Achillea millefollium, or yarrow, is perennial plant that grows both by seeds and by extending its root system. Yarrow tea is made from dried or fresh parts of the yarrow plant. This tea is said to help with medical conditions such as stomach and digestive problems, hemorrhoids, and gall bladder pain.
The medicinal benefits of yarrow have been known for thousands of years. Yarrow was found along with other medicinal herbs in a grave in Iraq that is believed to be about 50,000 years old. In addition to using yarrow to help heal wounds, ancient Chinese used stalks of yarrow to help divine, or find, water. The Greek hero Achilles is said to have used yarrow to help heal soldiers injured during the Trojan War.
Today, yarrow grows in the wild and is cultivated in gardens for its attractive appearance and its hardiness. Yarrow is also grown to attract butterflies and for its medicinal values. Along with harvesting cultivated or wild yarrow, users can buy yarrow from health food stores.
Yarrow tea can be made from fresh or dried yarrow parts. Fresh flowers, leaves and stems should be simmered slowly in water. The recipe for tea made from dried yarrow calls for steeping one or two teaspoons of the herb per cup of water for roughly 15 minutes. Whether using fresh or dried yarrow, the pan or pot used should be covered to prevent the volatile oils in yarrow from evaporating. The resulting tea will have a bitter taste.
One of the main uses of yarrow tea is to treat fevers. Other benefits of yarrow tea include treating wounds and stopping bleeding, treating upset stomachs and treating respiratory infections. Yarrow tea is also used for menstrual pain, to stimulate the appetite, and to increase circulation.
Herbs, like drugs, can have side effects. The most well known of yarrow tea side effects is that skin can become sensitive to light exposure. In addition, pregnant women and people who have liver or kidney problems should consult their physicians before drinking yarrow tea.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consider yarrow to be a drug. Therefore, the government does not regulate or set standards for yarrow products that are packaged and sold. This means that effectiveness of yarrow may vary from brand to brand. In addition, the FDA has concerns about the amount of thujone that yarrow contains. Thujone can be toxic to human beings when taken in large amounts.