Achillea. Achillea millefolium.

Synonym—Yarrow.

CONSTITUENTS—

Achillein, volatile oil, tannin, achilleic acid.

PREPARATIONS—

Specific Achillea. Dose, from five to sixty minims.

Specific Symptomatology—The following indications will guide in the selection of this remedy: Hot, dry burning skin, at the beginning of acute asthenic fevers, with suppressed secretion; deficient renal action, with vesical renal or urethral irritation; acute or chronic Bright's disease in its incipient stage. Leucorrhea, with relaxed vaginal walls. Menorrhagia and amenorrhea; hemorrhoids, with bloody discharge, atonic gastric and intestinal dyspepsia; passive hemorrhages.

Of specific achillea the dose is from five to ten minims.

Therapy—While the profession has used yarrow but little, we find an individual physician occasionally who depends upon it for sonic very important conditions. Dr. Lakin of England uses it in hematuria. He claims that it is good in all forms of passive hemorrhage, whether of the lungs or of the kidneys, or uterine hemorrhage. Yarrow is advised by Webster in uterine hemorrhage. It is a mild astringent, probably acting also as a tonic. It is useful in passive hemorrhage when not persistent in character.

It is a beneficial remedy in diseases of the mucous surfaces, relieving irritation and profuse secretion. It soothes intestinal irritation and overcomes mild forms of diarrhea. It is of benefit in improving the tone of the urinary apparatus, relieving irritation, overcoming strangury and suppression of the urine.

It acts best in strong infusion and its use must be persisted in. In general relaxed conditions it is a cure for leucorrhea, where there is a profuse discharge, or thick, heavy mucus from enfeebled mucous membranes.

Dr. John Fearn, of Oakland, California, claims that it has but few superiors in its influence upon the skin. He says it has a stimulating action which will be a revelation to those who have not used it. It causes the sudoriferous glands to literally pour out their secretions, and with but little depression.

He claims that it will take the place of pilocarpine, with less unpleasant results, and no danger. In fevers, he says, especially of the sthenic type, when we desire to arouse the skin, nothing can surpass this remedy. The patient is covered warmly in bed and a hot infusion of Yarrow is given in frequent doses. When the skin begins to soften the medicine is continued, but in less doses. If there are evidences of autoinfection, from retained secretion, a little capsicum can be added to the infusion. In cases of severe fever, in the first stage, intermittent or bilious fever, it will cause the secretions to be poured out so freely as to discolor the bed clothes.

A syrup made from the leaves relieves chronic cough, especially if there be bloody sputum.

Where there is deficient kidney action, with evidence of uremic poisoning, with or without edema, this remedy is a very active eliminant. It will take the place of a vapor bath, and that without exhaustion, the patient being very comfortable all the while. It will abort fevers, reduce high temperatures, in sthenic cases will relieve local and general congestion, will restore the secretions, will open the sluce gates of the skin, and eliminate morbific materials.

It was one of the remedies which the ancients used in the healing of wounds. Lakin quotes from an old volume, published in 1633, "The leaves of yarrow do close wounds and keep them from inflammation or fiery swelling. It stauncheth blood in any part of the body, and helpeth bloody flux. The leaves put into the nose, relieve headache. It taketh away the pain of cholic."

Dr. Cole of Seattle has confirmed in a practical manner the action of achillea on the skin. Ho has proved its action in indeterminate cases of incipient fever, where infection is the cause, but the character is not determined. Achillea and phytolacca he has used in tonsillitis. He has given it in dropsy with good advantage. In old standing cases with organic disease, he has used hair cap moss with it. He uses it in autotoxemia for its active elimination.

In acute epididymitis the temperature of 104 degrees, the condition was controlled in twenty-four hours with achillea. When there is no abnormal temperature, he believes that it has little but a diuretic action. Where there is a temperature of 100 or above, he has never failed to get profuse diaphoresis without depression. He considers it a certain remedy.

The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1919, was written by Finley Ellingwood, M.D.
It was scanned by Michael Moore for the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.