Yarrow Aerial

Health Benefits
Yarrow plants have been researched for a wide range of health problems and ailments that it has been traditionally used for. The following uses all have some studies associated with them. However, most of them have been performed on animals or on cells.

Human trials, so far, have been rare. That means research is in its early stages and the findings have to be replicated in larger and more in-depth studies before we know for certain what medicinal benefits yarrow has—and how safe a treatment it is.

Inflammation
A 2017 review of the medical literature on the yarrow plant called achillea millefoilum L. listed several medicinal uses of the plant that have shown promise in studies. One of those uses is as a topical anti-inflammatory.

Multiple studies support its anti-inflammatory action. A 2017 paper in The Journal of Ethnopharmacology said it had an "evident anti-inflammatory property" with a positive impact on the pH balance of the skin and its moisture content.

Wound Healing
Achillea millefoilum and achillea asiatica both have had positive preliminary results in a topical application for wound healing. In a 2017 study on achillea asiatica extract, researchers concluded that the herb was effective at improving skin wounds in rats through multiple effects at the cellular level.

A 2018 study in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine demonstrated a positive effect of achillea millefolium ointments on the healing of episiotomies. (An episiotomy is a small incision in the perineum that doctors sometimes make during childbirth.)

Digestive Disorders
A study out of Africa demonstrated an anti-spasmodic effect of achillea millefolium L. in part of the digestive system, which means it may be beneficial in conditions that involve spasms in the digestive tract, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Anxiety
A 2015 review of the anti-anxiety properties of essential oils found that two varieties of yarrow—achillea umbelata and achillea wilhemsii—did appear to help lessen anxiety. Researchers said it appeared to have this effect with a different mechanism of action than the popular anti-anxiety drug class benzodiazepines.

Neurological Conditions
A 2017 study out of Iran supports the use of achillea millefolium in neurodegenerative disease, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and epilepsy. This conclusion is based on findings in animal studies.

In multiple sclerosis, researchers say the supplement lessened disease severity, lowered neuroinflammation, and reduced the number of demyelinating lesions.

In Parkinson's, they say it improved motility and muscle tone. In strokes, it appeared to reduce the infarct volume, and in epilepsy, it reduced the seizure severity.

Other Possible Benefits
The 2017 review and other studies support yarrow's effectiveness for:

Immune-system support
Regulating blood sugar in diabetes
Protecting the liver and gallbladder
Stimulating menstruation
Helping with sleep
Treating hemorrhoids
Alleviating hay fever
Speeding elimination of urine