Dietary Supplements: Benefits Purported for Yarrow

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It is very easy to read an article in a magazine and believe everything it claims simply because it is presented in a professional way. The implications of this are particularly important when the article contains information about one’s health. Other ways people gain information about new herbal treatments for a common ailment are through word of mouth, which carries with it the authority of the ‘old wives’ or ‘ancient lore’, both of which are frequently credited with time-tested knowledge that has worked for generations.

In some cases, the information is very valid and the research to support this is becoming more widely available, but in other cases, the information has been proven wrong, ineffective and, at times, even counterintuitive. Before acting upon the information found in an article or passed down through word of mouth, it’s a good idea to question the claims made through a thorough analysis. One substance, frequently being used as an alternative to drug therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease as well as a number of other common ailments, is the herb known commonly as yarrow.

Yarrow has a number of different cultivars that thrive in many parts of the world and the herb has a long history of use as a medical supplement. Officially, the plant is known as Achillea millefolium, but it has a number of common names including gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf and feather-leaf (Dodson & Dunmire, 2007). The plant is said to have been named because of its association with the Greek hero Achilles. “According to the legend, Achilles’ mother held him by the heels and dipped him in a bath of yarrow. Achilles was forever protected by the herb except for the heels” (Madocks, 2009).

Throughout his life, the hero was said to have always carried yarrow with him into battle because of its ability to staunch the flow of blood from battle-inflicted wounds. “In the ancient world, yarrow was seen as a potent healing agent, whether applied to a wound or taken internally to prevent a cold setting in. Yarrow was the preferred domestic medicine of yesteryears’ mothers who kept it around to keep coughs and colds at bay” (Ehrlich, 2007). There is evidence of its use throughout the world including references in England, Italy, Greece, the Middle East, China and among numerous Native American tribes.

There are numerous benefits purported for yarrow, many of which can be helpful in treating conditions of the colon such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease. Although the uses to which the ancients put the plant are many, modern day uses include treatment for loss of appetite, indigestion or heartburn, to increase urine flow, help regulate menstrual flow, treat menstrual cramps and pain, soothe muscle spasms, relieve inflammation, fight infection, reduce fever, to treat minor internal bleeding and to stop external bleeding (Ehrlich, 2007). Many cultures look to the yarrow plant to either stop or reduce the effects of colds and flu as well.

People suffering from inflammatory bowel disease frequently suffer many of these problems. The most common symptoms reported for both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease are persistent diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, fever and rectal bleeding (Teitelbaum, 2009). The only one of these symptoms that yarrow does not directly address, based upon the common usage, is persistent diarrhea. Its ability to help with abdominal pain by relieving muscle spasms, reduce fever and stop internal and external bleeding has many sufferers turning to yarrow as a possible alternative solution to the often expensive and sometimes embarrassing forms of medication available.

While yarrow is a good herbal remedy for many of these symptoms and has a relatively mild effect, there are some people who should not use it. To begin with, herbs including yarrow can have an effect on the way other substances behave within the body. Yarrow has a tendency to make other medications stronger, so it’s important for people to work with their health care provider when using these substances. It is known to interact with brand name drugs Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid as well as medications for high blood pressure and sleep aids such as Dilantin, barbiturates, Xanax, Valium, Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta or Rozerem (Ehrlich, 2007).

However, before patients will discuss their use of herbal remedies with their health care practitioner, they must have a sense that their nurses and doctors are well-informed. In addition, yarrow has a tendency to make skin more sensitive to sunlight and, as a member of the aster family, may cause irritation in people who are allergic to plants such chrysanthemums, daisies or ragweed. Finally, with its muscle-relaxing properties, yarrow may cause miscarriage in pregnant women.

Yarrow has not received a great deal of scientific attention in the past few years, but enough research has been done to suggest that the traditional lore surrounding the herb has some basis in fact. Japanese researchers have identified three anti-tumor compounds present in yarrow that have proven active against certain types of leukemia cells (Lietava, 1992). One study concluded that yarrow reduced the aggressive properties of gastric juice and enhanced its protective properties (cited in Sahelian, 2009).

Yarrow has also been proven to be a choleretic agent (cited in Sahelian, 2009). While the research remains scant, scientists have identified a number of biologically active compounds in the herb. Essential oils of the plant include the components borneol, camphor, eugenol, chamazulene, tannins, achilleine, aligenin and rutin (Lietava, 1992). Some research has been conducted to determine whether yarrow actually poses risk to pregnancy, but no conclusive reports have been released.

There are a number of ways in which yarrow can be taken. Because there have been no studies to determine its effects on children, there are no recommended dosing instructions for children suffering from the effects of inflammatory bowel disease. However, adults can take yarrow in teas, capsules, extracts or tinctures or use it as a poultice in the case of external wounds. When used as a tea, it is recommended that adults steep one or two teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup of boiling water, strain and then cool and season to taste. Adults should drink two to three cups of yarrow tea per day to regulate their system and maintain control over their illness.

Two to four grams of yarrow in capsule form is recommended daily or one to four milliliters of extract three times a day. Tinctures are also recommended three times daily in doses of two to four milliliters each. These dosages are recommended for average, everyday use by people interested in boosting immune systems and regulating the digestive tract. People actively suffering from inflammatory bowel disease may choose to use yarrow in the form of an enema as a means of delivering the active ingredients directly to the area of interest, but this should only be done with the involvement of a medical professional as advisor.

It is my recommendation that those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, whether actively in a ‘flare up’ or maintaining control, consider drinking yarrow tea daily. This is particularly recommended for those interested in finding non-medical means of controlling their illness.

The implications of using yarrow as a means of naturally controlling the persistent symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease within the nursing practice are many. Discussion of the herb can open up the conversation with an embarrassed patient and provide them with a less invasive, more socially acceptable means of controlling, or potentially controlling, their illness. In addition, there is very little necessary to teach the patient how to administer the dosage. In considering client teaching, it is important to assess the client’s present level of knowledge, determine their primary concern and the knowledge they still require.

One of the benefits of yarrow is that it addresses a number of complaints with the same substance and process. In addition to addressing many of the common complaints of the inflammatory bowel disease sufferer, yarrow is as effectively administered as a pleasant tea rather than a collection of pills or, what most patients hate, an enema. By encouraging patients to replace their coffee with a yarrow tea, another potentially aggravating ingredient, caffeine, can be removed from the IBD diet and thus potentially contribute to a greater feeling of wellness.

Finally, regular cups of yarrow tea would encourage patients to take some time out of their normal routine, or create a normal routine, in which a cup of tea is enjoyed while the patient relaxes. While stress has been ruled out as a primary contributor to the illness, it does exacerbate the condition and can bring on an attack.

Although it is healthy and advisable to research the use of any dietary supplement or herbal remedy before making any recommendations, yarrow has been widely recognized within the medical community as an effective agent for a number of complaints. Its well-rounded properties address most of the most common complaints of those who suffer inflammatory bowel disease while providing them with incentive to spend some relaxing moments a few times per day as they sip their cup of tea. This quiet time is likely to help the client treat their illness from an emotional perspective as well.

References

Dodson & Dunmire. (2007). Mountain Wildfowers of the Southern Rockies. UNM Press.

Ehrlich, Steven D. (2007). “Yarrow.” Medical Reference. University of Maryland Medical Center.

Lietava, J. (1992). “Yarrow.” Health Journal. Web.

Madocks, Ruth. (2009). “Herbs in my Garden: Yarrow.” Health and Well-Being. San Luis Obispo, CA: Information Press. Web.

Sahelian, Ray. (2009). “Yarrow Plant Benefits.” Web.

Teitelbaum, Jacob. (2009). “Natural Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.” Psychology Today.

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Dietary Supplements: Benefits Purported for Yarrow

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