Evidence supporting the use of: Fern-leaf yarrow
For the health condition: Afterbirth Pain
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Fern-leaf yarrow (Achillea filipendulina), like other yarrow species, has a long-standing history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in Eurasia. In ethnobotanical records, yarrow is commonly recommended for women’s reproductive health, including the treatment of afterbirth pain—discomfort and uterine contractions following childbirth. Traditional midwives and herbalists have used infusions or decoctions of yarrow to help tone the uterus, promote the expulsion of residual tissue, and alleviate cramping pain. The purported effects are attributed to yarrow’s antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its mild astringency, which may help reduce bleeding.
However, the majority of references pertain to Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) rather than Achillea filipendulina (fern-leaf yarrow). Nevertheless, the phytochemical profiles are similar, and the use of related yarrow species is often considered interchangeable in folk medicine. Scientifically, there is limited direct research on either species for afterbirth pain specifically, and no robust clinical trials exist to validate efficacy. Some laboratory studies on yarrow extracts demonstrate antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory activity, which could support the traditional rationale, but such effects have not been confirmed in postpartum women. Thus, the evidence for fern-leaf yarrow’s use in afterbirth pain is primarily traditional, with minimal scientific substantiation.
Other ingredients used for Afterbirth Pain
ashwagandhablack cohosh
chamomile
turmeric
fennel
ginger
ginseng
lavender
licorice root
parsley
rhodiola
xanthium (cockleburs)
shen-chu
mugwort
anise
punarnava
caesalpinia crista
boxthorne
goldenrod
yarrow
myrrh
siler root
fern
trichosanthes
queen of the meadow
arnica
Avens
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Alchemilla
Aletris
Anserina
Aerva lanata
American Liverleaf
Aquilegia formosa
Ashoka
Abuta
Amor seco
Arisaema
Blue Cohosh
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Black-Eyed Susan
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Butea monosperma
Bethroot
Comfrey
Cohosh
Calendula
Calotropis gigantea
Capillary Artemisia
Cinquefoil
Cyathula
Cynodon dactylon
Castor Oil
Chrysophanics
Didymocarpus
Dragon's Blood
Davilla rugosa
Erigeron
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Eupatorium
Fleabane
Gnaphalium
Giant Trillium
Little ironweed
Other health conditions supported by Fern-leaf yarrow
Abdominal PainAbrasions
Abscesses
Afterbirth Pain
Bleeding (external)
Bruises (healing)
Burns and Scalds
Cuts
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Dyspepsia
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Indigestion
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Inflammation
Injuries
Insect Repellant
Itching
Labor and Delivery
Nausea and Vomiting
Pain (general remedies for)
Scratches and Abrasions
Sunburn
Wounds and Sores