Popular names: white porridge, gulyavitsa, bloodthirsty, tenacious grass.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.)Perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family (Compositae), up to 80 cm high, with a strong odor. The rhizome is thick, creeping, cord-like, yellowish, with numerous roots and underground shoots. The stem (sometimes several) is straight, angularly furrowed, glabrous or slightly pubescent, simple or slightly branched in the upper part. The leaves are alternate, doubly or triple-pinnately dissected, gray-green, glabrous or pubescent, with many oil glands on the underside. Basal leaves are long-petiolate, stem leaves are sessile. Inflorescence – small, numerous baskets of oblong-ovoid shape, collected in many-flowered corymbs at the tops of the stem and its branches. Marginal flowers single-row, 5-7, reed, pistillate; median – tubular, bisexual. The calyx is missing; corolla white, pinkish or violet-pinkish. Fruits are flat oblong, silvery-gray achenes. Blossoms in June – September, fruits ripen in July – October. One plant produces up to 26,000 seeds. Propagated by seeds, rhizomes, layering and is able to displace other plants from the occupied area. Distributed everywhere, with the exception of the northern regions of Siberia and the Far East, desert and semi-desert regions of Central Asia. It grows on fresh sandy and loamy soils along edges, clearings, clearings in sparse forests, along roadsides, in wastelands, in parks, gardens, forest belts, young fallows, settlements. Yarrow is undemanding to soils, but does not tolerate shading. Yarrow is often mentioned in the myths of Ancient Greece, and even its generic Latin name Achillea – Achilles open. According to legend, Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War, used this plant to heal wounds.
COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS
For medicinal purposes, grass is harvested, as well as common yarrow flowers. The grass is harvested in the flowering phase, cutting off the leafy tops of shoots up to 15 cm long with sickles, knives or secateurs, without coarse, leafless stem bases. When collecting inflorescences, scutes with peduncles are cut no longer than 2 cm. Areas where yarrow grows profusely or forms thickets can be mowed with braids and then yarrow grass can be selected from the mowed mass. The raw materials are dried in the open air in attics, also under sheds, spread out in a layer 5-7 cm thick, and periodically turned over. Dry in dryers at 50°C. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years. The raw material has a fragrant, peculiar smell and a bitter taste.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
Galenic forms of the plant have an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscles of the intestines, urinary and biliary tract, and therefore dilate the bile ducts and increase bile secretion into the duodenum, also increase diuresis and can relieve pain caused by spasms in the intestines. Due to the bitter taste of achillein, yarrow irritates the endings of the taste nerves and enhances the secretion of gastric juice. The content of tannins, essential oil and chamazulene in the plant determines the anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, anti-allergic and wound healing properties of yarrow. Yarrow infusion increases blood clotting, which manifests itself in shortening the time of recalcification oxalate plasma, increased plasma tolerance to heparin, reduced heparin time. Plant preparations activate the action of fibrin, but never lead to the formation of blood clots. The hemostatic effect of yarrow is based on an increase in the number of platelets and a shortening of the time to stop bleeding. When used topically, its products have anti-burn properties. In addition, the infusion of common yarrow acts as a hypotensive agent, slows down heart contractions.
APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
Aboveground part. Infusion (inside) – with peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, ulcerative colitis, acute and chronic dysentery, hepatitis, cholecystitis and angiocholitis; infusion and decoction (usually mixed with other herbs) – with nephrological and urological diseases accompanied by hematuria (acute and chronic cystitis, urethritis, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, kidney tuberculosis, etc.), with uterine bleeding due to fibromyomas, inflammatory processes and endocrinopathies , with nosebleeds, hemoptysis due to tuberculosis, bronchiectasis. Decoction and juice (externally) – for nosebleeds, minor cuts, abrasions, scratches; in the form of tampons – for bleeding from an eroded cervix; in the form of napkins – with inflammation of hemorrhoids and bleeding hemorrhoids. In folk medicine, infusion (inside) – for internal bleeding, gastritis, cholelithiasis, diathesis, neurasthenia, hysteria, bedwetting, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, as lactogenic, for the treatment of obesity, with atherosclerosis; externally – for washing bleeding wounds, ulcers, rinsing the mouth with bleeding gums; in the form of enemas – with bleeding, inflamed hemorrhoids; for washing the face – for acne. Decoction (in the form of baths) – for eczema, scaly lichen, scabies. Juice (inside) – with anemia, as lactogenic; as a means of preventing the formation of stones in the kidneys and liver; as a hemostatic agent for internal bleeding, including nasal, uterine, pulmonary, gastrointestinal. Normalizes menstruation and relieves pain during them, helps with palpitations, flushes and dizziness in menopause. Juice with honey – as a tonic, for liver diseases, to improve metabolism. In a mixture with other herbs – for the treatment of gastritis and stomach ulcers. Outwardly mixed with olive oil – with furunculosis, skin tuberculosis, profuse hair loss. Fresh juice – in the treatment of fresh and long non-healing wounds, ulcers, boils, fistulas. Included in the appetizing, gastric, laxative fees. fistulas. Included in the appetizing, gastric, laxative fees. fistulas. Included in the appetizing, gastric, laxative fees.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
Infusion of yarrow herb (Infusum herbae Millefolii): 15 g (2 tablespoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) for 15 minutes. Cool at room temperature for 45 minutes, filter, squeeze out the remaining raw material. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Take in a warm form, 1/2-1/3 cup 2-3 times every day 30 minutes before meals as a hemostatic agent. Liquid extract of yarrow (Extractum Millefolii fluidum) take 40-50 drops 3 times every day. ) – see Dandelion officinalis.Yarrow grass (Herba Millefolii) is produced in packs of 100 g, it is stored in a cool dry place.♦ Yarrow juice: prepared in July – August from the grass of a flowering plant. Take from 1-4 teaspoons to 1/3 cup 3 times every day before meals. CONTRAINDICATIONS AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: It is not recommended to take yarrow products with increased blood clotting, a tendency to thrombosis. With prolonged use or overdose, headache, dizziness, skin rashes appear. Plant juice is contraindicated during pregnancy.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
Fresh flowers, shoots and leaves are eaten for salads, vinaigrettes, side dishes. Dried flowers and leaves are added for flavoring to drinks, kvass, mousses, jellies, compotes, jelly, bakery products. Used as a seasoning for meat, fish, vegetable, cereal dishes. In the culinary arts of European countries and the USA, potato and vegetable soups, green bean garnish, goulash, game in its own juice, vegetable dishes, gravies, and cheeses are flavored with the plant. The aerial part is used in the manufacture of bitters and liquors. Infusion and decoction are used as an insecticide in the fight against various pests of crops. Used in veterinary medicine. The admixture of yarrow contributes to better digestibility of hay. Honey plant. Decorative, looks good in discounts, borders, group plantings against the backdrop of a lawn and ornamental shrubs. Varieties with different flower colors have been bred: Cerise Queen with cherry red, Keluey with dark cherry red, Summeriz with carmine red, Rubrum with cherry flowers.
ELEMENTS OF AGROTECHNICAL CULTIVATION
Yarrow is undemanding to soils, but develops better on nutritious, calcareous, slightly moistened. It is propagated in spring (until May 10) and in autumn (in September) by dividing the bush, in summer (in July) – by green cuttings. The distance between plants when planting is 25-30 cm. Seed propagation is not often used, although germination is good and seedlings develop quickly. On one site grows 3-5 years.
TASTY TIPS
Salad with yarrow.
In sauerkraut (150 g) add chopped green onions (25 g) and young leaves of yarrow (5 g) soaked in boiling water for 1 minute. Mix and season with vegetable oil (10 g).
Yarrow powder.
Grind the leaves and flowers of yarrow dried in a ventilated room in a mortar and sift through a sieve. Use to flavor meat dishes.
Meat soup with yarrow.
3-5 minutes before the soup is ready, add yarrow powder to it for flavoring. The same is true for roasts.
Borscht with yarrow.
In salted meat broth or water (500 ml), boil carrots (70 g), beets (100 g), cabbage (100 g), potatoes (25 g), onions (50 g). 3-5 minutes before readiness, add chopped blanched leaves or powder (10 g) of yarrow, season with browned carrots and onions. Before serving, put a hard-boiled egg, sour cream (25 g), sprinkle with dill and parsley on plates.
Mogilev-style sausages.
Pass beef meat (300 g) and lard bacon (150 g) twice through a meat grinder, add yarrow powder (20 g), salt, ground black pepper, garlic (5 g), mix thoroughly. Form sausages from the mass, bread them in breadcrumbs (15 g), place them on a preheated, greased frying pan, brush with egg and bake in a hot oven.
Meat in Belarusian.
Fry well-beaten, breaded in breadcrumbs meat (300 g), then stew with water and oil (20 g) over low heat until tender. At the end of cooking, sprinkle with powder (5-10 g) or leaves with flowers (20 g) of yarrow.
Yarrow drink.
Dip dried yarrow herb (20 g) into boiling water (3 l) and cook for 5-10 minutes, leave for 2-3 hours. Strain, add cranberry juice (2 cups) and honey (1 cup), then mix and bottle .