Talk:Achillea millefolium

Origins
In the introduction it is stated that Yarrow is native "in California and other areas of the Western United States." So it originated there? Because that is what this degree of exclusive specificity implies. Yet elsewhere it is stated that it is "native in the Northern hemisphere". Also obviously it would not have been known in the ancient world were this the case. So clearly it did NOT originate specifically and exclusively in the Western United States.

This needs rewriting. Either the specific reference to the Western United States needs to be augmented and converted into an inclusive list of ALL the places it is native, or this statement should be deleted altogether. I am just passing through and know little of Yarrow; which is why I read the article; so I don't feel qualified to fix this myself. Is there a botanist in the house? Hawthorn 21:20, 9 September 2007 (UTC)


 * Fixed. Most of that section was verbatim from a USDA document (it's not a copyvio since works produced by the United States government are in the public domain).--Curtis Clark 21:31, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Photo
I uploaded a photo I took of a yarrow plant but am not sure how to link it into this article. zadcat


 * All you have to do is put the image's page in double brackets like this [[Image:Yarrow.jpg]] . It does appear that attribution info is missing from the image. Could you state on that page where you obtained the image and it's copyright status? --mav


 * Sorry to be stupid - it's the first image I've uploaded. I took the photo myself. Where do I put this information? zadcat


 * No. You are not at all being stupid. There is just much to learn here in wikiland and nobody expects you or andybody else to know everything right away (or ever for that matter -- I know I don't know it all yet and I've been around since January). All that needs to be done is for you to simply mention that you took the photo yourself on the image's page and you either; release it under terms of the GNU FDL or you place it in the public domain (there are other options too but they are more complicated). In the future the easiest thing to do is just state all this when you are uploading an image -- all that text is placed into the image's page for you by the software. You can access the image's description page by clicking on the image. --mav


 * Thank you. We probably need to disambiguate from Yarrow which is a random number generator and the subject of some of the links here. --zadcat


 * Having both on the same page seems OK for now. If and when a split has to be made I would keep the plant here and place the number generator in another article (the plant being the main use of the word). Can the computer program be naturally disambiguated? I do hate having to use parenthesis for things. This should also be done in disambiguation block format (see Blackberry for an example). --mav

Human Uses
I'm a bit wary of putting so much detailed information about medicinal uses into the article without a medical disclaimer. Is this necessary or am I simply being paranoid? Lisiate 00:06, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Oklahoma herb grower here - I've used yarrow on multiple occasions - as medicine - for cuts. This plant material pressed fresh into a wound has staunched the flow of blood many times. Nearly cut the end of a finger off with garden shears - no stitches used - just two applications of yarrow and bandage - looks better than my hernia repair by MD. Husband cut end of thumb, bleeding so bad pressure and cold water didn't slow it down, yarrow stopped the blood - virtually no scar - nail into foot from bottom - again, stops bleeding - only recommendation/action we took was - tetenas shot if long time since last one.70.142.56.112 15:30, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

There appears to be a lot of duplication in the uses section - the whole of this section could do well with sorting and checking, with medicinal uses scattered throughout mixed with non-medical uses, etc, etc. - MPF 14:12, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Word origin Achillea. Do you have a reference for this? I was under the impression that it just came from the character, Achilles, himself and had nothing to do with using it as a medicinal plant. User:Amhernandez 18:45 24 May 2006

Missing use?
The major use that I know of for yarrow is to stop diarrhea or extreme vomiting during flu. This is quite common I think, both in my family and in others. I do not see it listed?--Filll 15:15, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Talking about Yarrow
Not everyone has an available supply of Yarrow at their fingertips. Although it is especially useful in the treatment of hemorrhoids and bottom ailments. "Can we talk bottoms? New mamas and mamas-to-be got bottom problems! Prenatal and postpartum hemorrhoids, postpartum vaginal swelling and bruising, episiotomies… Good thing you have a baby coming to make it all worthwhile. Earth Mama Bottom Balm soothes and cools with an organic olive oil base infused with healing organic herbs an St. John's wort, yarrow, witch hazel, calendula, shea butter, and more." http://hemorrhoidsandtreatment.theazonway.com/earth-mama-angel-baby-earth-mama-bottom-balm-2-oz/

Hmm advertisers found. Kubosu (talk) 19:19, 4 April 2013 (UTC)

Herbal Medicine
The herbal medicine section definitely needs a tidyup. I think it very important to distinguish between effects which can be scientifically verified, "traditional uses" and old wives tales. I'll contribute to tidying up this section, but I dont have time to do everything. Having had a look through the article, I have listed some of the effects that it is credited with. It is hard to believe just how much this plant is credited with!

I've found some references for the effects:

Spasmolytic (muscle relaxant), Choleretic (increases bile secretion), Antiphlogistic (reduces inflamation)

I have yet to find references for (Currently looking):

Effect on Colds, Effect on Influenza, Anti-allergenic properties, Procoagulant effects, "Urinary disorders", "Menstrual problems", "Cardiovascular complaints", "Varicose veins", Quinine substitute, Analgesic effects (painkiller), Antipyretic (reducing fever), Sedative effects, Flatulence, Reducing swelling of "Secret parts".

Please feel free to add references to this.Fitz05 (talk) 23:49, 14 September 2009 (UTC)

And even where references are given, they sometimes don't substantiate the claim if you actually read them. The reference for "Swedish scientists prove it repels mosquitoes" mentioned neither Swedish scientists nor mosquitoes, so I removed it. This isn't the first time I've found it so... Cjsunbird (talk) 14:04, 14 April 2010 (UTC)

This herbal uses section contains too much information that could be misconstrued as medical advice."Possible antiallergenic compounds can be extracted from the flowers by steam distillation.[citation needed]" You have to be kidding me. Wiki is not a manual: I would link it if I knew how. I don't regularly contribute to wikipedia but this is simply an egregious overreach. What if the person was allergic the plant itself? Allergic responses can be dangerous things to play with unless you are prepared for anaphylactic emergencies and a freaking doctor. Also Purifies toxins from the body? What toxins? Metal? Bacteria? Radiation? Says who? It gets worse as I read:"Pain,[38] amenorrhea, antiphlogistic,[39][40] bleeding, blood clots, blood pressure (lowers), blood purifier, blood vessels (tones), catarrh (acute, repertory), colds, chicken pox, circulation, contraceptive (unproven), cystitis, diabetes, digestion (stimulates), gastrointestinal disorders,[39] choleretic [41] dyspepsia, eczema, fevers, flu, gastritis, gum ailments, heartbeat (slow), influenza, inflammation,[42] emmenagogue,[43] internal bleeding, liver (stimulates and regulates), lungs (hemorrhage), measles, menses (suppressed), menorrhagia, menstruation (regulates, relieves pain), nipple soreness, nosebleeds, piles (bleeding), smallpox, stomach sickness, toothache, thrombosis, ulcers, urinary antiseptic, uterus (tighten and contract), stomachache,[44] and varicose veins." I feel it would be unethical NOT to delete everything that isn't cited. Even still I have not the time to check the sources that are cited. Wow even parts that argue with itself "Decoctions have been used to treat inflammations, such as hemorrhoids, and headaches. Confusingly, it has been said to both stop bleeding and promote it. (Depending on the form it is administered, it can do both, which is why when dabbling in using herbs for medicine it is proper to contact a herbalist or other expert. A. millefolium has been used with great success in promoting blood flow, as well as staunching blood flow when properly used.)[citation needed] Infusions of yarrow, taken either internally or externally, are said[by whom?] to speed recovery from severe bruising. The most medicinally active part of the plant is the flowering tops. They also have a mild stimulant effect, and have been used as a snuff. Today, yarrow is valued mainly for its action in colds and influenza, and also for its effect on the circulatory, digestive, excretory, and urinary systems. In the 19th century, yarrow was said to have a greater number of indications than any other herb.[citation needed]" deleting this entire section this is disgusting Man, lots of this stuff is fluff and its 6 am I don't have time to finish this. This will need further cleaning up. This whole article gets a big fat WP:peacock This plant does anything you set your mind to! Sounds like an advertisement at some times. I bet someone farms this stuff and edits wiki. Kubosu (talk) 10:09, 4 April 2013 (UTC)

Wow I just found a section in this article that talks about how it can cause dangerous allergic skin reactions. Good thing I deleted the part about how it can be used for its "anti-allergenic compounds". I don't edit Wiki often but I will try to keep an eye on this page. Clean it up a bit more if I have time. Kubosu (talk) 05:33, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

Milk Stew Recipe
This easily prepared delicacy has been passed on over several generations, stemming back from my grandmother that lived close to the German-Czech border known as Bohemia. This dish is most recommended for children or the elderly, those with a weakened stomach, or someone recovering from a liquid diet. If you like the taste of yarrow appealing you may consider this a gourmet dish.

Also, I never wash the yarrow to keep the flavor. Obviously yarrow is not a recommended food staple if you harvest the leaves in high-traffic suburban areas or if your environment contains pesticides and other contaminants. I can vouch for the quality of this recipe and slight variations, ingredient-wise. However, I would prefer to eat yarrow freshly harvested from the mountain meadows of the alps. Otherwise pick your own preferred source of yarrow, I am certain it will be just as good.

This recipe serves one or two people - it is a very simple dish but we ate it frequently in early summer just before or during the early blooming season:

First, pick about a good heaping handful of yarrow. Perhaps most importantly, pick the yarrow just before consumption, literally minutes prior to adding them to this dish below. Also, be certain to pick smaller stems that are most delicate and sprouting with very little bitterness to them. Consider increased heating times for larger, dark-green stems. Don't boil or overheat otherwise the flavor and nutritious value will be entirely lost.

Once you're back in the kitchen pick a medium sauce pan and heat up a heaping tablespoon of butter. Melt the butter under low temperature but don't brown it. Mix in two tea spoons of white flour and mix it into the butter while increasing temperature slightly. You can add additional flour but it will add to the consistency of the soup. Consider this your base.

Set aside 1 1/2 cup of warm, whole milk and slowly mix it into the base. You will see the consistency of your milk stew thickening as you let it simmer for a few minutes. Add a pinch of salt to offset the slight bitterness of the yarrow. Take the freshly harvested yarrow and mix it into the milk stew. Heat the soup for thirty seconds or less while stirring its content clock-wise. Enjoy!


 * In the southern hemisphere should we stir it anticlockwise? ;-) Yes, you may. For folks living in or near Ecuador please don't stir at all, you can swallow it straight down.

Hair loss
I removed the following from the article: "Washing your hair with an infusion of yarrow will prevent baldness, but will not cure it if it already has begun." Pubmed searches for all combinations of "achillea"/"yarrow" "hair"/"alopecia" returns no results. If anyone has any evidence that yarrow prevents hair loss please restore the text, but I think it is very likely false.

WikiProject Food and drink Tagging
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Gap
Is there some way to get rid of the gap between the top of the article and the first sentence? — Preceding unsigned comment added by AlexGu100 (talk • contribs) 16:41, 10 March 2011 (UTC)

neutrality
i question the neutrality of sections of this article
 * "Yarrow has seen historical use as a medicine, often because of its astringent effects.[1] Decoctions have been used to treat inflammations, such as hemorrhoids, and headaches. Confusingly, it has been said to both stop bleeding and promote it. (Depending on the form it is administered it can do both, which is why when dabbling in using herbs for medicine it is proper to contact a herbalist or other expert. Achillea Millefolium has been used with great success in promoting blood flow, as well as staunching blood flow when properly used.)[citation needed] Infusions of yarrow, taken either internally or externally, are said[by whom?] to speed recovery from severe bruising. The most medicinally active part of the plant is the flowering tops. They also have a mild stimulant effect, and have been used as a snuff. Today, yarrow is valued mainly for its action[clarification needed] in colds and influenza, and also for its effect on the circulatory, digestive, excretory, and urinary systems. In the nineteenth century, yarrow was said to have a greater number of indications than any other herb.[citation needed] It is believed[by whom?] that anti-allergenic compounds can be extracted from the flowers by steam distillation. The flowers are used to treat various allergic mucus problems, including hay fever. Flowers used in this way are harvested in summer or autumn, and an infusion drunk for upper respiratory phlegm or used externally as a wash for eczema.[citation needed]"

all this info is speculative with no citations can this be resolved? --Troyeseffigy (talk) 17:10, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

I am by no means a wikipedia editor but i find it disconcerting that it is noted nowhere in this article how to properly identify this plant from its extremely poisonous cousins. Yarrow is hairy and has many fine leaves. Poison hemlock is smooth and has wide leaves like parsley. Poison hemlock has a flowerhead that is completely even and perfect while yarrow flower-heads are disorganized and uneven. Yarrow flowers also have a honeycombed look to them. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.31.154.211 (talk) 03:43, 28 November 2012 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journal. The purpose of Wikipedia is to present facts, not to teach subject matter. That type of how-to advice is more suited for a textbook on plant identification. --Drm310 (talk) 04:18, 7 April 2013 (UTC)

In popular culture
I added Refimprove section to the "In popular culture". In popular culture is appropriate, too, I think. "In popular culture" content is an essay providing some background on this issue and Trivia_sections is an applicable guideline. Based on the latter, I commented out "Kate Greenaway's The Language of Flowers (1884) contains the entry Achillea Millefolia, ascribing to it the symbolic association of War." Entries that cannot be verified must be removed per WP:V. Items that are unlikely to be of interest to readers of this article should be removed also, I think. --Walter Siegmund (talk) 17:33, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

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File:Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).jpg to appear as POTD soon
Hello! This is a note to let the editors of this article know that File:Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).jpg will be appearing as picture of the day on February 15, 2018. You can view and edit the POTD blurb at Template:POTD/2018-02-15. If this article needs any attention or maintenance, it would be preferable if that could be done before its appearance on the Main Page. — Chris Woodrich (talk) 07:18, 29 January 2018 (UTC)

Requested move 24 August 2023

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The result of the move request was: Not moved. (closed by non-admin page mover) Adumbrativus (talk) 05:25, 31 August 2023 (UTC)

Achillea millefolium → Yarrow – Seems like the common name. Thoughts? Wikiexplorationandhelping (talk) 03:49, 24 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Note: WikiProject Plants has been notified of this discussion. Wikiexplorationandhelping (talk) 03:49, 24 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Note: WikiProject Food and drink has been notified of this discussion. Wikiexplorationandhelping (talk) 03:49, 24 August 2023 (UTC)
 * "Seems like" is pretty weak evidence. I'm not saying "no" by that, what I mean is that I do not have enough information to have an informed opinion. How commonly used are other common names in English? How much is the common name used in books and articles vs the binomial? Etc.
 * The heart of Wikipedia is to show the sources for an idea rather than just "this seems right".
 * If I had time the first thing I would do is try to figure out the relative frequency of use on Google scholar, google books, and compare that with other Wiki plant articles that are common names vs science names. 🌿MtBotany (talk) 04:49, 24 August 2023 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
 * Oppose Britannica has Achillea under "Yarrow", not this more specific species of plant. It actually lists this particular species as milfoil. I find this a pretty convincing argument, at least with the lack of any argument on the part of the nominator besides COMMONNAME. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 07:39, 24 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Oppose, many members of this genus are called yarrow, because they are practically indistinguishable by the layperson, and even botanists. I give, as an example, Achillea glaberrima. This is very often the case with plants, having blurry lines between species. I strongly urge the nominator to withdraw this nomination, and to refrain from nominating plant articles for moves in the future. Abductive  (reasoning) 14:34, 24 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Oppose I agree that "yarrow" does not refer exclusively to this species. Peter coxhead (talk) 23:32, 25 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Oppose Yarrow is a a common name for many of the species in Achillea, and when using Yarrow that can mean a number of different species. Hardyplants (talk) 05:59, 28 August 2023 (UTC)