June 5, 2002

YARROW

Latin Name: Achillea millefolium

Alternate Names: Milfoil, Soldier's Woundwort, Herba Militaris, Carpenter's Weed, Bloodwort, Staunch Weed, Nosebleed, Thousand Leaf Gandana (Sanskrit), Ichi Kao (Chinese)

Family: ASTERACEAE

Parts Used: Above ground portion.

Properties: Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Bitter Tonic, Carminative, Cholagogue, Circulatory Stimulant, Diaphoretic, Digestive Tonic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Hemostatic, Hypotensive, Sedative, Stomach Tonic, Tonic, Urinary Antiseptic.

Internal Uses: Anorexia, Appetite Loss, Bright's Disease, Catarrh, Chickenpox, Colds, Coronary Thrombosis, Cystitis, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Dysmenorrhea, Eczema, Enteritis, Fever, Flatulence, Flu, Gastritis, Hay Fever, Hemorrhage, Hepatitis, Hot Flashes, Hyperacidity, Internal Bleeding, Kidney Inflammation, Measles, Menorrhagia, Placenta Delivery, Pneumonia, Postpartum Hemorrhage, Rheumatism, Shigella

Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules.

It is used for catarrh due to allergies. Yarrow helps to relax peripheral blood vessels, thereby improving circulation. Its diaphoretic properties help open the pores and aid in the elimination of waste material. Achilletin and achilleine aid in blood coagulation. Yarrow contains several anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving constitutents, such as azulene and salicylic acid.

Topical Uses: Asthma, Balding, Bleeding, Eczema, Gingivitis, Hay Fever, Hemorrhoids, Insect Repellent, Leukorrhea, Migraine, Nosebleeds, Oily Skin, Toothache, Varicose Veins, Wounds

Topical Applications: Poultice of fresh leaves helps to stop bleeding of wounds and cuts. Fresh leaves are placed in the nose to stop nosebleeds and treat migraines. Use as a bath herb. Treat asthma and hay fever by inhaling herb while boiling in water. Makes a facial steam and toner for oily skin. Wash for eczema. Rub Yarrow on the skin to repel insects. Compress for varicose veins. Hair rinse for hair loss. Enema or compress for hemorrhoids. Chew fresh leaf for a toothache. Mouthwash for inflamed gums. Douche for leukorrhea. Poultice for spider bites. Place herb on rocks in a sauna or sweat lodge.

Culinary uses: Young bitter leaves and flowers are chopped and added to salads, dips and liqueurs. Used in Swedish beer to increase the intoxicating effects. When cows eat Yarrow, it gives their milk an unpleasant flavor.

Energetics: Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Cool, Dry.

Chemical Constituents: Essential oil (proazulene, borneol, camphor, cineole, eugenol, linalool, pinene, sabinene, thujone), isovalerianic acid, achillein, formic acid, salicylic acid, polyacetylenes, asparagin, sterols, glycoalkaloid (achhilleine), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, rutin, quercitin), coumarins, tannins.

Contraindications: Overuse may cause skin photosensitivity, dizziness and headaches in some people. Rarely is an individual sensitive to Yarrow. Avoid during pregnancy, except immediately after birth when Yarrow can help deliver the placenta. May cause urine to appear brownish, which is no cause for alarm.

Comments: The genus name, Acillea, is named after Achilles, the Greek hero, who was taught Herbology by the centaur Chiron, who was said to have used Yarrow to staunch the bleeding of the warrior's wounds during the Trojan war (1200 B.C.). The species name millefolium is Latin for 'thousand leaves'.

In France and Ireland, people wanting to be more clairvoyant hold Yarrow over their eyes. Dried stalks were used to throw the I Ching, an ancient Chinese system for guidance and wisdom. The Druids used Yarrow stems to foretell the weather. When added to a compost pile, it will accelerate its breakdown. When Yarrow is grown in the garden, it helps other plants nearby become more disease resistant. Used to flavor tobacco and used as a snuff. Medieval strewing herb.

-- Phil in KS (mac0328@planetkc.com), June 05, 2002

Answers

And here's the picture:

-- Cheryl in KS (klingonbunny@planetkc.com), June 05, 2002.

Yarrow is also an excellent groundcover and handles traffic and mowing well. It just won't bloom if mowed. Next time you nick yourself out in the garden, make sure to pick a fresh yarrow leaf and place it directly on the cut to stop the bleeding. Here is a picture of the young plant. You can see what the leaves look like a little better.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 05, 2002.

Ooops! Let me try that one more time...

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 05, 2002.

I should also point out that there are different colored hybrids available at most garden centers. 'Summer Pastels' I believe is the name of one group and 'Coronation Gold' is the name of a deep yellow/gold yarrow that has a different leaf formation. I have a beautiful deep pink/rose yarrow that I love but I prefer using the wild plant for medicinal purposes.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 05, 2002.

Yes!!!! Thanks folks for the pictures! Now I know that it IS yarrow that is growing here in my field and I can safely put it to good use!! Now....how about Valarium :-)??

Phil, Cheryl and Bren you people are very helpful for identifying herbs and it's most definitely appreciated!! Thank you!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), June 05, 2002.

Oh, and one thing I thought to add, Tansy is easily confused for those who don't know both plants.

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), June 05, 2002.

Marcia, can you describe the plant you think might be Valerian. Leaf formation, size, where the plant is growing, flower color and when it blooms, where you're located, etc. Valerian is not a plant I think of growing wild some where but is possible.

Patty, you're right about the Tansy leaves being similar to Yarrow. I think it is more likely to find Yarrow growing wild than Tansy (unless, you live on an old homestead where they grew it, of course! :o) and Tansy is "coarser", hmmm... , not as fine or delicate as Yarrow. It has yellow button flower heads and blooms in late summer or fall. Yarrow is blooming now so it should be fairly easy to ID.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 06, 2002.

Good morning, Marcia! The info on Valerian was listed on April 9, I believe. You can find it in the archives. But.... here's a picture of Valerian for ya:

Have a good day everybody!

-- Cheryl in KS (klingonbunny@planetkc.com), June 06, 2002.

Thanks Cheryl! I checked out the archives of April 9th. And your picture sure looks like what I find growing here in my area of Maine (zone 5). I had always thought that it was Queen Anne's Lace, but the flowers were pink/purple...not white! And these plants are tall!! I think I should go to my local bookstore and get an herb book. I had no idea that all this was right here under my nose...literally :-)!!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), June 06, 2002.

Marcia, does it bloom in late summer? I betcha it's Joe-Pye Weed. My books says valerian is 2-5 feet tall with small, tubular pink/lavender flowers in June. I've seen Joe-Pye Weed get to 8-10 (maybe more?) ft. Check your library for good books but, you're right. You'll probably want to own a book. The Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers is a good one with real photos of the plants. I use a collection of different herb books. Does anyone have one particular favorite herb ID book?

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 06, 2002.

Bren...what I have growing here is putting out buds now and will be in bloom soon, although we've had so much rainy cool weather this year it might be a little late! It grows to about 4 ft. tall. It seems to grow well in the drainage ditches along the sides of the roads...with the wild lupine.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), June 07, 2002.

Cool, Marcia!! Never fails to amaze me what we can find if we're looking!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 07, 2002.