The UK Herbarium Webring is having a blog party!
Debs Cook is hosting at the Herbaholic’s Herbarium
The topic for this month is “My Favourite Bitter” and this is my contribution.
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As a bitter, yarrow ought to be cooling but, hang on, doesn’t it warm the periphery? It’s a styptic so it ought to stop nosebleeds but, no, this book says ‘stick it up your nose and it will bleed’.
It’s an emmenagogue but it’s often recommended to stem a heavy flow. What’s going on here? This incredible plant of contradictions is a perfect case study in the therapeutic complexities of herbal medicines. Each observed effect, when examined more closely, is actually a collection of actions which all contribute to the outcome. As this is a blog party about bitters I’ll focus on how this action contributes to its effectiveness in each area.
So, lets start with the primary area that bitters exert their action; the digestive system. As a mild bitter, Yarrow has a reputation as a digestive stimulant. Simon Mills, in his wee brown book (aka The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine)
, has a great chapter on the effects of bitters (p321-327). The gist of this is that bitters stimulate all digestive secretions therefore they not only improve digestive function, they also enhance the protective mechanisms. This, along with the direct astringency of Yarrow, makes it particularly healing to the digestive tract. The anti-spasmodic properties also help the tension that often accompanies digestive upset. So although it is a digestive stimulant it is also relaxing and these two properties combine to provide a balanced solution to digestive dysfunction.
Bitters are traditionally considered cooling and this can be attributed to their digestive effects because stimulating the circulation here helps to move heat from the core to the periphery. Therefore, although Yarrow is heating to the periphery, this is almost a side-effect of the cooling action. The stimulating effect may also extend to mood. As James Green
says: “It is difficult to remain in a depressed state with all that internal secreting and squirting going on…” The same goes for all the organs and tissues surrounding the digestive system; which brings us on to the reproductive system.
Stimulating the digestive system in turn stimulates uterine contraction which is one of the reasons that Yarrow is contra-indicated in pregnancy. This, however, makes it an effective emmenogogue. In fact, this is one of the first things I learned about Yarrow. I was taught that it stimulates pelvic circulation and this can be useful to stimulate menstrual flow. It can also relieve menstrual cramps caused by poor circulation. Again the anti-spasmodic attribute provides balance by ensuring overstimulation doesn’t worsen the cramps. But what about its use in heavy periods? This takes us back to the bitter effect on the digestive system. Heavy menstrual bleeding can be associated with oestrogen excess. As hormones are metabolised by the liver, poor liver function can result in poor hormone balance. This is also something I was taught in clinical practice. When a hormonal imbalance is apparent, go to the liver herbs first.
A more efficient liver is also a contributory factor in its effects on the circulation. The liver manufactures the blood components involved in coagulation. It also metabolises fats and manages the balance of cholesterol in the body. A well functioning liver will therefore help to maintain a healthy circulation. As discussed earlier, the bitter action has the effect of moving heat, i.e. blood, out to the periphery. However, the peripheral blood vessels need to be amenable to this. Mills
suggests that flavonoid and volatile oil components in Yarrow encourage vasodilation, giving that blood somewhere to go.
This is beneficial in a direct way as it takes nutrients to and removes waste from the periphery. It also contributes to Yarrow’s reputation for lowering blood pressure.
There are many more facets to this wonderful plant which all contribute to its effects. Its not one of the major bitters but its one of my favourite herbs so I’ve really enjoyed exploring that aspect of it here.
Oh – and the nosebleed thing? No idea! I’ve never managed to get it to make my nose bleed yet…
, many of the anecdotes centre around Churchyards and Abbeys. It seems that, as an introduced species, they may have originally been planted in the ancient Churchyards of Britain. In fact, the snowdrops I eagerly await sight of from my back window are in an ancient churchyard. Does that bring us back to the church symbolism of purity? Well, possibly, but it is notable that many of these institutions had Physic Gardens attached to them so it does bring us round to the medicinal applications.
reports that the crushed bulbs have been used in case of frostbite. Appropriate given the time of year they appear! There is also ethnobotanical evidence that, in Bulgaria, they have been used in the treatment of poliomyelitis. It was partly this evidence which led to the isolation of the alkaloid galantamine, a drug that is now used in the treatment of the dementia of Alzheimer’s disease. Which brings us back to Hope…
