One of the most common gastrointestinal tract diseases is the gastric ulcer. These types of ulcers develop as a result of the disproportion between destructive and defensive features in the gastric mucosa. Stomach ulcers are painful and can seriously reduce quality of life. Medicinal plants and their components have numerous biological actions. The Achillea genus comprises over a hundred species and subspecies, which are dispersed all over the world. Achillea millefolium, family Asteraceae, widely known as “yarrow”, is a frequently used herb in the Middle East as a fresh or dried herb. It is utilized in different forms, such as in tea mixtures, tablets, tinctures, and ointments, among other formulations.
Commission E approved the ingestion of yarrow for appetite loss and dyspeptic disorders. This herb has been traditionally used as an astringent, antiseptic, and to manage gastrointestinal complaints, diminish menstrual contractions and inconsistency, and to stimulate wound, burn, and ulcer healing. A preclinical model found that oral administration of yarrow essential oil protected the stomach against ulcers by several mechanisms mediated through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. This suggests that ingesting yarrow may help preserve the integrity of the stomach lining. More research is necessary to determine how to use this for humans, but it is promising.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36432009/