Achillea millefolium
HAPPY HOW ALL YOU HERBIES!
This week we’re talking about Yarrow. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a weedy herb that likes to grow in the wild or in the garden. It’s an easily self-sowing perennial and prefers well drained soil with pH ranging from four to seven. It prefers full sun, but like many weed-like herbs, easily adapts to most conditions. Yarrow is known most famously for it’s styptic (blood staunching) properties. When used topically, Yarrow can help slow or stop a bleeding wound. It’s said in Greek mythology that Achilles and his warriors would carry Yarrow with them into battle for this very reason. It’s said to bring courage and protection to people who carry it in their pockets. I would feel more courageous in battle, knowing Yarrow would be there for me if I was injured. It can be prepared as a tincture and poured directly to the wound or as a compress using a clean piece of cloth. In a pinch, simply gently chew the leaf and put the mashed up herb right on top of the injury. It can be used in the same way to help reduce swelling. Yarrow gets it’s vulnerary (wound-healing), anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties from the chemical compounds chamazulene, matricin, achillicin and achillin.
In addition, Achillea is helpful as a digestive better when prepared as a cold infusion and can help stimulate appetite. It is used as a diaphoretic when prepared as a hot infusion and can help sweat out a fever. When prepared hot, keep the pot or cup covered so that the volatile oils don't escape. It also has been shown to help reduce menstrual cramps. Yarrow has a way of knowing where it’s needed and for what. It can help to start a delayed period, while at the same time it also can slow an excessively heavy bleed. Herbs that do this are called amphoteric and can balance two seemingly contradictory conditions.
Yarrow is known as a boundary herb, both physically through its wound healing magic and, also, emotionally and spiritually. It’s often included in protection pouches to ensure safety and courage through the day. Some people will hang it above their front door to keep out bad people and bad energies. I like to imagine that Yarrow creates a small bubble of safety around the user that helps keep the bad stuff out, but also helps to keep the good stuff in. As with many of our medicinal plants, don’t use yarrow if you're pregnant because of it’s actions on the uterus.
