Yarrow

Yarrow- Achillea millefolium

Yarrow was introduced to North America from Europe and is a member of the Asteraceae family that includes Daisies. The plant has naturalized in Tennessee and most parts of North America. Yarrow likes lots of sun, and you will find it growing wild in open grasslands and in mountain meadows. The fern-like leaves are 2 to 9 inches long and the flowers grow in small white umbel clusters. Other cultivated varieties are found in yellow, pink, or red.

Caution Poisonous look-alikes: Poison Hemlock

Yarrow-Edible Parts

Harvest the leaves and flowers for medicinal and culinary use. Yarrow is commonly used externally as a wound healer. Use the leaves fresh or powdered to make a poultice and apply externally to stop bleeding. A Yarrow tea and bath has been traditionally used to bring down fever. Use Yarrow’s strong flavor sparingly to flavor meat, vegetables, and potatoes. The root was used for pain and toothaches.

Caution: Only use under supervision while pregnant. People with allergies or sensitivity to Asteraceae plants should avoid using Yarrow.

Yarrow Folklore

Achilles, the great hero of the Trojan War is the botanical namesake for Yarrow. When he was an infant, his mother held him by his heel and dipped him into Yarrow tea because the plant was known as a powerful herb of protection. Eventually he died from an arrow wound to his Achilles heel (his only weakness).

Alexander the Great took wagons full of Yarrow to heal the gash wounds of his soldiers. It was used on the battlefield throughout history. During Victorian times it was used as a symbol for war and sending Yarrow to a neighboring King signified combat. In some cultures, Yarrow was a symbol of love. The Chinese used Yarrow stems as a love divination tool.

Yarrow- Herbal Uses

The Cherokee, Iroquois, and Mohegan tribes used Yarrow as a digestive aid and to help with swelling. Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest used Yarrow when processing salmon as an insect repellent, and it was used to cleanse an area where a sick or dying person lay.

Herbalist and Midwives used Yarrow during birth to soothe uterine contractions, and to protect from hemorrhage and blood clots. They also used Yarrow in Sitz bath to promote healing during postpartum.

Other Uses: skin tonic, hemorrhoids, inflammation, heartburn, incontinence, painful menstruation, colds, circulation, hypertension, energetically used to build & solidify boundaries.

Sources:

Yarrow Monograph

https://www.herbrally.com/monographs/yarrow

The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods- By Nicole Apelian, Ph.D.

Earth Mother Herbal- By Shatoiya De La Tour