTHER NAME(S): Achilee, Achillea, Achillée Boréale, Achillée Laineuse, Achillée Millefeuille, Acuilee, Band Man's Plaything, Bauchweh, Birangasifa, Birangasipha, Biranjasipha, Bloodwort, Bumadaran, Carpenter's Weed, Civan Percemi, Common Yarrow, Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Erba Da Cartentieri, Erba Da Falegname, Gandana, Gemeine Schafgarbe, Green Arrow, Herbe à la Coupure, Herbe à Dindes, Herbe aux Charpentiers, Herbe Militaire, Huile Essentielle d'Achillée, Katzenkrat, Little Feather, Milefolio, Milfoil, Millefeuille, Millefolii Flos, Millefolii Herba, Millefolium, Millegoglie, Noble Yarrow, Nosebleed, Old Man's Pepper, Plumajillo, Rajmari, Roga Mari, Sanguinary, Soldier's Wound Wort, Sourcil de Vénus, Staunchweed, Tausendaugbram, Thousand-Leaf, Wound Wort, Yarrow Essential Oil, Achillea millefolium, Achillea borealis, Achillea lanulosa, Achillea magna, Milenrama, Achillée
Overview
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a plant that grows throughout the world. The above ground parts are used to make medicine.
Yarrow contains chemicals that might help to stop stomachcramps and fight infections.
People commonly use yarrow for eczema, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Yarrow is sometimes called bloodwort. Don't confuse this with Bloodroot.
Uses
We currently have no information for Yarrow overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Yarrow is commonly consumed in foods. But yarrow products that contain a chemical called thujone might not be safe. Thujone is poisonous in large doses. Yarrow is possibly safe when taken in doses of 250-500 mg daily for 12 months.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if yarrow is safe or what the side effects might be. In some people, yarrow might cause skin irritation.
When applied into the vagina: Yarrow is possibly safe when applied in a cream for up to 7 days.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Yarrow is commonly consumed in foods. But yarrow products that contain a chemical called thujone might not be safe. Thujone is poisonous in large doses. Yarrow is possibly safe when taken in doses of 250-500 mg daily for 12 months.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if yarrow is safe or what the side effects might be. In some people, yarrow might cause skin irritation.
When applied into the vagina: Yarrow is possibly safe when applied in a cream for up to 7 days.
Pregnancy: Yarrow is likely unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. It can affect the menstrual cycle and might cause miscarriage.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if yarrow is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Yarrow may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. This includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking yarrow.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Lithium interacts with YarrowYarrow might have an effect like a "water pill." Taking yarrow might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
Dosing
Yarrow has most often been used by adults as a plant extract or tea. It's also been applied as an ointment or cream and used in gargles. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
References
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- Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. 3rd ed., Binghamton, NY: Haworth Herbal Press, 1993.
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
- Hausen BM. The sensitizing capacity of Compositae plants. III. Test results and cross-reactions in Compositae-sensitive patients. Dermatologica 1979;159:1-11.
- Guin, J. D. and Skidmore, G. Compositae dermatitis in childhood. Arch Dermatol. 1987;123(4):500-502.
- Uter, W., Nohle, M., Randerath, B., and Schwanitz, H. J. Occupational contact urticaria and late-phase bronchial asthma caused by compositae pollen in a florist. Am J Contact Dermat. 2001;12(3):182-184.
- Schempp, C. M., Schopf, E., and Simon, J. C. [Plant-induced toxic and allergic dermatitis (phytodermatitis)]. Hautarzt 2002;53(2):93-97.
- Molochko, V. A., Lastochkina, T. M., Krylov, I. A., and Brangulis, K. A. [The antistaphylococcal properties of plant extracts in relation to their prospective use as therapeutic and prophylactic formulations for the skin]. Vestn.Dermatol Venerol. 1990;(8):54-56.
- Van der Weijden, G. A., Timmer, C. J., Timmerman, M. F., Reijerse, E., Mantel, M. S., and van, der, V. The effect of herbal extracts in an experimental mouthrinse on established plaque and gingivitis. J Clin Periodontol. 1998;25(5):399-403.
- Jovanovic, M., Poljacki, M., Duran, V., Vujanovic, L., Sente, R., and Stojanovic, S. Contact allergy to Compositae plants in patients with atopic dermatitis. Med Pregl. 2004;57(5-6):209-218.
- Final report on the safety assessment of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Extract. Int J Toxicol. 2001;20 Suppl 2:79-84.
- Hausen, B. M., Breuer, J., Weglewski, J., and Rucker, G. alpha-Peroxyachifolid and other new sensitizing sesquiterpene lactones from yarrow (Achillea millefolium L., Compositae). Contact Dermatitis 1991;24(4):274-280.
- Moradi MT, Rafieian-Koupaei M, Imani-Rastabi R, et al. Antispasmodic effects of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) extract in the isolated ileum of rat. Afr J Tradit Conplement Altern Med 2013;10(6):499-503.
- Kazemian A, Toghiani A, Shafiei K, et al. Evaluating the efficacy of mixture of Boswellia carterii, Zingiber officinale, and Achillea millefolium on severity of symptoms, anxiety, and depression in irritable bowel syndrome patients. J Res Med Sci. 2017;22:120.
- Saeidnia S, Gohari A, Mokhber-Dezfuli N, Kiuchi F. A review on phytochemistry and medicinal properties of the genus Achillea. Daru. 2011;19(3):173-86.
- Hajhashemi M, Ghanbari Z, Movahedi M, Rafieian M, Keivani A, Haghollahi F. The effect of Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum ointments on episiotomy wound healing in primiparous women. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018;31(1):63-69.
- Becker LC, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, et al. Safety assessment of Achillea millefolium as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2016;35(3 suppl):5S-15S.
- Ayoobi F, Moghadam-Ahmadi A, Amiri H, et al. Achillea millefolium is beneficial as an add-on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2019 Jan;52:89-97.
- Popovych V, Koshel I, Malofiichuk A, et al. A randomized, open-label, multicenter, comparative study of therapeutic efficacy, safety and tolerability of BNO 1030 extract, containing marshmallow root, chamomile flowers, horsetail herb, walnut leaves, yarrow herb, oak bark, dandelion herb in the treatment of acute non-bacterial tonsillitis in children aged 6 to 18?years. Am J Otolaryngol. 2019;40(2):265-273.
- Rezaei S, Ashkar F, Koohpeyma F, et al. Hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium improved blood glucose, liver enzymes and lipid profile compared to metformin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Lipids Health Dis. 2020;19(1):81.
- Firouzabadi M, Pourramezani N, Balvardi M. Comparing the effects of yarrow, honey, and breast milk for healing nipple fissure. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2020;25(4):282-285.
- Zakeri S, Esmaeilzadeh S, Gorji N, Memariani Z, Moeini R, Bijani A. The effect of Achillea millefolium L. on vulvovaginal candidiasis compared with clotrimazole: A randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2020;52:102483.
- Jenabi E, Fereidoony B. Effect of Achillea millefolium on relief of primary dysmenorrhea: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2015;28(5):402-4.
- de Souza P, Crestani S, da Silva Rde C, et al. Involvement of bradykinin and prostaglandins in the diuretic effects of Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae). J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Aug 26;149(1):157-61.
- Miranzadeh S, Adib-Hajbaghery M, Soleymanpoor L, Ehsani M. Effect of adding the herb Achillea millefolium on mouthwash on chemotherapy induced oral mucositis in cancer patients: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2015;19(3):207-13.
- Foucré C, Schulz S, Stritter W, et al. Randomized Pilot Trial Using External Yarrow Liver Compress Applications With Metastatic Cancer Patients Suffering From Fatigue: Evaluation of Sympathetic Modulation by Heart Rate Variability Analysis. Integr Cancer Ther 2022;21:15347354221081253.