Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a flowering herb that grows in North America, Asia, and Europe. It is one of the oldest plants that are made into herbal preparations. Yarrow can be used internally and externally to support the body’s healing processes.

Personal Story

I once planted yarrow plants in my garden. They had pretty flowers! I didn’t know that it was a plant traditionally used to support the body on its healing journey.

Traditional Uses

Yarrow is traditionally used for children and women’s health concerns, winter illnesses, throat conditions, respiratory conditions, skin conditions, gastrointestinal health, muscle aches, and circulation. Here are some specifics:

• Colds and Flus: Yarrow is considered a diaphoretic, in other words a sweat inducing agent. It helps the body break a fever and promotes perspiration when heat needs to be released from the body.
• Digestion: Yarrow is considered a tonic that stimulates digestive juices.
• Dysmenorrhea: A study of adolescents had decreased menstrual pain when taking yarrow tea.
• Cuts and Scrapes: Juice from yarrow leaves has been applied directly to wounds to aid healing. Ointments made with yarrow extracts may improve wound healing.
• Skin Inflammation: One study demonstrated that yarrow helped artificially irritated skin.

The Yarrow Plant

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is a perennial member of the Asteraceae (Aster or Sunflower) Family. It grows from seed indoors and transplanted or can be directly seeded in early spring. It will grow from two to three feet high in full sun or partial shade and prefers well – drained soil. Space plants twelve inches apart and give them low to moderate amounts of water.

Be careful! Yarrow is an herb that spreads invasively by stolon’s and must be contained, or they will spread their runners all over the place.

Harvest aerial parts while the plant is in full flower in mid- to late summer. Yarrow flowers are very pretty and attract pollinators.

Safety

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is Class 2b, which means it cannot be used during pregnancy. Some say it should not be used when breastfeeding or in children. If you have allergic reactions to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family, you might have allergic reactions to yarrow, too. There could also be interactions with anti-inflammatories, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet drugs. Do not take it with sedatives or lithium.

As with all supplements, discuss yarrow with your healthcare provider before adding it to your daily routine.

Action

If you are safely able to use yarrow, consider finding or making an ointment made with yarrow leaf extract the next time you have a minor wound.

May God bless your wellness journey!

Joni

P.S. What experience do you have with using yarrow? Please leave your response in a comment.