Achillea millefolium
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Common Names: Yarrow, Milfoil, Woundwort, Devils Nettle Family: Asteraceae Part/s Used: Leaves + Flowers Energetics: Cooling, dry Taste: bitter, pungent, salty, mild sweetness Actions: Diaphoretic, emmenagogue, astringent, diuretic, antiseptic, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory Constituents: Essential oils, flavonoids, tannins, salicylic acid Planet: Venus Element: Water Herblore: Some refer to yarro as the witches herb. When help or worn, it can bring courage and attract LOVE and friendship. It will also help you to love yourself. It gives us the courage to look within and heal in a way that strengthens us and channel it into the world in a unique way. Yarrow is an ally for healthy boundaries protecting us from the outside world. |
Medicinal Preparations:Tincture: Fresh: 1:2 -1:3 Dry (ratio & % alcohol): 1:5 60% or 1:6 60% Glycerite: Fresh: 1:3 Glycerin: 50% Water: 50% |
Habitat and Botanical Description:Yarrow is a highly aromatic perennial that flourishes in a sunny, warm habitat. Often found along roadsides, meadows, mountains, deserts and coastal dunes from May to August. A beautiful show of tiny white to pink flowers in dense, flat topped clusters. The leaves are fern like and the stalks grow up to 3’ tall. |
Medicinal Uses:Internally, the leaves and flowers (fresh preferred but dried is great too!) are used in tea or tincture to lessen the symptoms of colds and flu especially when accompanied with fever and pain. Its cooling volatile oils dilate the blood vessels and stimulate sweating to encourage heat loss. Great for when that fever is trapped within the body and needs to be released. It is cooling and sedative to excess heat. Yarrow is an effective hemostatic and contains anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. It is beneficial to all manners of wounds, lacerations, bruises, bites and stings. Contains mild disinfectant properties and is useful in salves. A bath made with a strong tea (ounce of herb steeped in 2 quarts water) for tendon and joint inflammation. |
Harvesting:
Gather the recently flowered stalks and bundle together with twine a couple inches from the cut ends and hang out of direct sunlight with adequate ventilation. |
Beauty:The flowers can be simmered in water and used as a facial steam to promote a healthy complexion. |
Contraindications:
Avoid taking internally during pregnancy, check for allergic dermatitis of the Asteraceae family. Low to moderate doses.
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Recommended Products: |
Sources:
A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve.
Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore
Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
The Complete Herbs Sourcebook by David Hoffman
Evolutionary Herbalism by Sajah Popham
Northwest School for Botanical Studies by Christa Sinadinos