YARROW: A Journey from Mythology to Modern Herbalism

 

The Northern hemisphere of the Earth harbours unique vegetation due to a wide range of climates, biomes, and geographical features. Most plant species growing in the cold climate of this region are abundant in unique phytochemicals and are extensively used in traditional medicinal systems practised there. Yarrow, botanically known as Achillea millefolium (Family: Asteraceae), is a common herbaceous plant naturally growing and cultivated in the temperate and sub-temperate regions of Asia, Europe and North America in the Northern hemisphere. The botanical name Achillea is derived from the legendary Greek hero Achilles, who used yarrow plants to treat wounds of his soldiers during the Trojan War (a legendary conflict in Greek mythology). The specific name millefolium stands for thousands of leaves, owing to its highly dissected leaves. It was used for wound healing, headaches, fevers, to combat influenza and in religious rituals by the ancient Greeks, Romans and native Americans since antiquity.

 

Common Names

English: Yarrow, Common yarrow, Milfoil, Thousand leaf, Thousand seal, Soldier's Woundwort, Staunch weed, Sanguinary, Old man’s pepper, Bloodwort, Carpenter’s weed, Sneezewort, Soldier's friend, Devils nettle, Nosebleed, Badman’s plaything, Death flower, Field Hops, Hundred leaved grass, Knight’s milfoil, Oldman’s mustard, Tansy Hindi: Gandrain, Biranjasipha, Gandana, Gandmar Pahari: Foa, Gandan, Losar, Chabu (Lahaul & Spiti), Chuabu (Parvati valley Kullu), Shugumentog (Lahaul & Spiti), Chuang (Bharmour, Chamba), Saijum (Parvati valley Kullu), Merri (Tirthan valley Kullu), Kashmiri akarkara Uttarakhand: Momoduru Ladakhi: Chuang Kashmiri: Momadru, Chopandiga, Pahelgass Urdu: Tukhm-e gandana, Buiranjasif, Brinjasuf

 

Yarrow is a herbaceous perennial that can grow up to a height of one meter. It perennates through branched underground rhizomes. Short sterile branches develop from the leaf axils above the middle of the stem, which are usually covered with fine white hair. Leaves are simple, arranged spirally and evenly along the stem, with the largest and most petiolate towards the base. They are 5-20 centimetres long and divided bipinnately or tripinnately. Inflorescence is a terminal flat-topped panicle with many capitula. Each capitulum has 4 to 9 phyllaries and contains both ray and disk florets, which are white, pink, or red in colour. Fruit is a greenish, oblong, ca. 2 mm long achene with white lateral ribs. 

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Monoterpenes (Camphene, α-pinene, β-pinene, Limonene, 1,8-cineole), Monoterpenoid (Linalool), Terpenoid ketones (Camphor), Flavonoids (Quercetin, Luteolin, Kaempferol), Estrogenic flavonoid (Apigenin), Polyols (Isochlorogenic acid), Phenolic glycoside (Caffeic acid), Alkaloids (Betonicine), etc. 

I.                HORTICULTURAL USE

Yarrow is one of the beautiful herbaceous perennials recommended for colder areas of the world. It is admired for its attractive feathery leaves and colourful pink, red and white flowers. 

II.              CULINARY USES

Young yarrow leaves and flowers are used as a unique and mild seasoning and flavouring agent in dishes and salads in some culinary traditions of the world.

 III.           SPIRITUAL AND RITUAL USES

Yarrow has been used for purification, protection and as an offering to deities and spirits in sacred practices in many cultures of the world, especially in Greece and Rome. Yarrow stalks were used for divination and guidance in Chinese rituals. In European folklore,  yarrow plants are hung above the doorways and placed under the pillows to ward off evil spirits and malevolent forces.

Scott Cunningham has assigned yarrow a feminine gender and associated it with planet Venus, which gives courage, love and psychic powers. He has mentioned that when worn or carried along, yarrow protects, stops all fear and grants courage. Yarrow flowers used in wedding decorations are mentioned to ensure a love lasting for years. Carrying yarrow not only brings love, but it also attracts friends you wish to contact. Its flower tea is suggested to improve psychic powers.

Susan Gregg has mentioned that when dried yarrow is placed under the pillow, it will protect you as you sleep and will invite prophetic dreams. It banishes all fear and infuses you with courage to face whatever issues are holding you back. She suggests burning some dried yarrow as incense to fill your home with love and happiness. 

Katya Wesely has regarded yarrow as a sacred plant, and recorded it for the decoration of altars, to ward off negative energies, and evil spirits, to strengthen romantic relationships, and to aid in astral travel. It was believed to have the ability to enhance the power of magical spells in ancient times.

IV.           MEDICINAL USES

Yarrow is widely used in traditional medicinal systems of the world for treating a wide range of diseases and disorders. Some of them are discussed below:

i. Wound Healing

The paste and juice of yarrow leaves have historically been applied to wounds to stop bleeding and it also aids in quick healing throughout the world.

 ii. Useful in Fever

Yarrow tea is recommended as a trusted remedy for fever in traditional systems of medicine.

 iii. Cures Inflammation

The phytochemicals present in yarrow have a strong anti-inflammatory effect. The paste and juice of yarrow leaves, when applied topically on skin and wounds, reduce inflammation.

iv. Relieves Gastric Ailments

Yarrow juice is used as a remedy to relieve problems like heartburn, dyspepsia, flatulence and colic in traditional systems of medicine.

v. Useful in Dysmenorrhea

Experimental studies with yarrow tea have reported to decrease the abdominal cramps and pain in dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cycles).

vi. Useful in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Experimental trials with 250 and 500 mg daily doses of yarrow in people with multiple sclerosis have reported fewer acute attacks and annual relapses.

 vii. Anti-microbial Properties

Hydroalcoholic extract of yarrow leaves exhibits a strong antibacterial effect against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus,  a common bacterium involved in skin infections.

 viii. Uses in Unani Medicine

Yarrow is used in the Unani system of medicine as muhallile warm (anti-inflammatory) musakine dard (analgesic), dafia’h huma (antipyretic), mudire boul (diuretic), mudire haiz (emmenagogue) and qatil kirme shikam (anthelmintic).

ix. Uses in Homeopathic Medicine 

Yarrow is used in homoeopathic medicine for treating various haemorrhagic conditions such as bleeding haemorrhoids, haematuria, epistaxis (bleeding nose), haemoptysis, menorrhagia, etc. 

TOXICITY

Yarrow is generally regarded as safe when taken in small quantities. It can cause contact dermatitis, like other members of the family Asteraceae.

PUNARNAVA: An Ancient Wisdom for Rejuvenation and Healing

 

Plants have been used to cure various health problems worldwide since time immemorial. The ethnic communities are the repositories of information on the therapeutic applications of plants and their products. Punarnava, botanically known as Boerhavia diffusa (Family: Nyctaginaceae), is one of the most important medicinal plants in India. It finds extensive use in Ayurveda, Unani, Sowa Rigpa and Folk medicine. It is widely distributed in the countries of the Southern hemisphere. In India, it occurs throughout the country except for high-altitude ranges in the Himalayas.

 

NAMES IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English: Red hogweed, Wineflower, Tar Vine, Spreading hogweed, Red spiderling, Horse purslane, Pigweed Hindi: Punarnava, Satha, Biskhapara,  Shothagni Sanskrit: Punarnava, Shothagni, Varshabhu Assamese: Pananua Bengali: Punarnova, Gadapushpa Gujarati: Satodi, Vasedo Kannada: Adakaputta, Adakaputtana gida, Komme, Gonajaali, Sanaadikaa, Balavadike, Belavadaka, Shavaata, Shivaata, Shivaatike, Nadumurukana balli Malayalam: Talutama, Tavilama Marathi: Khapara, Khapari, Ghetoli, Ghetula, Punarnava, Vasu Pahari: Itsit, Utchhat Punjabi: Itsit Tamil: Mukkurttaikkoti, Sukuaetti Telugu: Atakamamidi Urdu: Tukhm-i-ispast Source: Names of Plants in India

 

MORPHOLOGY

Punarnava is a perennial, much-branched, creeping herb with fusiform roots. Stem is purplish and somewhat thickened at nodes. Leaves are opposite, ovate, suborbicular or rounded with entire and wavy margins. They are slightly pinkish in colour. Flowers are arranged in small umbels forming corymbose, axillary and terminal panicles.

Flowers are pinkish in colour with a perianth-tube constricted above the ovary. Stamens are 2-3, slightly exserted and unequal. The ovary is superior, having one ovule. Stigma is peltate and the fruit is a  6-ribbed, rounded achene.

 

PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

More than 64 phytochemicals have been isolated from Punarnava. Some of the major phytoconstituents present in Punarnava are Phenolic glycoside (Punarnavoside), C-Methyl flavone (Borhaavone), Isoflavone (2′-O-Methyl abronisoflavone), Flavonol         (Quercetin, kaempferol), Flavonoid glycoside, Phenolic acid (trans-caftaric acid), Rotenoids (Boeravinones A-S), Xanthone (Boerhavine),      Lignans, Purine nucleoside (Hypoxanthine-9-L-arabinofuranoside), Sterol (Boerhavisterol), Sterol ester   (Boeravilanostenyl benzoate) and Ecdysteroid (β-Ecdysone).

MEDICINAL USES

Punarnava is used for curing many diseases in Indian and other systems of medicine. Some of the important medicinal uses are discussed below:

 1. REJUVENATION OF THE BODY

Punarnava has multiple health benefits for human beings. Its Ayurvedic name, Punarnava (punar- again + nava- new) itself translates into “rejuvenator or the one that renews the body”. It is useful for the liver, kidney and heart, the most important trio in our body.

 2. GOOD FOR URINARY PROBLEMS

Punarnava is considered useful in curing many problems of the urinary system, including dysuria, urinary obstruction, calculi and urinary tract infection (UTI).

3. HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY

Punarnava is used widely for curing jaundice and other liver ailments in many traditional systems of medicine. Recent experimental studies have also proved Punarnava effective in restoring the normal liver function enzyme markers in the blood serum. 

4. ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

Experimental studies have shown that alkaloid Punarnavine present in Punarnava can suppress metastasis in inoculated tumours in lab animals.

 5. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY

Leaf decoction of Punarnava is used in folk medicine for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Its vernacular name, sothaghni, itself correlates to that which alleviates inflammation. The anti-inflammatory activity of Punarnava can be attributed to the presence of liriodendrin, quercetin, and kaempferol present in this plant.

 6 . SPASMOLYTIC ACTIVITY

Punarnava contains many phytochemicals, including rotenoids. Rotenoid derivatives have spasmolytic activity, which has been experimentally proved by many researchers.

 7. ANTIASTHMATIC ACTIVITY

Leaves of Punarnava are used for the treatment of asthma in some countries.

8. ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY

Roots of Punarnava are used for the treatment of epilepsy and seizures in folk medicine, which has also been proven experimentally.

 9. ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

Antibacterial activity of Punarnava root extract has been reported by many researchers against Streptococcus group, E. coli, Bacillus subtilis , Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae,  Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Clostridium tetani.

10. ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY

Roots of Punarnava possess a potent antifungal activity against  Microsporum gypseum, M. fulvum and M. canis.

 11. ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

Many phytochemicals show antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. Experimental studies have proved that Punarnava plants possess considerable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activity.

Photograph source: Sire Ayurveda

AYURVEDIC PREPARATIONS

Punarnava is an integral part of many Ayurvedic and Siddha preparations such as Punarnavarishta, Punarnava guggulu, Punarnavasava, Punarnavadi kvatha churna, Punarnavastaka kvatha, Sukumara ghrita, Maha Narayan taila, Sothaghna lepa, Varuni, Talakacenturam, etc.

Photograph source: Baidyanath Ayurved

TOXICITY

Punarnava is a widely used for centuries in Ayurveda. Some toxicity studies, such as those by Orisakwe et al. (2003), have reported acute and sub-chronic toxicity of punarnava leaves at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg of body weight in albino mice and rats. They reported the lethal dose (LD₅₀) at more than 2,000 mg/kg of body weight. 

REMEDIES IN SHRI KRISHNA’S GARDEN

Shri Krishna Meera Temple Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh

Shri Krishna, a multifaceted God in Hinduism and the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is worshiped by the majority of Hindus worldwide. He is said to be responsible for the preservation of the universe. He is often depicted as deeply connected with nature, including plants and animals. He is mostly portrayed under a tree with a flute, a peacock feather crown, and a Vaijayanti mala around his neck, which depicts his compassion for nature and harmony with all life forms.

Shri Vishnu Bhagwan in Lukshmi Narayan Temple Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Our sacred literature contains magical stories of Shri Krishna roaming in forests and special references to plants like Kadamb, Parijat, Tulsi, Vaijayanti, Kamal, and many others. Shri Krishna speaks of himself as a source of all creation, including the natural world in the Shri Bhagavad Gita, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of everything in the ecosystem. Sacred plants have been revered across all cultures of the world for centuries and are associated with innumerable spiritual practices, healing rituals and traditional ecological wisdom of the communities. Associating essential components of ecosystems with Gods and Goddesses plays an important role in their conservation. Many keystone species, including both trees and animals, have been associated with Gods, Goddesses, Planets, Zodiacs, Nakshatras, Tribes and Festivals in India and are worshiped by the devotees. Sacred groves, patches of forests preserved for spiritual reasons, often have higher biodiversity than the adjoining areas, indicating the importance of the divinity of life forms. Some of the venerated plants associated with Shri Krishna and their healing properties are discussed below:

1. TULSI

Tulsi or holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum; Family: Lamiaceae), an annual delicate holy herb extensively cultivated in the courtyards, is worshipped as an embodiment of the goddess Lakshmi and is dear to Shri Krishna. Tulsi is also associated with Vrinda, an ardent devotee of Vishnu. Offering Tulsi leaves to Shri Krishna is considered highly auspicious. It is one of the most important medicinal plants in India. It is an excellent remedy for respiratory problems, digestive ailments and skin diseases. Recent experimental studies have proved it to be a promising immunomodulator, potent anti-microbial and anticancer agent.

Ram Tulsi

Shyam Tulsi

2. KADAMB

Most of the old literature mentions Neolamarckia cadamba as the Kadamb tree of Shri Krishna. However, recent correlations, new evidence and phytogeographic surveys point out that the true kadamb tree of Shri Krishna in Vrindavan is Mitragyna parvifolia. Our sacred literature is full of interesting tales of Sri Krishna’s childhood, where He is depicted as playing flute and playing with Radha and other Gopis under a Kadamba tree.

True Kadamb or Kaim (Mitragyna parvifolia; Family: Rubiaceae) is a medium-sized tree (up to 15m) with a spreading canopy (over 5 m). Its fragrant flowers are yellow and organised in ball-shaped heads (1-2 cm). True kadam is medicinally important plant with anti-arthritic, antipyretic, anticonvulsant, anthelmintic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, antiproliferative and antioxidant properties.

True kadamb or Kaim

Kadamb or burflower-tree (Neolamarckia cadamba; Family: Rubiaceae) is a large less branched tree growing up to 45 m tall. The flowers are sweetly fragrant, red to orange in colour and arranged in dense, globular heads (up to 5.5 cm). This plant is also medicinally important. It is considered useful in many diseases such as diabetes, anaemia, infections, stomatitis, leprosy and cancer.

Kadamb or burflower-tree

3. PARIJAT

Parijata, Harsingar or the Coral Jasmine Tree (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis; Family: Oleaceae) is a small-sized tree with highly fragrant flowers. Parijat is considered a divine tree by the Hindus. It is associated with Lord Shri Krishna, the 'Kanha of Gopis. ' The legends say that Shri Krishna brought the Parijat tree from the heaven of Indra Dev and planted it in the courtyard of Satyabhama to placate her. Despite having the tree in her courtyard, the flowers of the tree used to fall into the adjacent backyard of Rukmini, the favourite wife of Shri Krishna. Parijat is one of the most important medicinal plants in India and finds uses in many traditional systems of medicine. Medicinal uses of Parijat include usefulness in diabetes, arthritis, analgesic properties, hepatoprotective properties, immunomodulatory effect, anti-viral and antibacterial properties.

4. KAMAL

Kamal, Padma or Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera; Family: Nelumbonaceae) is a herbaceous hydrophyte with large floating leaves and pinkish flowers. It holds great importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. Shri Krishna is often depicted sitting on a blooming lotus, signifying his transcendence over the material world. Medicinal uses of kamal include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and anti-cancer properties.

Kamal

5. PEEPAL

Peepal, Ashvattha or Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa; Family: Moraceae) is a medium-sized tree found throughout the Indian sub-continent. Legends say that Shri Krishna enchanted his fellow cowherds with captivating melodies of his flute under a peepal tree. Medicinal uses of peepal include antidiabetic, cognitive enhancer, wound healing, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiviral, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, antiasthmatic, antitumor and antiulcer properties.

Peepal

6. BARGAD

Bargad, Vat or Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis; Family: Moraceae) is a large-sized evergreen tree with a broad canopy. It is commonly worshiped in India by the Hindus and Buddhists. Bargad is said to have provided respite to Shri Krishna and his friends from the scorching heat of the Sun during their childhood. This tree symbolizes the nurturing and safeguarding aspect of Krishna's divine presence. Medicinal properties include anti-thrombotic action, anti-atherogenic activity, hypolipidemic action, hypotensive effect, anti-inflammatory potential, and antioxidant activity.

Banyan tree

7. MAULSARI

Maulsari, Bakul or Spanish cherry (Mimusops elengi; Family: Sapotaceae) is a very beautiful medium-sized tree with a round and dense canopy. The sweet-smelling flowers of Maulsari are offered to Lord Vishnu and his incarnations by the Hindus. A large number of medicinal properties have been reported for the maulsari plant, which include antibacterial, antifungal, anticariogenic, antihyperglycemic, antineoplastic, gastroprotective, antinociceptive and diuretic effects.

Maulsari or Bakul

8. NEEM

Neem (Azadirachta indica; Family: Meliaceae), a plant with innumerable medicinal properties, is also associated with Shri Krishna. He is depicted as chewing neem leaves in some tales. Neem, colloquially called the ‘village pharmacy’, is reported to have anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, antipyretic, hypoglycaemic, antigastric ulcer, antifungal, antibacterial, antimalarial, immunomodulatory and antitumour properties.

Neem 

Shri Krishna bearing Viajayanti mala

Prunella: Healing with Self-Heal

 

Self-heal, botanically known as Prunella vulgaris (Family- Lamiaceae), is a relative unknown but a medicinal herb occurring in high altitude (1500-3600 m) meadows and open grassy slopes in the Himalayas, sub-temperate and temperate Asia and Europe. It is widely used in traditional Western and Chinese herbal medicine for curing many diseases and thus gets its common name, self-heal or heal all.

Common Names

English: Self-heal, Common selfheal, Heal-all, Common heal-all, Carpenter weed, Heart-of-the-earth, Aleutian selfheal, Touch and heal (indicating its value as first aid for cuts and wounds) Pahari: Gudli (Bharmour), Neela ghungru ghas (Mandi, Kullu), Ustakhadus (Spiti) Kashmiri: Kalyuth

 

MORPHOLOGY

Self-heal is a small, creeping, non-aromatic and perennial herb that grows up to 30 cm tall. The stem is quadrangular and covered with fine hair. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and each pair is at right angles to the pairs above and below them. The leaves are oval to lanceolate, serrated, covered with fine hair and measure  2.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. The inflorescence is dense and whirled cluster with a pair of stalkless leaves below. It flowers during the summers and rainy season. There are usually three flowers per bract. The bracts and calyx are purplish in colour. The corolla is violet or pink in colour,  bi-lipped and is 10–14 cm long. The upper lip forms a concave purple hood. The lower lip is lightly coloured and has three lobes. Seeds are smooth, shiny and brown nutlets. 

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Self-heal contains triterpenoids (oleanane, ursane, lupane), flavonoid (quercetin, hesperidin, kaempferol, luteolin, homoorientin, cynaroside), phenylpropanoids (phenylpropionic acids and coumarins), sterols (sitosterol and stigmasterol), coumarins, carbohydrates, organic acids (linoleic acid, linolenic acid and arachidic acid), quinones (tanshinone I, rhein, chrysophanic acid, 2-hydroxyl-3-methyanraquinone) and volatile oils (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and their oxygenated derivatives). 

EDIBLE USES

Leaves are used in soups and fresh or dried inflorescence is brewed in herbal teas in western countries.

MEDICINAL USES

1. Useful in Migraine

Self-heal is used to cure migraines in the Kashmir Himalayas.

 2.  Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Self-heal has been reported to fight inflammation in the human body. Experimental studies with self-heal on human heart muscle cells have shown it suppresses the activity of inflammatory proteins responsible for heart diseases and stroke. It can also protect human beings against inflammatory diseases like colitis, diarrhoea, stomach pain and rectal bleeding.

 3. Antibacterial Activity

Various experiments have shown that self-heal has remarkable antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi.

 4. Antiviral Activity

Some studies have shown that self-heal has antiviral activity against HIV, Ebola virus and SARS-coronavirus 2 (SCoV-2).

 5. Anti-Tumour Properties

A large number of recent scientific studies have shown that self-heal has anti-tumour properties. The triterpenoids, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids present in this plant have synergistic therapeutic effect against many types of cancers mediated through multiple pathways including arresting of cell cycle, anti-proliferation, apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis.

 6. Useful in Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Self-heal is used for treating thyroid diseases, especially autoimmune thyroiditis in traditional Chinese medicine. Scientific studies have also yielded similar results in experimental animals. 

7. Useful in Flu and Fever

Traditional healers in western countries use the leaves and flower spikes for curing flu and fever. 

8. Wound Healing

Self-heal has a long history of use in traditional European medicine for healing wounds, cuts and bruises.