Treatment of venous leg ulcers with an ointment containing yarrow (Achillea millefolium) extract / Primena preparata sa ekstraktom hajdučke trave (Achillea millefolium) u lečenju venskih ulkusa potkolenice

Abstract

Abstract Traditional medicine credits yarrow (Achillea millefolium) with the ability to accelerate wound healing. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of yarrow on the epithelization of the lower leg venous ulcers. The study included 39 patients with venous leg ulcers. They were divided into two groups: the first (experimental) group of patients were treated with an ointment containing 7.5% of yarrow extract. In the second (control) group, saline solution dressings were applied to ulcers, within the period of three weeks. In the experimental group, at the beginning of the therapy, the total surface of all the ulcers was 44736 mm2. After three weeks, the total surface of all the ulcers was 27000 mm2 (a decrease of 39.64%). In the control group, at the beginning of the therapy, the total surface of all the ulcers was 46116 mm2. At the end of the study (21 days) the total surface of all the ulcers was 39153 mm2 (a decrease of 15.1%). Herbal preparations are suitable for application in the therapy of venous ulcers, but their efficiency in wound healing is still to be investigated.