Synonym. Achillea Millefolium. Natural order. Compositae. Common names. Yarrow. Milfoil. Habitat. A common perennial herb found growing in oil fields, etc., in North America and Europe. Preparation. Tincture from the fresh leaves.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Through the spinal nerves, Millefolium exert its action upon the venous capillaries, especially within the pelvis, where it gives rise to hemorrhages from the organs therein contained, and from the nose, and has proved curative not only in hemorrhages from the pelvic viscera, but also in haemorrhages from the nose and lungs, the flow in each instance being of a more active character than in Hamamelis. It also affects mucous membranes, causing irritation and slight congestion, gastric and abdominal pain, diarrhoea and enuresis.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Head Congestion to the head (Aconite, Belladonna). Confused, dull headache. Slight throbbing in arteries of head and face. Dull pain in vertex. Sensation in right side of head, as if screwed together.
Eyes Sensation of too much blood in the eyes. Inward piercing pressing in eyes, to root of nose and sides of forehead.
Ears Sensation of stoppage in the ears.
Nose Nosebleed (Aconite, Belladonna, Bryonia, Hamamelis); also in congestions to head and chest.
Face Sensation of heat, as if blood were rising to the head. Tearing pains in lower jaw.
Mouth Rheumatic toothache, with diseased gums. Thirst; mouth dry.
Stomach. Eructations. Painful gnawing and digging in stomach, as from hunger (Ignatia, Pulsatilla, Sulphur). Sensation of fullness in stomach. Burning in stomach (Arsenicum, Cantharis, Sulphur).
Abdomen Pain in region of liver. Pain as from incarcerated flatulence: abdomen distended; emission of offensive flatus.
Stool Bloody discharges from the bowels; tenesmus. Diarrhoeic stools; violent colic. Haemorrhoids; profuse flow of blood (Erig., Euc., Hamamelis).
Urinary Organs Bloody write (Arsenicum, Cantharis, Phosphorus). Frequent desire to urinate; involuntary. Catarrh of bladder from atony.
Female Organs Menses suppressed or too profuse. Uterine haemorrhages (Aconite, Belladonna, Erig., Hamamelis, Secale); after great exertion; with congestive headache. Leucorrhoea. Lochia suppressed or too copious.
Respiratory Organs Cough with frequent spitting of bright blood (Ferrum, Hamamelis); oppression of chest; palpitation (Aconite) in phthisis; suppressed haemorrhoids; suppressed menses (Bryonia, Hamamelis, Pulsatilla). Excessive accumulation of mucus in bronchi. In lungs, piercing pains; stinging, bruised feeling.
Heart and Pulse Excessive palpitation and bloody sputum. Ebullitions from coughing blood. Puls accelerated and contracted.
Generalities Piercing, drawing, tearing pains in the limbs. Congestions; haemorrhages; mucous discharges from atony (Helonias). Wounds bleed profusely, especially from a fall. Effects of over-lifting or over-exertion. Worse in evening and night; better during the day.
Sleep Yawning without any weariness.
Compare Arnica, Carb. v., Erig., Hamamelis, Ipecac., Sen. Aurum, Tril.
Millefolium Antidotes. Arum. mur. Coffee drank after Mille, causes congestion to head.
THERAPEUTICS
Especially useful in active (Hamamelis, passive) bright-red haemorrhages from the nose, lungs and bowels, and from the sexual organs of women, especially when resulting from atony, or from violent exertion. Resembles Aconite in haemorrhages, only lacking the anxiety of the latter. Bleeding haemorrhoids. Phthisis pulmonalis. Catarrh from atony. Painful varicose veins during pregnancy.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).