Yarrow (Achillea millefolium):

Therapeutic actions:

Anti-inflammatory, antihemorrhagic, antimicrobial, antipyretic, astringent, bitter tonic, diaphoretic, digestive stimulant, peripheral vasodilator, spasmolytic, styptic (hemostatic), vulnerary. (Bone, 2003, p. 471) (Mills, 1994. p. 221)

Phytochemical constituents that enhance these:

• Bitter constituents, flavonoids, tannins, volatile oil. (Mills, 1994. p. 221)

Supporting evidence:

Intravenous administration of yarrow extracts showed hepatoprotective activity. Mild antimicrobial effects have been shown during in vitro studies of an ethanol extract of yarrow. Extracts have also been demonstrated to have "spasmolytic activity on isolated rabbit small intestine". (Bone, 2003, p. 472)