• Home
  • About Us
  • Consultations
    • Consultation Forms
  • Classes
  • Blog
  • Publications
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
BANYAN MOON BOTANICALS
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Consultations
    • Consultation Forms
  • Classes
  • Blog
  • Publications
  • Resources
  • Contact Us

You give me fever.....I give you Herb of the Week

11/9/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
It feels like the world has been spinning out of control for the past few weeks.  Super storms, trick or treating, nail biting elections, and Nor'easters.  No wonder the kids succumbed to the infiltration of the latest virus going around school. Obviously, the Halloween candy did not help matters.

First one, then the other of my little ones got hot!  Both had fevers that went up pretty significantly.  Enough to make my mama alarm bells go off.  It's hard to remember that really, fevers are our friends.  Fever simply represents our bodies normal response to killing off the virus that is invading our bodies.  Raise the temperature of the body, and the virus will eventually die off. 

Since both of my kids are over one month old (in which case you should go to the doctor if temp is over 100.4 degrees F), I took a deep breath and did what I could to make them comfortable. Nothing quiets those alarms bells like action.  I brewed tea.  I made them rest.  The herb fairy came and sprayed lavender hydrosol and put cool washcloths with peppermint essential oil on their little foreheads to calm them. All the time pushing fluids, fluids, fluids.  My herbal ally in this fight: Yarrow.  Here's the breakdown:

Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium
Common Names: Yarrow, Milfoil
Description: Stem is angular and rough.  Alternate leaves, 3 to 4 inches long and 1 inch broad, clasping the stem at the base, bipinnatifid, the segments very finely cut, giving the leaves a feathery appearance.  Flowers white, like tiny daisies, in flattened, terminal, loose heads, or cymes. The whole plant is more or less hairy, with white, silky appressed hairs.
Habitat: Grows everywhere, in the grass, in meadows, pastures, and by the roadside throughout N. America and Europe. Horticulture varieties of various color are cultivated widely, but are not as potent.
Blooms: June to September
Uses: Diaphoretic, astringent, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic.  Translation: Yarrow helps to raise the body temp enough to break a fever, it can help arrest bleeding, has antibacterial properties, and can even help repel bugs.  The whole plant can be used.

Truth be told, this one can taste a little bitter.  So I made a tea blend with other fever-supporting herbs like peppermint, elder blossoms, lemon balm, and even catnip. My kids drank loads of this tea, sweetened with a bit of honey.  Heck, they even bathed in a strong infusion of Yarrow, which brought considerable relief as it opened up their pores. 

Eventually they cooled down and perked up.  My mama alarm bells stopped ringing.  And as of this beautiful sunny morning, the world has stopped spinning quite so rapidly.

Be Well,
K



1 Comment
Sam link
5/3/2013 07:28:46 am

Hello!

I've been given to understand that Yarrow helps sooth your GI tract as well. Is there anything to that? Also, do you know definitively if it helps to relieve the presence of intestinal parasites? I know that the root of the male fern is able to do this, but also has a high probability of making one sick in the process... I have been trying to find alternatives to recommend to potential clients. In fact, I would really love to hear any of your other recommendations as well!

<a href="https://www.tnnursery.net/medicinal-plants/">Medicinal Plants for Sale</a>

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Author

    I am constantly amazed by the healing power of yoga and herbs. They inspire me to heal, to write, to teach, and to keep exploring. 

    Archives

    January 2017
    November 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    September 2011
    July 2011

    Categories

    All
    Do It. Yourself!
    Garden
    Herb Profiles
    Herbs
    Hooping
    Kids
    Natural Cleaning
    Recipes
    Sequences
    Stress Reduction
    Yoga

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos from Flare, Matt Lavin, 石川 Shihchuan, ototadana, davewrightphotography
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Consultations
    • Consultation Forms
  • Classes
  • Blog
  • Publications
  • Resources
  • Contact Us