Yarrow

Benefits:

Legend has it that yarrow’s unique virtues were discovered by Achilles.

It contains an alkaloid principle called achilleine, as well as flavonoids, volatile oils, potassium and calcium salts of organic acids, and tannins. Its effects are mostly astringent, which make yarrow helpful for firming and tightening tissues.

Yarrow nutritionally supports the mucous membranes and has a soothing effect on the digestive system. It is closely related to chamomile, both botanically and chemically.

Yarrow, a flower in the sunflower family that’s closely related to chamomile and chrysanthemum, has been used since ancient times by cultures around the world. Traditionally, it’s been consumed as tea, applied to the skin or even cooked with in order to reduce inflammation (especially in the digestive tract), help treat skin wounds, and relieve anxiety and insomnia.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial plant from the Asteraceae family. It’s the best-known species of the genus Achillea due to its various therapeutic uses in both folk and conventional medicine.

The achillea millefolium plant is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe and Asia. It has fern-like foliage and colorful flowers of red, pink, salmon, yellow and white.

Studies show that some of the plant’s health-promoting and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals include flavonoids, carotenoids and terpenes. Examples of antioxidants that have been isolated from the plant include:

• luteolin
• apigenin
• casticin
• centaureidin
• artemetin
• sesquiterpenoids
• paulitin
• isopaulitin
• desacetylmatricarin
• psilostachyin

A 2013 study published in Food Chemistry showed that commercial yarrow has more fat and saturated fatty acids, proteins, energy value, sugars and flavonoids, while wild yarrow has higher levels of carbohydrates, organic acids, unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic acids.

Ingredients: Yarrow aerial parts.

Recommended Use: Take 1 capsule with a meal twice daily.