Evidence supporting the use of: Yarrow
For the health condition: Parasites (tapeworm)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, including for the treatment of intestinal parasites such as tapeworms. Folk medicine systems in Europe, Asia, and North America have employed yarrow as a bitter tonic and vermifuge (an agent that helps expel worms). The traditional rationale is based on yarrow's bitter compounds, such as sesquiterpene lactones and essential oils, which were believed to create an intestinal environment less hospitable to parasites. In several ethnobotanical sources, yarrow is listed as an ingredient in herbal mixtures for expelling worms, though details of efficacy and preparation methods vary.

However, modern scientific evidence for yarrow’s efficacy against tapeworms or other intestinal parasites is limited. While in vitro studies have demonstrated some antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity of yarrow extracts, these are not specific to tapeworms and often use concentrations much higher than would be achieved through traditional preparations. There is a lack of clinical trials or robust animal studies directly supporting yarrow’s use for tapeworm infections. Thus, while its use is justified by tradition, the strength of evidence is weak, and it is not considered a validated or primary treatment in modern medicine.

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