YARROW TEA TREATMENT

Hot yarrow tea, made from a handful of the fresh leaves, can break the most stubborn cold if taken each night on retiring. Two doses should be all you will need. It can also prevent cramp after exercise in cold weather, and can bring down a fever if taken very hot.

Much herbal lore was discovered originally by observing how animals included various plants in their diet to suit their body’s requirements, and yarrow was found to be a favourite pasture food for cattle if seasonal changes or meagre grass pasture had weakened the herd. It also has a deflammatory action on swollen tissues of any kind, and was the herb supposedly used by Chiron the Centaur to cure the heel wound of Achilles. For its services on the battlefield in early times, it was called “Wound-wort” or the “Soldiers’ Herb”. Stitching a ragged arrow- or spear-gash was unheard of; so yarrow was used to reduce the swelling of the surrounding tissue, enabling the wound to close naturally, and heal. Fresh leaves were often packed straight into the torn flesh, there to staunch the flow of blood as well; and yarrow collected two more names, “Staunch-grass” and “Sanguinary”. Next time your husband cuts himself while shaving, rush out to the herb garden for a yarrow leaf and press it firmly against the spot.

For a nose-bleed which will not stop, take a cup of yarrow tea. This will also promote appetite, and can be of assistance in any pelvic troubles.

One yarrow-taker wrote, “It has a beneficient effect, similar to that of a life on the ocean-wave in rough and stormy weather.” This (I hope) was not to say, “It made me vomit”, but referred to the breezy bracing strength a cup of yarrow tea can provide.

If I have one of those days when it becomes apparent that even getting out of bed was a mistake, on goes the red light saying: “Yarrow tea!”