Yarrow | (Achillea millefolium)
A symbol of healing and protection, success and good luck. Offers empaths or sensitive humans psychic boundaries. Long has yarrow been used as a protective plant and connected to divinations.
Yarrow is an “old-time” medicinal herb, receiving its generic name from Achilles who is said to have used it as a styptic to stop the bleeding of his wounded men in the Trojan Wars.
USES: Associated with heart health and to treat anxiety and depression, said to regulate chi and remove congestion, by increasing the energy of the body, driving circulation, breaking up obstruction and warming the body. Does well for the gallbladder, increasing bile secretion for detoxification or improved fat digestion. It has been documented to increase elimination of toxic wastes, blood purification and fighting infection (UTI’s), reduce inflammations in the blood vessels and as a remedy for diarrhea and to reduce fever.
It has been used as an insect repellant, an external healing salve, to treat cuts and bruises, the easing and shortening of the menses and to stop bleeding. For a bloody nose, yarrow tincture on a tissue & stuffed up nostril can stop bleeding in seconds. Chewed or mashed yarrow can be used as a poultice on shallow cuts/woulds to stop bleeding.
Parts used: whole herb, leaves, flowers, stems
Actions: hemostatic (blood normalizer), antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, decongestent, mildly astringent, cooling, aromatic, stimulating diaphoretic/antipyretic (inducing persperation), carminitive (combats flatulence), stomachic, emmenagogue (stimulates or increases menstrual flow), vulnerary (healing of wounds), mild bitter and diuretic.
Yarrow is a perennial herb that will grow to be 1 to 3 feet tall. It has bright white, flat-topped flowers that grow in dense clusters atop fuzzy stalks and adorned with frilly leaves that could be compared to fern fronds or squirrel tails. There are several varieties of yarrow bearing white, yellow, pink, or red flowers.
It is widespread throughout the Pacific Northwest and abundant at the perimeters of slightly saline coastal wetlands. Also to be found in mountain highlands.
“A spray of yarrow was a potent love charm and was used for bridal wreaths”
Does well when mixed with other native herbs such as mint to offset the bitterness. Yarrow powder is a wonderful addition to any herbal first aid kit for the care of wounds/itching/bleeding.
A yarrow and mugwort steam works wonders for sinsunitus and clogged sinuses.
Rub flower heads in armpits for use as a deodorant.
A spray of yarrow was a potent love charm and was used for bridal wreaths. It has been said that yarrow plants worn by a timid person would drive away fear. In Sweden it has been used instead of hops for making beer.
Yarrow uses/recipes:
Classic yarrow sweating and detoxification formula as follows:
Yarrow flowering tops (1 part)
Peppermint tops (1 part)
Elder flowers (1 part)
Infuse the herbs for 20 minutes in boiling water, strain, and drink 1 or 2 cups as needed for cold, flu, or cleansing programs.
Conditioner for oily hair:
Make a decoction with flowering parts, stem and leaves. The decoction is then used as a rinse after hair is washed, rubbing it thoroughly into scalp. Barely rinse, so some remains on the hair. (some Native American tribes believed that rubbing the head with yarrow oil would stop hair from thinning)