Now is the time for Yarrow. I have been gathering it lately, sharing tidbits on insta stories, and several people have asked questions about how to identify it and how to use it. While answering questions, I realized that I was starting to form a little ode to this common plant.
Yes, I’m that nerd, writing odes to plants. To Sea Buckthorn and Elder, to Dandelion and Blue Chamomile, to the Prickly Pear cactus and our other few favorite oils, now to Yarrow and many more to come I’m certain!
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, or Rölleka as we call it here in Sweden, where it grows wild in meadows and pastures. They’ve popped up in my garden this year too, which I’m happy about, as yarrow attracts beneficial insects and pollinators, leading to a healthier garden overall.
Its botanical name, Achillea millefolium, is a nod to both myth and hyperbole. Achillea is related to the mythological Greek god of Achilles, who purportedly used Yarrow to help stop bleeding and cure wounds during war. Perhaps he could have, since Yarrow is known to do both! Millefolium means ‘thousand-leaved’ and is a reference to its leaves, which are divided so that there appears to be a thousand of them on each stalk, when in reality there are only a dozen or two leaves per stalk.
Just by sniffing one, you will know that it’s medicinal. So let’s talk more about how to identify yarrow.
Identifying Yarrow
Yarrow flowers arrive in early summer, so June-July depending on where you are exactly. They are flat-topped clusters of small flowers – usually white flowers here, but I sometimes find pink flowers sprinkled throughout. They are bright and easy to spot, and once you find one Yarrow plant, you are sure to find many more.
The flower heads can be confused with those of Queen Anne’s Lace, so it’s important to check the leaves too. In a vividly green landscape, the stark white color of both Yarrow and Queen Anne’s Lace jumps out, captures the eye. But a close look at both the flowers, and especially the leaves, can help you determine which is which. Also, Queen Anne’s Lace smells faintly of carrot, hence why it’s often called Wild Carrot, while the scent of Yarrow is more licorice like, more medicinal.
Yarrow leaves look, to me, like tiny little ferns. They are feathery and fine. Evenly distributed along the stem in alternating pattern, with leaves near the middle and bottom of the stem being the largest. The leaves contain many small divisions – an adaptation that aids in photosynthesis and that helps the leaf resist the highest summer heat, and thus making it well-equipped to thrive during hot, dry summers, or in hot, dry climates. Leaf size can range from 5-20 cm long, arranged spirally on the stems. The stems themselves can be hairy or smooth.
Both the flowers and leaves are edible and medicinal. The root can also be harvested and used in autumn months. The flowers should be harvested when fully bloomed in summer, while the leaves can be harvested any time actually. Here in Sweden, Yarrow leaves are among the first things that we’re able to find, those feathery leaves bringing signs of life.
To us westerners, Yarrow symbolizes healing. In the east, it is associated with divination, going all the way back to ancient China and the I-Ching dynasty.
Note… In the wild, Yarrow is almost always white or pinkish. But when cultivated in gardens, Yarrow blossoms in an array of colors, as shown below by Monosilla Garden in neighboring Finland. (I can’t speak for the medicinal properties of commercial Yarrow, only Yarrow that grows wildly!)
An Ancient Ally
Yarrow has had a kinship with the human species since practically the dawn of our species.
Fossilized yarrow pollen has been identified in Neanderthal burial caves, suggesting that its association with the human race is some 60,000 years old. Yarrow is an old herb, regardless. The most authentic way of casting the I Ching, an ancient Chinese method of answering questions about the future, involves 50 dried yarrow stalks. And yarrow figured into the ancient Trojan war, when Achilles packed it on his comrades’ wounds to stop the bleeding.
Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
My favorite story goes like this: In Greek mythology, it is said that when Achilles was born, his mother dipped him in Yarrow tea, holding him by the ankle. When he died, as the hero of the Trojan war, it was a wound on the ankle that took his life, the only place only his body untouched by the Yarrow bath.
But actually, Yarrow has been used on many battlefields to treat injured soldiers and stop bleeding wounds, leading to nicknames like “soldier’s woundwort” or “warrior plant”.
Another of its many nicknames is “nosebleed” for it’s ability to – you guessed it – stop and start nosebleeds.
In North America, Native Americans used Yarrow to relieve pain and inflammation – toothaches, headaches, earaches, etc. They created remedies with Yarrow to reduce fever and promote healthy sleep. Dried Yarrow and Yarrow tea helped ward off flies and mosquitoes. And Yarrow played a role in their rituals too – it was used to treat injuries and sores, and it was believed to purify any area where sick people lay, cleansing the space of any illness. The Teton Dakota People called yarrow “medicine for the wounded”, another nickname that sheds light to its incredible properties.
Modern Yarrow Uses
Even in modern America, Yarrow was used regularly up until just the 1940’s, and is still used by European drug companies today. Norwegians are known to chew on Yarrow leaves to relieve tooth pain. In Scotland, people regularly make a wound salve from yarrow to treat cuts, bruises and other injuries.
When we hear words like “war” or “battle wounds” or even “dynasty” we think of masculinity. But actually, Yarrow is feminine in nature. She is a healer. And a survivor.
And another common use for Yarrow is to support women after giving birth. Yarrow is often used in sitz baths to ease pain and promote healing, in treating hemorrhoids, in preventing too much blood loss and more. It’s also been used for centuries to ease menstrual cramps and support healthy cycles.
Due to its affinity with bleeding, however, Yarrow should be avoided during pregnancy, as it could trigger bleeding and miscarriage.
Beyond its medicinal uses, which we’ve barely scratched the surface of, the entire Yarrow plant is edible. It is a rich source of nutrients, containing vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, niacin, and antioxidants.
It can be dried and used as a spice. Some liken it to licorice or fennel, others to tarragon. For me, it’s slightly sweet and floral aroma makes it hard to compare to those, or any other spices actually, so try it for yourself!
The fresh flowers and leaves are used in salads, dressings, sauces, etc. As shared on instagram stories, I recently made some lacto-fermented carrots spiked with Yarrow leaves. Yum!
Yarrow tea is another fantastic thing, as it’s effective in healing flu, cold and sinus problems, chest congestion or cough and fever. It’s often used for stomach issues like diarrhea, gas, and indigestion. Recent studies show that Yarrow can protect against stomach acid damage and even demonstrated anti-ulcer properties.
And in Sweden, Yarrow is often used in place of Hops for beer brewing. Apparently it has more intoxicating effect than Hops, and of course you can leave it to us Swedes to find the cheapest, fastest way to get drunk (kidding, not kidding).
The flavonoids and alkaloids in Yarrow give it a soothing effect, alleviating symptoms of stress, anxiety and even depression.
Yarrow for Skincare
Of all of Yarrow many, many uses, I think it’s most ancient, most potent use is in healing the skin.
Like Blue Chamomile, which we’ve featured here before, Yarrow yields another one of those beautiful blue oils when distilled.
This is due to its chamazulene content, which gives it powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Just as it calms the mind, it also calms and clears the skin, which is why you’ll find it in many acne treatments, as well in blends for treating eczema and other inflammatory conditions.
It is highly regenerative, and so you’ll find it in many products to combat wrinkles.
And of course, as we’ve discussed already, Yarrow is a healer. From wounds and abrasions to broken capillaries and chronic skin complains, Yarrow has been known to benefit all of these and more.
Which is why we include Yarrow in our healing Blue Moon Lotion Bar, by far the most medicinal of our 3 lotion bars. Also, when I make the Blue Chamomile Toner for myself at home, I almost always add a couple drops of Yarrow essential oil in addition to the Blue Chamomile. I regret not doing this for everyone, but unfortunately Yarrow isn’t listed in the ingredients on Wyld product labels, so I refrain. But if you Make Your Own Blue Chamomile Toner at home, then you can add a couple of drops of Yarrow if you’d like. You won’t be disappointed.
Easy Ways to Incorporate Yarrow into Your Life
Other than a toner, you can use Yarrow in a thousand ways, right? Well it is easy to find (if you’re in the northern hemisphere), easy to wildcraft, easy to dry (just hang it upside down in a cool, dry place until dry) and easy to use.
Infuse dried Yarrow into your favorite skin oil – check our guide for making your own infused oils. Once you have a Yarrow infused oil, you can use it on its own for everyday use, or for special healing. You can use it to make healing salves or moisturizing creams. You can make your own lotion bar! Or mix it with other cosmetic ingredients to make your own face oil blends for cleansing or for moisturizing.
Dried Yarrow can be ground up and add to a face mask. For example, for our Terra Firma Clay Mask, I grind up dried calendula, chamomile and rose flowers and then mix them in with the clays. You can absolutely add dried yarrow flowers to this mixture.
Or use dried yarrow for poultices and wound applications. It’s great for bug bites and bee stings too.
In the kitchen, you can use fresh or dried Yarrow – both leaves and flowers. Use them as a dried spice. In salad dressings. In your ferments. In pestos and other sauces. Sprinkle on salads. Just remember that if you want to keep all of the nutrients intact, you will need to avoid high heat, so I wouldn’t roast them in the oven for too long.
But making Yarrow tea with them is absolutely fine. The nutrients will steep into the boiled water, so you will drink them all up. Wild yarrow is more potent than commercial flowers like chamomile, so please don’t drink cup after cup after cup of Yarrow tea too many days in a row. That could cause a headache, rather than cure the headache.
If you aren’t up for tea making or beer brewing, which you can certainly try with Yarrow, then how about cocktail bitters? Yarrow makes an excellent base for bitters thanks to its bitter, astringent properties. I love this recipe from Edible Communities because it includes the root, flowers and leaves of Yarrow – wild foraged Yarrow, not commercially grown.
And you know what, you can also forage Yarrow for the simple sake of beauty. That’s more than okay. I’ve included Yarrow flowers many times in my bouquets of #wyldflowers – which I sometimes gram about. Even dried Yarrow flowers can look absolutely stunning.
Do you forage Yarrow? And how do you use it? We’d love to hear!
As they say – a thousand leaves, a thousand uses. Or did I say that?
Hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to Yarrow and perhaps learned something new today, or at least found some inspiration for getting outside and getting to know the life-giving plant we call Yarrow.
Take good care!
xo
