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| Health Benefits of Milfoil |
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Milfoil
Ancient medicinal herb, milfoil is one of the most known and used herbs of its kind in popular medicine. Its scientific name, "Achillea millefoilum", comes from the name of Achilles - the legendary hero of the Trojan war from Greek mythology. It is said that he discovered the plant and used it to heel the wounds of his soldiers.
Description
Milfoil is a herbaceous plant with a hairy stem, 0.2 to 1m tall. Its flowers are white or rosy, it has a characteristic smell and a bittersweet taste. The herb comes from Europe and the western regions of Asia. It was a highly known culinary ingredient back in the 17th century. As a medicinal herb, milfoil has come a long way; it was first used for its astringent effect and its power to heal wounds. Today, the herb is used in many other illnesses and disorders such as: hemorrhoids, stomach aches, liver disorders, distensions, angina pectoris, circulation disorders, intestinal parasites, pulmonary bleeding and also lung cancer. Moreover, milfoil stimulates the curative effects of other medicinal herbs and helps an organism eliminate toxins. Furthermore, this herb is very useful when grown in gardens because it improves the quality of soil and keeps the bugs away.
Proprieties
The plant's inflorescences are the parts with the highest amount of active substances. Among these substances we find: etheric oil, acids (achileic, formic, auteic, aconitic, ascorbic, folic, salicylic), flavones, saccarose, glucose, amino acids, proteins, tannins and inorganic substances with the chemical elements: iron, manganese, zinc, copper, nickel, silicon, calcium. The flowers improve the working of the circulatory system (they improve venous circulations and heal varices), digestive system (they are recommended to individuals suffering from bad digestions) and urinary system. Other pharmaceutical properties: expectorant, antispastic, gastrointestinal disinfectant and sedative, biliary antispastic, haemostatic, analgesic, hemorrhoidal decongestionant and it can decrease gastric secretions. Milfoil is recommended for disorders of the menstrual cycle. Its salicylic acid is used to prepare aspirin because it has the power to heal the pain and lower body temperatures.
Used externally, the herb has a disinfectant, anti-inflammatory and sedative effect. Because of the substances it contains, milfoil can stop the inflammatory process, eliminate microorganisms and help the healing of wounds. Because of this, the inflorescences are used for treating dry complexions, burns, and festering wounds of the tegument.
Mixtures and treatments
Milfoil is recommended for stimulating the appetite and is also used in cases of anorexia, bronchitis, cough, allergies, hepatic and biliary colics, biliary dischinesis, distensions, cystitis, ascariasis, ulcers, eye diseases, nosebleeds, stomach bleedings, and osteoporosis. Used with other herbs, milfoil effectively treats the common cold and flu.
This herb is used to treat vascular disorders, eczemas, burns, contusions, suppurative and ulcerative wounds, hemorrhoids, dental abscesses, asthma, leucorrhoea and uterin prolapse.
Milfoil tea is recommended for treating multiple sclerosis and other illnesses of the spinal marrow. Active compounds of the herb act directly over the spinal marrow causing the formation of new cells and stimulating blood renewal. It can also help in cases of paralysis and leukemia. The consumption of two or three cups of tea a day is recommended. To prepare an infusion, two spoons of milfoil are mixed in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. For flu, cold and rheumatic pains it is recommended to consume high quantities of hot milfoil tea. It is said that the tea can heal a cold in 24 hours. Inhalations of the steam generated by the infusion are good to treat asthma, acute bronchitis, rinita, rinosinuzita. The herb is very important in healing the genital afflictions of women. For those who are at menopause, the tea acts as a sedative. It is also recommended for vertigo, nausea, eye sores, tears shedding, headaches. Headaches caused by weather changes can be healed after the consumption of one cup of tea. If it is consumed regularly, the headaches can disappear.
Milfoil decoct: For the elimination of intestinal worms, the infusion must be concentrated; due to this fact, the decoct is prepared from 10g of milfoil for 100g of water. It must be consumed in the morning on the empty stomach and it is also recommended for allergies.
Milfoil tincture is used for treating urinary and menstrual disorders. For varicose veins milfoil dabs are effectively used. To obtain the tincture the following recipe is used: the flowers, (picked from under the hot sun, preferably) are placed in a bottle in which rye or fruits brandy is added. Then it is left for 14 days in the sun or a hot place.
Caution
The herb must not be used by pregnant women or women in lactation periods. High doses can produce headaches or allergies.
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