Achillea millefolium L. · herb
Evidence tier: traditional
One of the oldest documented Western herbs. A bitter digestive, mild diaphoretic, and topical wound healer.
Plausible, preclinical, unproven in people. EMA accepts three overlapping laboratory explanations as support for the traditional uses, and no more than that: the bitter principles account for the appetite indication (the German pharmacopoeia even sets a bitter value limit); non clinical data on choleretic, gastroprotective, spasmolytic and anti inflammatory activity support the digestive and cramping indications; and the sesquiterpene lactones and proazulenes, which yield chamazulene, account for the anti inflammatory and wound indications. None of this has been shown to operate in humans at the doses people actually take.
Traditional use only, and the EMA says so in the bluntest terms available to it. The HMPC assessment report on Millefolii herba states outright: 'There are no published clinical studies on Millefolii herba' and concludes that well established use 'is considered not fulfilled'. The EU herbal monograph therefore registers yarrow purely as a TRADITIONAL herbal medicinal product, for temporary loss of appetite, for mild spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence, for minor spasm associated with menstrual periods, and topically for small superficial wounds, all of it 'exclusively based upon long standing use'. EMA's public summary is explicit that although there is insufficient evidence from clinical trials, the effectiveness is considered plausible on the strength of laboratory work. So this is a genuinely old and coherent herb with essentially zero human efficacy data behind it. That is not a hedge, that is the ceiling. The one thing that is NOT soft is the allergy risk. EMA makes hypersensitivity to yarrow or to other plants of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family an ABSOLUTE contraindication, not a caution, and the assessment report explains why: the sesquiterpene lactone alpha peroxyachifolid is a strong sensitiser, and a five year follow up of Asteraceae sensitive patients found MORE THAN 50 PERCENT reacted on patch testing to a yarrow extract. If you react to ragweed, chrysanthemum, chamomile, echinacea or marigold, this is a no.
EMA traditional use, adults and adolescents. Appetite and digestive complaints: herbal tea, 2 to 4 g of comminuted herb in 250 ml boiling water, 3 or 4 times daily between meals (liquid preparations 30 minutes before meals for appetite); expressed juice 5 to 10 ml 2 or 3 times daily; liquid extract 2 to 4 ml three times daily; tincture 2 to 4 ml three times daily. Menstrual cramping: herbal tea, 1 to 2 g in 250 ml boiling water, 2 to 3 times daily. Small superficial wounds: 3.5 g in 250 ml water as a compress, 2 to 3 times daily. Not recommended under 12 years of age. If symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks (appetite and digestive) or 1 week (cramps and wounds), see a clinician.
Tea: 1 tsp dried herb steeped 10 min, up to 3 cups daily before meals. Tincture: 2 to 4 ml three times daily.
May trigger allergic reactions in Asteraceae sensitive individuals. Avoid in pregnancy.
Pregnancy: avoid
Breastfeeding: avoid
Active compounds: sesquiterpene lactones (achillicin, achillin, leucodin), proazulenes yielding chamazulene, volatile oil (linalool, borneol, camphor, 1,8-cineole, beta-caryophyllene), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, rutin), tannins, achilleine
Remedies using Yarrow · Browse by body system · Check it against what you take
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