Yarrow The Warrior Herb

Many have seen this plant growing along roadsides or wastelands, neglected but standing proud and waving its white flattened flower clusters, never imagining the critical role it played prior to modern day medicine. This plant has a couple of look a likes and can easily get mixed up with Queen Anne's Lace as well as Poison Hemlock, so it is essential that you correctly identify this plant before working with it.

Yarrow has a multitude of benefits and was once highly esteemed and incorporated into everyday life, from skin care to colds and fevers, but where it was really essential was on the battlefields.

It's Latin name is Achillea millefolium and it has many common names such as milfoil, old man's pepper, soldier's woundwort, knight's milfoil, military herb, nose bleed, carpenter's weed, bloodwort, staunchweed and many more! You most likely get a sense of how it was worked with from the common names given to it, such as military, soldier, knight, wound, blood and staunch:) It was always carried among the Roman soldiers and is the same plant with which Achilles stanched the bleeding wounds of his soldiers, hence the name of the genus, Achillea. It is said that when the Greek hero Achilles was born, his mother held him by the heel and dipped him into a vat of yarrow tea to protect him from harm. As we know, he eventually died due to a wound on the ankle, where according to lore the yarrow did not touch.

Even today this plant medicine is taken into the forest by those working there and has saved lives when needed, there was one case in particular of a chainsaw accident in which it was applied to stop the bleeding and saved the persons life. Yarrow is also a powerful insect repellant, many people still rub yarrow flowers directly onto skin or clothing to repel mosquitos, Native Americans in the pacific northwest traditionally hung yarrow in longhouses for this purpose, as well as spraying a strongly brewed yarrow tea around salmon during processing to repel hungry and curious flies.

Harvest: Yarrow is best harvested when the flowers are entirely open and still full and healthy looking, and not discolored. If gathering from your own garden or from a healthy stand of yarrow, collect the aerial parts by cutting the entire stem halfway down. To dry, tie the stems in small bunches and hang in ambient temperatures away from direct sunlight. Once fully dry, separate the leaves and flowers and store them in an airtight jar away from sunlight and temperature variation.

Herbal Actions: Anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulant, tonic.

Constituents: Bitters, chamazulene, proazulene, saponins, tannins, fatty acids.

Meridians/Organs Affected: Small intestines, kidneys, endocrine system, spleen, lungs, skin and pelvic area including bladder and uterus.

Health Benefits: As mentioned Yarrow is most famously prized for its wounds healing properties, thanks to it's mild antiseptic and anodyne properties it is able to coagulate blood and stop bleeding. These properties also make it useful in cases of hemorrhoids, post-partum care, bruises, and mouth sores, as well as internal bleeding. Yarrow beautifully harmonizes blood circulation and can be beneficial in cases of stagnation, such as varicose veins or fibroids, as well as cases of overstimulated blood flow, such as hypertension. It is sometimes considered a skin tonic and can be a very effective facial steam to improve complexion through circulation and cooling of inflamed tissue.

Yarrow prepared as tea is a wonderful ally in the face of tough colds. It's diaphoretic action makes it especially useful at the onset of fever and moves the circulation toward the surface of the body, helping to cool it off through sweating, and increasing the immunological activity on the “front lines” of the body’s battle against a cold.

For these same reasons it is a common plant accompaniment to sweat lodges and other types of therapeutic sweating where the “front lines” of the battlefield can be physical as well as spiritual. Yarrow opens pores and purifies the blood, a great combination for eruptive conditions such as measles, chickenpox, fevers, etc. As well as being a diaphoretic when taken as a hot tea it can also act as a diuretic when drunk cold or lukewarm, making a powerful combination with its astringency that benefits bladder infections and its affinity for the bladder in combination with its astringent properties make it an exceptional ally for incontinence.

Yarrow helps to stimulate pancreatic function and boosts blood flow to help avoid high insulin levels. The flavonoids and bitter, aromatic compounds it contains increase saliva and stomach acid production, aiding digestion, modulates inflammation, especially in the digestive tract, and has been known to act on heartburn. It also acts as a muscle relaxant on both the uterus and intestine, soothing menstrual and stomach cramps.

The astringency of yarrow makes it's infusions great for spongy gums. Yarrow’s astringent properties are also well suited to respiratory tissues, which like the bladder are prone to swelling, leaking, and inflammation. Yarrow helps to restore tone to these tissues as well as to dry secretions, making it an excellent choice for nasal rinses. By both thinning the blood and increasing flow to and within the lungs, yarrow can be incredibly beneficial for asthma attacks.

Dosage and Method of Delivery: For tea add 1 tsp of dried herb to 2 cups of boiling water, drink warm or at room temperature a few times a day for its diuretic properties. If working to reduce a fever take as a hot tea and if taking at bedtime keep a hot water bottle at your feet, along with extra blankets as excessive sweating could cause a chill if the moisture sits too long on the skin. Take care to cover your brew as it’s steeping so as not to lose its aromatic properties.

Topically, fresh poultices, or spit poultices in emergencies, are common to stop bleeding, soothe wounds, and relieve bruising. Another option is to dry the plant and powder the material for a longer shelf life, applying it directly onto cuts to disinfect and quickly stop bleeding.

Yarrow Infused Herbal Oil

• 3-4 oz of dried chopped yarrow leaves and flowers or 4-5 oz fresh yarrow

• 1-2 cups olive oil or sunflower oil

• 2 clean, dry pint jars with tightly fitting lid.

• Double boiler (unless you choose the sun method)

• Natural wax paper and rubber band (unless you choose the crockpot method)

• Cheesecloth and fine mesh sieve

• An opaque airtight jar for storage

• Label for finished oil

1. Fill your jar 1/2- 3/4 full with the yarrow and cover with the oil to 1/2 inch from the top of the jar.

2. Use a clean knife or chopstick to release all the little air bubbles and to make sure all the yarrow is under the olive oil. Mold is likely to grow in any air spaces within the jar.

3. Keep in a cool dark location and shake daily for up to 6 weeks, after which you can drain off the plant material through your sieve covered in cheesecloth and keep the oil in a sealed and labeled jar for up to 9 months in a cool dark place, or combine with beeswax for a salve.

Crockpot method- 1-2 hours

Place the jar in the crockpot, you’ll want about 2 inches of the jar above the water. Place on warm and leave for 6 - 8 hours, checking often to make sure the oil isn’t getting too hot. Very low heat (120 degrees or less) + right amount of time to simmer = good quality oil. Remove from heat and cover and let sit overnight, or for several hours until completely cooled, when it will be ready to strain.

Cautions: Do not take Yarrow daily for more than two weeks, even less if there are known liver weaknesses. As an Asteraceae family plant, sensitive individuals may experience an allergic reaction to Yarrow, do not use during pregnancy although some suggest small doses under the guidance of an experienced herbalist or practitioner.