Achillea millefolium Linn.

Synonym _ A. lanulosa Nutt.

Family _ Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat _ The western Himalayas

from Kashmir to Kumaon.

English _ Milfoil, Yarrow, Thousand

Leaf.

Unani _ Biranjaasif. National

Formulary of Unani Medicine

also equates Leonurus cardica

Linn. (Labiatae) with Biranjaasif.

Folk _ Gandana, Rojmari.

Action _ Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic

(used in cold, flatulent

colic, heartburn), emmenagogue,

cicatrizant, antidysenteric, antihaemorrhagic,

antipyretic, diaphoretic,

diuretic, urinary antiseptic.

Key application _ In dyspeptic

ailments, such as mild, spastic

discomforts of the gastrointestinal

tract. As astringent, antispasmodic,

choleretic, antibacterial. (German

Commission E.)As diaphoretic. (The

British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) Internally

for feverish conditions,

common cold and digestive complaints;

topically for slow-healing

wounds and skin inflammations.

(The British Herbal Compendium.)

The plant contains flavonoids, alkaloids

(achilleine), polyacetylenes,

triterpenes, coumarins, tannins, salicylic

acid, a volatile oil containing

linalool, camphor, sabinene, chamazulene

and other azulenes.

Sesquiterpene lactones are bitter and

tonic. Achilleine helps arrest internal

and external bleeding. Flavonoids contribute

to the antispasmodic action.

The flavonoid apigenin is anti-inflammatory,

antiplatelet and spasmolytic.

Alkaloids and bases are antiinflammatory.

Alkaloid betoncine is haemostatic. Salicylic acid is antiinflammatory.

Chamazulene is antiinflammatory

and antiallergenic.

An extract of the plant was found

to be rich in luteolin or luteolin glucoside and can be used for the treatment of hyperpigmentation of skin.