Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a widespread meadow flower that is also planted in many gardens due to its relatively long flowering period and colorful cultivars. Before consuming the plant or using it as a medicinal plant, you should look very closely.
Negative he alth effects of yarrow itself
Even though yarrow has been a highly valued medicinal plant for many centuries and is generally edible, allergies to daisy plants can cause so-called yarrow dermatitis with blistering. In addition, if consumed excessively in the form of teas and salads, the coumarins they contain can trigger increased sensitivity to light. In addition, plants harvested from the garden are preferable to specimens from waysides in nature, which can be contaminated with pesticides and dog droppings.
Caution Danger: Confusing yarrow with poisonous counterparts
For people who are less trained in dealing with medicinal herbs and wild plants, yarrow may be confused with plants such as spotted hemlock or giant hogweed, which was introduced from the Caucasus. These plants are both poisonous, and eating giant hogweed can even cause death. However, simply touching them while picking bouquets is enough to trigger the following symptoms:
- Burning in the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sweats
- Respiratory paralysis
Children in particular should therefore be made aware of the danger posed by poisonous plants at an early stage when going for walks and trained in distinguishing between certain types of plants.
Yarrow: Is it safe for animals?
Yarrow is just as safe for most pets as it is for humans. Guinea pigs and tortoises generally love the leaves and stems of yarrow. The plant is sometimes given to dogs and horses, but they do not always like to eat it.
Tip
Even if there are fundamental similarities between the yarrow and its poisonous “doppelgangers”, with a little practice the individual plant species can be distinguished relatively easily based on their exact appearance and their respective growth size over the course of the year.
