Scientists at the University of Würzburg have been using the drug plant of the year every year since 1999. This year, her choice fell on the common yarrow with its fine white flowers. The plant is widespread with us and often grows on the edges of the path. As a tea, infusion, seat pool or ointment, the common yarrow can alleviate different suffering – and has been doing great services to humanity for centuries.
From chamomile to the nettle to St. John’s wort: German meadows are a real treasury for healing and medicinal plants. In order to draw attention to this, the interdisciplinary study group “Development History of the Pharmaceutical Plants” at the University of Würzburg chooses a drug plant of the year every year. This year the Tiel goes to the common yarrow (Achillea Millefolium).
An all -rounder under the pharmaceutical plants
Most of us have probably run past a yarrow – albeit unknown. Because the plant with branched stems and numerous small white flowers, which is up to 80 centimeters high, often grows on fields and paths as well as on meadows and pastures. On the one hand, her name is derived from the fact that sheep loves to eat the inconspicuous plant, and on the other hand, that it helps health. Because “Garbe” comes from the Old High German word “Garwe”, which means “healing”. The Latin name Achillea Millefolium, in turn, goes back to the Greek legendary Achilles, who is said to have treated the wounds of his soldiers with yarrow herb.
Even today, thousands of years to Achilles, pharmaceutical companies process flar herb and flowers into teas, drages and tinctures. The various bitter and tannins of the yarrow as well as essential oils and flavonoids obtained from it are particularly effective. Inside the body, the float of the yarrow, for example, can help against temporary loss of appetite, slight cramp-like gastrointestinal complaints and menstrual cramps, as the Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Industry reports. On the outside, small superficial wounds and light skin and mucosal inflammation can be treated on the outside. Seat baths with yarrow can also help women with cramps in the pool area.
How to heal with yarrow
If you want to test the effect of the yarrow yourself, you can do this in the form of certified medicine products or prepare yourself. For a yarrow tea, two grams of cut yarrow herb or flowers are sufficient, which are poured over 150 milliliters of boiling water. Then let it steep for ten to 15 minutes. For sitting pools you need 100 grams of yarrow herb on one or two liters of water. This mixture should then pull for a total of 20 minutes.
However, yarrow is not a miracle cure. If the corresponding symptoms stop, one should definitely go to a doctor’s office. And if you are allergic to basket blooms such as chamomile, dandelion or chrysanthemums, you should even do without yarrow entirely.
Source: BPI Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Industry, research group Klostermedizin GmbH, University of Münster, University of Vienna
