Yarrow's effects and functions

Yarrow is a very common herb in traditional Chinese medicine and is also a frequently used medicine. It has unique effects and functions in treating many diseases. Here we will tell you in detail about the effects of some traditional Chinese medicine yarrow.

[Other names] Sawgrass (Illustrated Guide to Chinese Medicinal Plants), Centipede Artemisia, Artemisia selengensis (Shaanxi Chinese Herbal Medicine).

[Source] It is the whole herb of Achillea millefolium of the Asteraceae family. Harvest from June to August. Cut off the whole grass with inflorescence and dry it in the shade.

[Original form] Perennial herb. The stem is single, 35 to 50 cm high, and covered with white soft hairs. The radicular leaves have short petioles, while the cauline leaves are sessile, alternate, oblong to oblong-linear, up to 15 cm long and 3 cm wide, pinnately divided 2 to 3 times, with small lobes and pointed tips. The inflorescence is arranged in a umbel shape, with an involucre obovate, 4-5 mm long and 3-4 mm wide; the involucre lobes are oblong, membranous, and in multiple rows; each flower head has 5 (occasionally 4 or 6) marginal flowers with ligulate corollas around its periphery, the corolla lobes are pink or rarely white, elliptical to ovate, with three shallow lobes at the apex, and are about 3 mm long and wide; the heart floret of the flower head is tubular, bisexual, with 5-lobed apex, the ovary is inferior, and the receptacle has receptacles. Achenes are flat with winged edges. Flowering period is from June to August.

[Habitat distribution] It grows in sandy or rocky areas along the river. Distributed in Northeast China, North China and other places.

[Chemical composition] Volatile oil is an important component of Achillea millefolium. The volatile oil is most abundant in flower buds or blooming flowers, followed by leaves, and very little in stems. A particularly important component of the volatile oil is azulene. The content of volatile oil and azulene is generally used as the standard for judging the quality of this medicine. However, some volatile oils of this plant do not contain azulene, especially wild plants in mountainous areas. In addition to azulene, the volatile oil also contains l-α- and d-α-pinene, β-pinene, l-limonene, l-borneol, borneol acetate and other esters, l-camphor, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, thujone, caryophyllene, salicylic acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, furfural, acetone, etc.

【Pharmacological action】 ①Hemostatic effect

【Nature and flavor】 "Shaanxi Chinese Herbal Medicine": "sweet, bitter and spicy, cold in nature."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, detoxifies, harmonizes blood and regulates menstruation. Treat carbuncle, furuncle, swelling, bruises, hemorrhoid bleeding, and irregular menstruation.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 1 to 3 qian; or soaked in wine. For external use: mash the fresh product and apply it.

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Chinese Medicinal Plants Illustrated Guide"

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of yarrow. Yarrow is very beneficial to human health, and you can try it.