Yarrow

Botanical name (Achillea millefolium)

Family: Asteraceae (Aster)

Yarrow is one of the most versatile and respected healing plants. Dioscorides, the Greek physician writing in the 1st century AD, referred to the healing properties of yarrow for battle wounds.

Parts used: Flowers, leaves & roots.

Main Benefits of Yarrow

• Stops bleeding
• Wound healing
• Supports the fever process
• Heals varicose veins
• Digestive problems
• Urinary tract infections
• Fights infections

Constituents – 0.5% volatile oils. Isovaleric acid. Sesquiterpene lactones. Flavonoids, vitamin C, bitters, tannins, alkaloids, sterols, phenolic acids (including salicylate), coumarins, sesquiterpene lactones (including achillin), volatile oils (including the toxic thujone irritating borneol, stimulating camphor, antiseptic pinenes, etc.), and many other constituents.

Actions – Alterative, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antihistamine, antimicrobial, antiseptic, anodyne, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, bitter tonic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, haemostatic, hepatic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, vasodilator, and vulnerary.

Benefits and Uses

Yarrow is one of the best herbs for wound healing and stopping the bleeding of wounds. Yarrow is known as a medicine for the wounded. It is named after the Greek warrior Achilles – It is said that he and his fellow warriors used it to help wounds heal faster and to stop the bleeding of wounds. In Europe, Roman centurions knew Yarrow under the name of Herba militaris, as they continued to use it to stop the bleeding of combat injuries. In later times it was called Soldier’s woundwort.
Millefolium means “thousand leave”. It looks like each finely cut small feather-like piece of a single leaf is a separate leaf, which are the ribs & veins of a single leaf cut back through evolution. Even though the leaves feel gentle, it resembles the teeth of a saw. The signature of a gentle yet powerful wound healer. Yarrow’s mild antiseptic and anodyne properties and ability to coagulate blood and stop bleeding make it the perfect ally in healing wounds.

As a styptic, Yarrow encourages blood coagulation to stop bleeding. You can use both fresh and dried leaves as a topical poultice. This is a helpful tip for hikers who may be far from medical care. Using Yarrow to stop bleeding can be as simple as macerating the leaves and applying them to the area.

Deep wounds and cuts – Very useful for a cut to the bone – One of the best remedies to stop wound bleeding and start healing for a cut to the bone.

Nosebleed (Apply the dried leaves of Yarrow inside nostrils).

Nasal rinse – Yarrow’s astringent properties also help restore tone to tissue and dry secretions, making it an excellent choice for nasal rinses.

Toothache – Yarrow, astringent, anodyne, and antimicrobial properties, is well suited for inflamed gums and toothache. One study showed that a yarrow extract healed oral mucositis symptoms in chemotherapy patients faster than simply using the routine solution.

Fights bacteria and viruses – Yarrow is broadly antimicrobial and antiseptic. When used on a wound, it can help keep it clear of infection, or it can be used to address signs of infection such as heat, redness, or yellow discharge. In the 1st Century, Dioscorides recommended to “pound the leaves and put them on a fresh wound to close and heal the wound, clear it from heat and inflammation and congeal the blood.”

Inflammation of the skin. Grapeseed oil infused with Yarrow and added jojoba oil is effective in reducing inflammation on the skin.  

Episiotomy wounds (A surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth to aid a difficult delivery and prevent tissue rupture.) – Combine Yarrow with St John’s wort to assist the healing process.

Respiratory system – Yarrow is traditionally used for colds, congestion, coughing and fever (Yarrow is a deep fever medicine). Its diaphoretic action induces sweating and makes it especially useful at the onset of fever or in cases of obstructed perspiration. Diaphoretic plants move blood circulation toward the body’s surface, open pores and help the body cool off through sweating. It is helpful for eruptive conditions such as fevers, measles and chickenpox. It also increases the immunological activity on the front lines of the body’s battle against the cold and other pathogens.

Alleviating asthma attacks by thinning the blood and increasing flow to and within the lungs.

Digestive System – Yarrow contains flavonoids, bitters and aromatic compounds that increase saliva and stomach acid production, improving digestion and supporting a healthy appetite. Yarrow helps for general inflammation, especially in the digestive tract, and has been known to alleviate heartburn. It also acts as a muscle relaxant on the intestine and soothes stomach cramps. The bitter components & fatty acids of Yarrow encourage proper bile secretion from the gallbladder, improving digestion and keeping gallstones from forming. Yarrow is traditionally used for gallbladder problems, gastritis, haemorrhage, intestinal bleeding, colic, diarrhoea, lack of appetite, bitter tonic for better digestion, stomach disease, liver disease & mucous membrane inflammation. Add Yarrow to other bitter blends, or take it on its own.

Treating irritable bowel syndrome – make a herbal blend with Yarrow, ginger, Slippery elm and Boswellia. Herbalists also used Yarrow for people with dysentery.

Woman – Yarrow is an important woman’s medicine. Yarrow’s ability to harmonize the blood makes it useful for many women’s health issues. It is used for pain associated with menstrual cramps, regulating menstrual periods and controlling heavy bleeding. Yarrow benefits dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation by soothing uterine contractions and acting as an anodyne. It is also used by herbalists and midwives during birth to soothe haemorrhages and protect from blood clots formation. This shows Yarrow’s incredible ability to act specifically to a person’s blood needs or constitution. It can be used to initiate menstruation and stop or slow the excessive menstrual flow.

Skeletal system – Yarrow has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with any inflammatory type of arthritis & backache (one with swelling or redness). It also helps to bring blood and its healing nutrients to peripheral areas such as the hands.

Urinary system – Urinary tract infection, kidney irritation, urethra & water retention. Yarrow is a favourite herb for urinary tract infections. A great combination is Yarrow, Bearberry and Buchu leaves, with an added demulcent such as marshmallow root. Yarrow is a urinary astringent and antiseptic, helping to dispel infection while at the same time toning the tissues. When taken lukewarm, it acts as a diuretic, promoting healthy urination while toning tissues. When drunk cold or cool, its diuretic properties are even more active, making a powerful combination with its astringency that alleviates bladder infections and incontinence.

Circulatory System – Yarrow is used for high blood pressure, poor circulation & stroke. Why is it so versatile? Yarrow works towards toning the blood vessels, especially the smaller veins. It lowers blood pressure by dilating the capillaries. It gives Yarrow a whole-body effect through the blood system, especially on hypertension and coronary thrombosis conditions.

Harmonizing blood – Yarrow perfectly harmonizes blood circulation and can be beneficial in cases of stagnation, such as varicose veins or fibroids, and issues of overstimulated blood flow, such as hypertension. Healthy blood is the blood that is freely circulating around the body. Stagnant blood such as varicose veins, blood blisters, and even fibroids can lead to various symptoms and discomfort. Yarrow is often the herb of choice for relieving stagnant blood conditions.

Yarrow is a blood regulator; it helps clot blood when it needs to be coagulated. It improves circulation and blood flow when needed and strengthens the lining of blood vessels and capillaries.

Swollen body parts, bruises and sprains. The stalks and leaves are crushed and pounded before being applied.

Promote sweating – Combine Yarrow with Elderflower & Ginger
Pain relief for arthritis & rheumatism. – The anti-inflammatory properties alleviate pain. Relieve haemorrhoids. (Use a poultice or compress over the affected area is very soothing.

Hair
May stimulate hair growth. Rub the fresh Yarrow juice on your scalp, preventing excessive hair loss.

Skin
Improve the appearance of wrinkles and pores. It is considered a skin tonic and can be used in a very effective facial steam to improve complexion through circulation and cooling inflamed tissue. Yarrow can also be protective against topical sun and wind damage.

Culinary
Fresh leaves may be added to salads, soups and egg dishes.
Mixing Chervil and parsley, which are soft herbs, with Yarrow will slightly dilute the intense flavour.

More uses:
Divining sticks are made from stalks in China.

Growing Yarrow:
A distinguishing factor of Yarrow is its blossoms. Yarrow flowers are tiny and grow in flat-topped composite clusters at the top of the plant’s stem. Flowers are usually white. Also rose-coloured and lilac with a pinkish hue. Yarrow has both the ray and disk flowers characteristic of the Asteraceae. The young leaves in spring are full of healing juice. As the stalks shoot up, the leaves die back. Do not use the stalk or the mature leaves. The flower tops are the best to use. Yarrow that grows in rough gravelly soil produces a robust and poignant pr separation.