Common yarrow is distributed almost throughout the former USSR, except for the northern regions of Siberia and the Far East, desert and semi-desert areas of Central Asia, Kazakhstan and the Lower Volga region. It grows in dry meadows, forest edges, steppe slopes, between bushes, in fields, along borders and road edges.
The tops of the foliated part of the flowering plant with the remainder of the stem no longer than 15 cm are used.
Yarrow is collected during the flowering period. The smell is peculiar aromatic, the taste is bitter, astringent (Fig. 80) .
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Chemical composition
.The alkaloid achilleine is found in the leaves; essential oil (0.8%), from which hamazulene is isolated; tannins, resins, inulin and asparagine, nitrates, organic acids, carotene, vitamins C and K, and bitter substances are found in the leaves and inflorescences. Fresh leaves of yarrow and its flowers have phytoncidal activity (act on paramecium and air microflora), extracts of dry leaves and flowers act antiestocidal on paramecium and bacteriostatic on gold and white staphylococci and streptococcus nehemolyticus.
Yarrow leaves have also been found to contain more bitter substances and the flowers more essential oil.
Action and application
.Achillein has been experimentally proven to increase blood clotting, azulene has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic effects and accelerates wound healing. The mechanism of hemostatic action of yarrow is based on an increase in the number of platelets and shortening the time of stopping bleeding. In addition, yarrow increases the contraction of uterine muscles, which determines its effectiveness in uterine bleeding.
It has been found that 0.5% infusion of yarrow increases blood coagulation by 60%, which exceeds the strength of calcium chloride in the concentration of 1 : 200, 1 : 500.
The mechanism of hemostatic action of the plant is similar to the action of calcium salts, ie. е. it activates the fibriferase and never gives thrombosis, its effects are moderate, long-lasting (A. С. Malchevskaya, 1961). Yarrow herb has a vasodilating effect and analgesic for gastrointestinal diseases. It is used for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In particular for ulcers and gastritis, beneficial effect on the whole body, normalizes secretory-motor processes. Preparations of the herb are used as a bitter to increase appetite and as a styptic for internal bleeding - intestinal, pulmonary, hemorrhoidal, uterine, nasal, bleeding from the gums and wounds. In addition to the noted indications, yarrow preparations are used as a sedative, with neurasthenia, hysteria. They are used in the form of decoctions, infusions, extracts, are part of various collections.
In the GDR used yarrow herb and its roots for gastrointestinal diseases, as an appetite booster, externally for the treatment of wounds.
In Bulgaria, yarrow flowers and leaves were used to make a medicinal decoction. In addition to the diseases mentioned in the article, the decoction is used for scrofula, rheumatism, liver diseases, headaches and as an anthelmintic.
In Poland, yarrow herb is also widely used for gastrointestinal diseases.
In France, yarrow herb is used as a tonic, diuretic, and energizing agent. It is recommended for general weakness, nervous diseases and painful menstruation.
In Greece, yarrow was called "soldier's plant" because of its styptic effect.
In domestic folk medicine herb yarrow was used internally in the form of infusion as a styptic for hemorrhoidal and uterine bleeding and externally to stop bleeding from wounds and accelerate their healing. In the Middle Ages it was called "soldier's weed". Sometimes used the juice of fresh leaves or applied to the wound crushed fresh leaves of the plant, and in winter, dried yarrow flowers mixed with chamomile scalded with boiling water and cold applied to the wound. In the form of infusion was used for respiratory catarrhs, as an appetite- and digestion-improving remedy, for menstrual disorders and to increase the amount of milk in nursing mothers. Freshly squeezed juice - for pulmonary tuberculosis and anemia.
The herb is an official raw material in Finland, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and in the USSR (Klan, 1948).
The flowering tops and leaves of yarrow are used to make bitter tinctures and herbal liqueurs.
The above-ground part of yarrow, collected during the flowering period, we use as an anti-inflammatory, styptic and wound-healing agent for gastritis, peptic ulcer and excitatory centers of secretory nerves of the stomach, as well as atherosclerosis, influenza and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract..
