Yarrow is indigenous to the mountain west - and will be the reason that many will survive what is coming. Those who survive the great EQ mentioned in Matthew 24 that Spencer so clearly described, will immediately need to set about securing sound shelter for their loved ones and those around them. Securing good food, water and heat will be next. People will die from the cold with plenty of food and good potable water about them. I have two (smaller) wood stoves and piping that will heat spaces large enough to accommodate larger groups, should the need arise. The NEXT order of business after that list is taken care of - where you can shelter in place during a quarantine for approx 3 months at a time as this stuff sweeps the land, is to get the yarrow supply taken care of. It will be your means of salvation if the disease hits you and yours.
The former Bishop's wife of our Kalispell Ward is the resident expert on these naturally occurring herbs. She has taught her children well - and her 17 year old son was the only one that thrived on a "survivor man" overnighter I went with my boy on last summer. This gal took several hours out of her day to show my wife and two youngest daughters how to find, dry and store the different parts of the yarrow plant. Seeds for the plant are very cheap - you can search the blog and find the good sources I bought mine from. Variety might be a good thing - so get different species for your yarrow patch. It is invasive - so plant it in a spot where you don't mind it taking over. I had one take over my gravel pile last summer - I think it likes rocky, alkaline environments.....
Here is the contents of that post from Jan 2011. Considering what Spencer had to say, I think this is super important info:
THE OVERFLOWING SCOURGE - WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO DEFEAT IT?
I have been grinding away on this one for quite some time now and feel some level of confidence in presenting some information on what it is and how it is to be defeated.
This scourge will be the modern day equivalent of what the Egyptians endured when God's chosen people were oppressed (I am confident enough in what I have gathered to say that this scourge will largely affect males and those who have put the Word of Wisdom at naught - you will have to dig into the blog to figure the reasoning out). God's chosen people will once again be oppressed to the point that "the more righteous among them cries day and night until deliverance comes...". At some juncture in that series of events, there will be a scourge released that will sweep the ungodly and those who hate the truth from off the face of the land in preparation for the return of the Ten Tribes and for the remnant of Joseph to complete their works of destruction among the remaining wicked gentiles.
Here is an interesting quote that talks about the desolating scourge:
Millennial Star:
This generation shall be visited by an overflowing scourge. Of the precise nature of it we are not informed. It shall pass over the nations night and day. The affect of this visitation will be so direful and calamitous that the reports of its terrible ravages will fill all people with vexation. The operations of this fear-inspiring and destructive agent will continue until the appearance of the Lord in his glory.
Some of the judgment are definite as to locality. As an instance may be cited the approaching disruption of the Unites States of America. One of the horrors announced by the prophet upon that nation is now a matter of history the war of the Rebellion. Another and more appalling condition awaits that ill-fated people. It shall fall upon them like the visitation of a whirlwind, sweeping the country like a mighty flood. The populace will be divided into innumerable factions, and blood, carnage and woe will be rampant among them, filling the hearts of the more peacefully disposed with fear and dismay. Many will laugh at such a prediction, but, unless the people repent, it will come as surely as night follows day. Weakened and powerless from internal broils and disturbances, the nation will become a prey to the remnants left of the aboriginal inhabitants, who will be filled with vengeful rage at the wrongs that have been perpetrated upon them and furiously spread destruction in every direction. 13 Sept., 1880, p. 584-587.
So what is to be done about this? Who will remain after it is passed?? According to Sarah Menet, it will be a man-made scourge delivered at key cities in a terroristic manner - one of them will be SLC. If I am reading the John Taylor vision correctly, it will (be biologically engineered to) affect mostly men, thus effecting (in my opinion) the Isaiah prophecy about seven women taking hold of one man.... (click on colored text to read in context). There is another quote here from Wilford Woodruff that seems to back this viewpoint up: Vision of WW
The cure may well have been spelled out by Brigham Young, as follows:
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium);
(Compositae)
Dr. Christopher said that Yarrow is one of the greatest diaphoretic
herbs. It will raise the heat of the body, equalize the circulation
and produce perspiration, when taken hot. Dr. Christopher reminded
us that the old herbalists stated that " the home without Yarrow will
have death therein when the plagues come " .Brigham Young, the Mormon Prophet, said that in the last days,
people will be blessed who know how to use Yarrow.
Dr. Christopher recalled that during the great influenza epidemic of
1918, about twenty million people died the world over, two million
being in the United States.
He remembered that as a boy people were not allowed to go out in
public during the
epidemic without wearing surgical masks. If you were found without
the mask, you could be arrested.
" We have been warned that during the plagues yet to come we will
have far worse influenza epidemics than in the past. People will die
in such large numbers that these epidemics will fulfill prophecies
that black crepe would be on nearly ever door. You can have one of
the few homes wherein " `death does not visit' if you will see that
your family rebuilds their bodies by proper eating, staying on the
mucusless
diet, and having Yarrow or some other good diaphoretic herbs on had
at all times "
(Herbalist: 1:6:196).
Dr. Christopher taught the standard herbalist's view of fever, that
it is a signal of malfunction happening in the body, so one must
turn to the cause to get rid of it.
If you suppress the fever with aspirin or some other
drug, the heart has to work that much harder to pump not only the
original toxicity from the body, but also the corpses of the germs.
This can damage the heart, the kidneys, the nervous system, the
circulatory system--all of the body--and eventually result in
rheumatoid arthritis, crippling arthritis, muscular dystrophy,
multiple sclerosis, and other similar ailments (Ibid.).
When there are toxic materials in the body, germs enter. These live
on the dead materials. The body builds a fever for incubation and
multiplication of the germs, because the more germs that there are,
the faster
toxins are removed from the body. The germs must have moist heat to
reproduce quickly.
Without a great deal of added moisture, the body dehydrates itself
trying to furnish the moisture needed. This can
result in a dry fever, which can kill.
With a moist fever, however,the fever can go higher and higher,
causing more and more germs to consume the toxins in the body. When
the body is clean, the germs leave because there are no more toxins
left to live on; they will not consume healthy cell structure and
cannot hurt the healthy human body.
During the fever, liquids must be given to the patient, such
as juices, herb teas, and distilled water.
Yarrow tea, among the diaphoretics, is especially useful because it
raises the temperature naturally, opens the pores for waste to
escape, and promotes perspiration. As long as moisture is going into
the body and
perspiration is occurring, there is little damage that can be done
by fevers.
This sweating, or diaphoresis, is essential to healing in such a
situation--and in many others--because if the pores of the skin are
closed, the bloodstream soon becomes impure, poisoning the whole
system.
Dr. Christopher taught that no matter where the trouble may
be in the body, provided the general circulation is involved, you
can dramatically help the situation by diaphoresis.
This is why Yarrow is so valuable. He cited that inflammation of the
lungs,
pleurisy, peritonitis, inflammation in the stomach, spleen, bowels,
kidneys, bladder, uterus or brain--everywhere in the body--can be
healed by diaphoretic treatment.
One of the most dramatic treatments Dr. Christopher recommended is
his Cold Sheet Treatment. Although it is detailed elsewhere, the
reader might benefit from a brief rehearsal of the procedure here.
lie said that when the epidemics come, you will be able to save many
lives that would otherwise be lost without this remarkable aid.
It can be used safely in any inflammatory disease, on anyone, from
newly-born infants to the very aged.
Dr. Loretta Foote, formerly Dr. Christopher's staff obstetrician,
never lost a full-term baby in all
her years of practice, even when they were born with respiratory
congestion, or even pneumonia.
She used the cold sheet treatment on cases when the babies were only
minutes or hours old.
This treatment is commenced by giving the patient an enema, which
Dr. Christopher said should only be done in an emergency, such as a
high fever.
Cold tea, such as catnip, mint, Yarrow, red raspberry,etc., or cold
water may be used. A hot enema relaxes the lower bowel
and anus area, causing them to expand and quickly void, but the cold
will contract the area and retain the liquid until it soaks further
into the encrusted and hardened fecal matter to ensure a large
evacuation.
After this enema, a small enema called an injection is given. You
make the liquid for this by placing in a blender container one to
two cups apple cider vinegar and water in equal amounts.
Turn the blender on and add several peeled cloves of garlic. Do not
make this too thick to go through the neck of the enema syringe. If
no blender is available, chop or grate the garlic finely and mix
with cool or cold water and apple cider vinegar mixture. Have the
patient lie with his buttocks elevated with pillows or padding and
inject the garlic tea into the rectum, having the patient hold it in
as long as possible (ten to fifteen minutes) before voiding it.
Babies can be
given the enema and diapered, allowed to toddle or crawl if they
wish, or to be held. They usually retain this injection for the
required length of time and, interestingly, the garlic aroma appears
on their breath within just a few minutes.
Then place the patient in a hot tub, as hot as possible without
scalding the skin.
To this hot tub add one ounce of ginger, one ounce of cayenne, and
one ounce of dry mustard, all in powdered form. Be sure to coat the
mucous membranes of the genitalia with vaseline or some other low-
vibration ointment so that the herbs will not cause stinging and
pain. Stir the bath well and have the patient sit and sweat.
These herbs open the pores of the body to allow oxygen in liquid
form to enter and the poisons and toxic materials to be dispersed.
While the patient is in the tub, give him one or
more cups of hot Yarrow tea, which will cause him to sweat even
more.
If your patient is a child, you can give camomile tea, which
has a more acceptable taste to children.
Even a baby bottle of the tea can be given. Although in infections
it is preferable not to
give the tea sweetened, for children it may be necessary to lightly
sweeten the tea, perhaps with sweet herb (Stevia).
The person may eventually tell you that he is tired; you can tell
when children get tired as they seem limp. Have him stand up and
wrap around him a large, wet sheet taken out of cold water or ice
water.
Pin it down the side from neck to feet. Squeeze out some of
the water before putting on the sheet so it will not trail water as
the person is walked or carried to bed. Have the bed prepared with a
rubber sheet or plastic sheet over the mattress. Cover this with a
dry cotton sheet and lay the patient on the sheet, covered with
another cotton sheet, and the then natural-fiber blankets, well-
tucked in.
Do not use synthetics during any part of this treatment,
as they will not allow the toxins to escape.
When the patient is tucked into bed, uncover his feet and oil them
thoroughly with olive oil.
While you do this, you can give a short acupressure treatment
all over the foot to help speed the healing. Then apply garlic
paste, which has been previously prepared by mincing or mashing
several cloves of garlic and mixing them with olive oil to make an
ointment.
This should be applied a half to three-fourths inch thick
all over the soles of the feet and bound lightly with gauze or two-
inch strips of old cotton sheets. Pull over this a large white
cotton or wool sock, pin the wet sheet over the bottom and let him
go to sleep.
He will sleep well from the effects of the Yarrow tea.
The next morning he will want to get up and be active, because he
feels so well from the cleansing.
Take him out of bed and sponge him down with a half-and-half
combination of warm apple cider vinegar and distilled water to
remove the perspiration on the body. Freshen the bed, put clean
pajamas on the person, and have him rest.
If he is hungry, do not give heavy foods, but only herb teas, water,
or fruit or vegetable juices, having him swish them around in the
mouth to mix well with the saliva.
The large sheet used in the treatment will likely be stained with
various colors, depending on what the patient had taken
into his system: black from coal tar (aspirin and other medicines
made from tar),
yellow from inorganic sulphur (sulfa drugs, cooked eggs, preserved
fruits, etc.,) green from arsenic in medicine and
sprayed foods, red from iodine, purple from potassium permanganate,
brown from coffee, chocolate, tobacco, and so on.
These toxins accumulated in the body and slowed down healing for
years. Although it is too bad to have them in the sheet, they are
better there than in the person's body!
After the body is cleansed, you can be sure to maintain health by
proper diet, air, water, clothing, exercise and balanced activity.
MILFOIL
Yarrow is one of the ancient herbs. It originated in Europe, but was
introduced in the United States and now it is fully naturalized. It
grows everywhere freely except in the Southwest, and is particularly
common in the Eastern portion the States.
In Europe, it has long been valued as an important medicinal herb.
Dioscorides said that it will help recent inflamed ulcers, being
smeared on green. It was also given for epilepsy, with water and
salt.
Yarrow was formerly much esteemed as a wound herb, and its old names
of Soldier's Wound Wort and Knight's Milfoil testify to this. It was
also called Herba Militaris, all of which suggest that it was used
as a ready-to-hand field bandage for battle wounds, " although its
value for stanching flows of blood is doubtful, " claims one
herbalist (Coon:46). Gerard
says that it is the same plant with which Achilles stanched bleeding
of his solider, hence the name of the genus, Achillea.
Others saythat it was discovered by a certain Achilles, Chiron's
disciple. It specific name, millefolium, is derived from the many
segments of its
foliage, hence also its popular name, Milfoil or Thousand Weed.
The name Old Man's Pepper refers to the astringent quality of the
herb and the fact that it has been employed as a snuff. In the
seventeenth century, it was also used as an ingredient in salad,
although that doesn't correspond to our modern tastes today: the
taste of the herb is much too biting and astringent to us.
Linnaeus recommended the bruised herb, fresh as an excellent
vulnerary and styptic.
It is employed in Norway for the cure of rheumatism, and the fresh
leaves chewed are said to cure toothache.
In England, the herb has been made into an ointment for wounds, and
a tea is taken for melancholy. In Russia, it is used for bleeding,
stomach problems, coughs and colds, liver problems, dysentery and
nervousness.
The American Indians were extremely aware of this herb, and many
tribes had specific uses for it. This brings to question, of course,
the claim that our species are all naturalized from Europe.
Some say
that the western species are different from the European, and other
disagree, saying that they are the same species. Since they are
alike in medicinal values, it doesn't really matter, but we prefer
to think that the plant was distributed everywhere by the Lord for
the use of man wherever they are.
One very early report says that Yarrow was used in cuts by the
Illinois and Miami tribes. The Paiutes made a tea of Yarrow to be
taken internally for weak and disordered stomachs; they also used
the herb for headaches, crushing the green leaves and applying
externally.
The decoction was also used internally for headaches,
and as a blood tonic (especially after childbirth), as a cold
remedy, a kidney aid, a venereal aid, and externally as a poultice
on swellings and sores, eyewash, a wash for fevers, a toothache
remedy and a treatment for collar sores on horses. The Ute name for
this plant signifies " wound medicine, " and they applied it
externally on bruises, and used it as a tea in sicknesses of various
kinds.
It grows freely in the mountains of their territory. The
Winnebagos used an infusion of Yarrow to bathe swellings and treat
earache; they also sometimes put a wad of the crushed leaves into
the ear for earache. The Chickasaws used it as a remedy for cramp in
the neck. The Meskwakis boiled it for application externally to any
ailing part, and used the leaves and flowers for fevers and flu.
They also used the leaves as a poultice for rash in children, and
the fresh tops to rub on eczema sores. The Pillager Ojibwas used the
florets for ceremonial smoking and as a fumigant to break fever. The
flowers were placed on coals and the fumes were inhaled to break the
fever.
The Potawatomis used them as a fumigant to ward off evil
spirits and to revive a comatose patient. The Flambeau used an
external application for poisonous spider bites. The Montagnais used
it to break fevers as did the Fox tribe, who also used it as an
antirheumatic.
The Aleuts used it for stomach and throat pain and as
a dermatological aid, especially for nose bleed. The Kwakiutls
chewed or soaked the plant and heated it for a poultice to be used
on swellings.
The Shoshone tribe used the freshly-mashed leaves on swellings and
sores; they used the freshly-mashed roots on painful
wounds. The decoction was used by the Shoshones against diarrhea and
rheumatism, and as a wash for itching, relief of indigestion, colic,
and toothache.
The Zunis used a burn dressing poultice of Yarrow
before fire eating or fire walking, and used the infusion on burns.
The Chippewas used a decoction of the leaves, steamed and inhaled
for headache, as a stimulant for horses; the decoction was used for
skin eruptions.
The Gitksans used a decoction of the root as a gargle for sore
throat. The Menominees used the dried and powdered
leaves for a poultice in swellings and sores, and a poultice of the
fresh leaves for rash in children.
The Mohegan tribe used the decoction as a liver and kidney aid and
as an appetite stimulant.
These varied but related uses suggest that Yarrow grew freely
throughout America where the tribes lived (early informants insisted
that it is a native herb), and that empirical use among the tribes
establishes well the efficacy of Yarrow.
The herb was official in the United States Pharmacopeia from 1863-
82, used as a tonic, stimulant and emmenagogue. Interestingly, it
was formerly brought to weddings to ensure seven years love.
Other names for the plant include thousand-leaved, thousand seal,
dog daisy, knight's milfoil, ladies' mantle, and noble yarrow.
FEVER HERB
Yarrow was one of Dr. Christopher's favorite herbs; he listed it
among his Ten Honorable Herbs under the category of diaphoretic. It
is widely recommended by many herbalists for feverish diseases.
" It is often used by peasants as a substitute for quinine, and it
quite as effective and far safer than that drug " (Levy:Common:160).
It is
sometimes called " Englishman's quinine " , and has been thought to be
especially effective in cases of chills and fever. There are various
preparations of Yarrow which will effect this breaking up of fever.
Dr. Christopher said that drinking the hot infusion, alone or in
combination with other herbs, such as elder flowers and peppermint.
If you wrap the patient's feet in flannel that has been wrung out in
apple cider vinegar, keeping this warm with a hot water bottle, you
can break up a cold overnight or within 24 hours. You should be sure
to keep the bowels open, either using a garlic enema or giving a
dose of senna.
Once the fever is broken, keeping the bowels open ensures that the
patient heals quickly so that toxic accumulations do not
keep " feeding " the problem. Another combination that is
recommended for breaking fevers mixes a standard infusion of Yarrow
with a teaspoon of honey and three drops of Tabasco sauce. The
patient should be heavily covered. This will open the pores and
cause profuse sweating, thus eliminating toxins and relieving the
kidneys of the job of eliminating.
You can also use a dash ofcayenne or ginger to accent the action of
the Yarrow. Dr.
Christopher related that his daughter was away at summer camp and
caught a severe cold. When he went to visit her for the weekend, he
found her in bed with a high temperature, headache, and the general
symptoms of influenza, the body aching and in a most restless
condition. He saw a stand of Yarrow growing near the cabin and went
to gather a handful. He placed a bunch of the whole plant in a jug
and poured over it about one-and-a-half pints of boiling water,
covered it for about five minutes, and then poured off a cupful of
the warm tea. He gave it to his daughter, who insisted that she
would vomit if he made her drink the whole cup. He told her that if
the stomach rejected it, the result would be a cleaner stomach for
the next dose. She drank the cupful, and he poured off a second
cupful of the warm tea to give to her. She got it all down, and in a
few minutes was perspiring freely.
In half an hour she said she felt
better and in the morning she was completely recovered (SNH:2 17).
We have given the tea in influenza when the patient vomited, but
afterwards taking more tea got the same healing diaphoretic effect.
Especially since flu can last up to a week--sometimes longer--it is
amazing to have an herb that can break it up so quickly.
If you give the tea to children during the early stages of eruptive
diseases, such as measles, chicken pox, smallpox, etc., the tea will
help the disease to break out more quickly and thus shorten the
time.
Dr. Christopher recommended a mixture of Yarrow, pleurisy root
and lady's slipper (or skullcap) for the measles. Anytime there is a
fever, no matter what the disease, Yarrow can help break it and
bring the disease to a speedier ending.
For chest colds, it is sometimes recommended mixing 1 ounce of
Yarrow, ½ ounce elder flowers, ½ ounce boneset, and 1/4 ounce
licorice. These are made into a decoction and taken by the cupful
every three or four hours, going on a juice fast for a day. For head
colds, equal parts of Yarrow, sage, boneset, and echinacea are made
into infusion and taken before meals.
For bronchitis, equal parts of
Yarrow, mullein and elecampane are made into an infusion, a cupful
taken every four hours. For catarrh, which is a mucus condition in
the system, Yarrow, angelica and eyebright herb are mixed in equal
portions with a pinch of cinnamon. This is made into an infusion,
one cupful taken three times daily after each meal. In addition, if
mucus-causing foods are removed from the diet, the catarrh is often
cured of itself (Luc:Herbal:72-3).
Aside from its use as a febrifuge, Yarrow is known for many other
important applications. It is wonderful for eliminating lung
congestion, and even for stopping hemorrhage or bleeding from the
lungs (Málstrom: 107). It is sometimes mixed with comfrey for
internal hemorrhage. It is good for various forms of internal
bleeding, such as nosebleed, coughing or spitting up blood, rectal
hemorrhoidal bleeding, bloody urine, and excessive menstruation
(Lust:272).
It is very often recommended for external applications, as it is
reputed to act as a styptic, stopping the flow of blood from a
wound. " It can be applied directly to wounds to stop bleeding and is
used in making a bolus or salve for bleeding piles " (Tie: 121). For
piles and hemorrhoids, use an enema of the tea after the bowels have
been cleansed with a plain water enema. Also inject two
tablespoonfuls several times a day, and after each stool. When there
is a bad condition of piles and hemorrhoids, take a cleansing and
then a Yarrow enema each day. When there is much pain have the water
112 to 155 degrees F. (Kloss:333). Ulcers and soft tumors are said
to respond to an application of the ointment.
" Animal studies have
shown that extracts of Yarrow can reduce inflammation and that they
have a calming effect. Thus, the use of the juice of this plant for
the treatment of ulcers and hemorrhoids has a rational basis.
Extracts of Yarrow are also known to have antibiotic effects when
evaluated in test tubes. Thus, at least for external application,
one would expect that a person suffering from boils or other
microbial infections of a minor nature would receive beneficial
results by the external application of Yarrow preparations
(Weiner:206). Yarrow leaves, chewed, are said to sometimes relieve
the pain of a toothache.
For earache, apply some of the strong infusion quite hot to the
ears, and insert a few drops of the cooler brew. In addition, the
crushed leaves, well-wanned, can be placed in each ear (Levy:
Common: 160). This might be a good remedy to know if you need to
treat an earache and are away from herbal supplies.
Yarrow has long been recommended for women's troubles. It relieves
cramps and helps control excessive menstrual bleeding when taken as
a warm infusion (Tie:121). It is good for controlling leucorrhea, or
the whites, by taking internally and by using as a douche, the cool
infusion being used. It lessens the discharge in women generally. It
is also good for bringing on suppressed menstruation. You can used
the warm Yarrow tea as a sitz bath as well.
Yarrow has been long-recommended for dyspepsia and all digestive
problems. " The use of decoctions or infusions of Yarrow flowers as a
tonic has been studied experimentally in humans, and it has been
confirmed that gastric juices are stimulated by the oral ingestion
of extracts of this plant. This would lead to a tonic effect with
improved digestion of foods. The effect is due to the presence of
bitter principles (azulenes, sesquiterpenes) in the flowers "
(Weiner:206).
In Russia it is recognized for stomach troubles and as
an appetizer. It is much used by the Swiss as a bitter tea for use
as a stomach cordial or appetite tonic (Luc:Magic:49). It is also
thought of as a specific cure for nausea. It is good for
strengthening the liver and gall bladder, being especially noted for
stimulating the flow of the bile (Lust:272).
This is good to know,
because many holistic practitioners recommend using a coffee enema
for tripping the gall bladder reflex. Putting the poison caffeine
into the system through an enema is just as dangerous as taking it
internally in coffee; Yarrow would seem a much preferable
alternative.
Yarrow has also been recommended in pancreas problems,
including Bright's disease and diabetes. It is sometimes given
internally for colic and gas pains. It is especially good for
diarrhea and dysentery, used internally and given as an injection;
infants particularly respond to this treatment. Urinary irritations
often respond to the internal use of Yarrow tea.
The tea can be applied to chapped hands or other skin irritations,
and it can be rubbed on sore nipples if needed.
In the Doctrine of Signatures, the finely-segmented leaves of this
plant and its profuse growth suggested to ancient users to claim
that each leaf is equal to a thousand uses.
The root stock, which is creeping, indicates its thorough blood-
cleansing properties.
It contains much of the blood fortifying chemicals such as iron,
calcium, potassium, sulfur, and sodium. The silky hairs on the whole
plant indicate external irritations, as we have discussed above. The
ointment of the herb has long been prepared in England with other
herbs for external applications, and in Scotland it is still highly
valued as a skin ointment (Harris: Complete: 196).
OTHER USES
For a time the Swedes used Yarrow in lieu of hops in the manufacture
of beer and claimed the beer thus brewed to be a greater intoxicant.
Combined with camomile, the herb is made into a strong infusion and
cooled, good for a hair-rinse, or to be rubbed into the scalp to
discourage baldness or failing hair.
The dried flowers are famous for their use in dried-flower
arrangements. As mentioned before, the stripped stalks are used in
divination.
In the garden, Yarrow increases the aromatic quality of all herbs.
In a small proportion, as in a border, it helps most vegetables. It
will grow in a narrow bed as it does not mind being trampled. The
hay or tea are said to be good for sheep.
The plant helps the
quality more than the size of neighboring plants, although in one
experiment it had an unusual effect upon perennial rye grass. It
strikingly cuts down the protein content in the grass, but
considerably increases the fiber content therein. But the two herbs
mixed together for pasture feed provide 40% more protein than the
grass alone, thus recommending the mixture for a high nutritional
feed for cows. Yarrow is also good to enrich the compost pile
(Phil:98-9). It is sometimes used to flavor homemade liquors.
CULTIVATION, COLLECTION, PREPARATION
You can start Yarrow from seed or by dividing the root clumps of
established plants. The decorative varieties are usually available
from nurseries, and the white medicinal kind can often be found in
mountain regions, dug from the ground and transplanted into the herb
garden. Yarrow seed will germinate in the light. Sow it on top of
fine soil and keep it moist until it germinates. Start it indoors in
March so it will be ready for harvesting in June or July. Although
fertilization is of minor importance because of Yarrow's hardiness,
annual applications of bonemeal will promote its growth. The plant
will produce a more pleasing aroma in light, sandy soils than in
heavy, clay ones (Hyl:625).
Cut the flowering plants and chop into pieces, drying rapidly at
temperatures from 90 to 100 degrees F. Slower drying may cause
darkening of the leaves.
The white medicinal variety is said to excrete a toxin to the soil
that eventually will defeat even its own growth. If you need to have
the white medicinal variety, you might grow it for a season and then
hunt it wild (Hyl:625).
You can prepare an ointment of Yarrow by placing the chopped flower
heads and leaves in olive oil, keeping in a warm oven or sunlight
for several days. Strain and press well, heat gently, and then add
enough beeswax to harden when cool.
Yarrow stores quite well in a cool, dry, air-tight situation.
DESCRIPTION
This common roadside herb grows to 6 to 20 inches high, from a
slender, creeping, perennial root, which, beside a multitude of
filiform rootlets, gives off several long, reddish stolons. The stem
is simple or nearly so, erect, slightly grooved and roughly hairy.
The leaves are alternate; those from the near the root wide-
petioled, two to six inches long; those of the stem proper shorter,
sessile or nearly so, and all in their general outline more or less
lanceolate oblong, twice pinnately-parted, the divisions linear,
crowded and three-to-five cleft. The peduncles number three or more;
the pedicels are many, forming small, crowded, flat-topped corymbs
at the summit of the plant. The flower heads are many-flowered and
radiate. The involucel consists of two to three imbricated rows of
ovoid-oblong scales, with a prominent midrib and brownish, scarious
edges. The rays are four or five, pistillage, with a short, obovate,
reflexed limb. The corolla is tubular, the summit slightly inflated,
five lobed, the lobes revolute, acute. The stamens are five,
inserted upon the tube, and rising slightly above the face of the
corolla. The anthers are adnate, without tails at the base. The
style is long, upright, slender, rising above the anthers. The
stigma is two-cleft, the divisions recurved and fringed at their
tips. The receptacle is small, usually flat and chaffy
(Millspaugh:335).
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Oil of achillea has a taste similar to the herb itself. Achilleic
acid is also attributed its medicinal action. Both the flowers and
leaves contain an aromatic volatile oil which is blue in color owing
to the presence of chamazulene.
DR. CHRISTOPHER'S COMBINATIONS CONTAINING YARROW
The Desert Herb Combination contains Yarrow.
RELATED PLANTS.
A. lanulosa is considered to be the western species of Yarrow,
although it is not easy to discern from European Yarrow.
A. ptarmica, Sneezewort, was early used in medicine. It helps with
catarrh, epilepsy, and uterine problems.
A. tomentosa, the wooly yellow Yarrow, is very rare, and is thought
to be imported from Europe.
A. ageratum has tufted, oblong, serrate and clammy leaves and very
short ray floret; it is used similarly to Yarrow.
A. nobilis has a stronger taste than common Yarrow.
A. moschata is largely used in Switzerland; it has a strongly
aromatic and bitter taste and is used as a bitter.
A. atrata and A. nana are used like the other species.
http://www.healmarketplace.com/herbs...rbs/yarrow.htm
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