Oral use - Using Yarrow (Achillea millefollium)

[TheMainException]

SWIM wants to drink valerian and yarrow tea sometime. SWIM was wondering what part yarrow is used? She bought some of it for her mom last year and has a nice couple groups of plants growing (seems that they grow more of themselves relatively quickly, how nice. ). She wants to make tea with it as the buffer for the valerian since she heard it tastes not so wonderful. Could she use it fresh with the fresh valerian root as well, throwing it into the boiling water after the valerian's been cooking for a while?


She was thinking about grinding up the valerian root, putting it into boiling water for 10-15 minutes and then adding the fresh yarrow and cooking for 5-10 minutes more, but she doesn't know which part of the yarrow plant to use or how much of it. There seems to be very little info on it, but the info she has found seems to be positive.

I did just find more info for her...info on erowid says to use the entire plant, including flower because the leaves alone contain too much prunasine and could cause tachycardia. How much of the plant do others use? She is making only a cup or two for herself.

[Mickeld]

BOZO the clown does not know about the Yarrow part, but he has heard that adding honey to various teas helps with the bitter taste of the tea. Perhaps just try that?

[TheMainException]

SWIM will definitely add some honey, good idea...but she would also really like to know the proper way to use yarrow because it has some good qualities and fighting agents. Since she has a good amount growing in her yard, why not use it? She loves to know how to use plants properly and what they are good for in the human body. One day, she hopes to be able to eat a very natural diet and live a very healthy life using her plant knowledge to get there.

thanks for your response Mickeld.

[Mickeld]

If you look on Erowid it says not to use JUST the leaves and to try and use the entire plant.... BOZO the clown uses honey in almost all his teas. Spearmint, catnip, even regular tea. Its all natural, healthy, and much easier on his rather painful cavities. :P

[TheMainException]

Yea...SWIM did look on erowid, I said that in my original post. She's also thinking about using Stevia for a sweetener when her Stevia plant gets a bit older.

Maybe I should be more specific...should she stick the plant in the blender and dump all the contents into the boiling water and then strain? Slice it up on a cutting board, dump in water, drink with it still in the cup? I guess this isn't one of the more common plants that are used. I'll keep looking for info for her.

[Potter]

When picking yarrow, try tasting it from different locations, soil quality can greatly influence the flavor and effectiveness of the plant, you want one that tastes refreshing, not like cardboard. Also look for wild plants, not the cultivated ones with colored flowers, they usually suck a lot. Try tasting it at different times of the year, many plants change in quality during and after flowering.

A person would need to consume quite a bit of yarrow to have negative symptoms like that. The Doktor used to chew yarrow all the time at camp and has had more then a few ounces in a single day with no ill effects. Of course if the patient has heart issues, then there may be concern, but regular tea making with a few grams is not risky in any way.

Yarrow is good stuff, seems to be rather synergistic, especially with alcohol, heard rumors that yarrow beer is exceptionally potent.

Best of luck making valerian taste good, that stuff is nasty. Most things that would mask it are just as gross in the amounts needed. The Doktor brought home some good quality root and didn't think of it, made the whole kitchen reek till the source was tracked down. Still, stevia seems like a good plan, that's as sweet as valerian is gross, it might just do the trick.

[TheMainException]

lol. Thanks Potter. SWIM was thinking of making a blend since everyone is saying how much both Valerian and Kava are not the best of tasting roots around the planet. There's also the possibility of catnip, chamomile, and mints.

Unfortunately, SWIM has yet to see any wild yarrow and only has the cultivar that she bought from the greenhouse in which she works. SWIM will look around in the grassy lots and fields in her area, maybe she can find some and dig it up and bring that home instead of the nice red ones she's got. A bit of white yarrow would still look nice in her yard.

Thanks again Potter.