Yarrow is named the warrior’s medicine, but why? Why would such a common plant (sometimes considered a weed) be coveted in ancient battlefields? This yarrow monograph will tell you exactly why.
In this yarrow monograph, we are going to discuss yarrow’s energetics, tastes, medicinal plant parts, herbal actions, body affinities, constituents, and cautions. Plus, we’ll talk about which conditions yarrow is indicated for, how to best prepare it, and which herbs to pair it with. You’ll also get the opportunity to download the free yarrow monograph to take with you.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and shouldn’t be used as a replacement for medical attention, advice, or diagnosis. It’s recommended to talk to a doctor before beginning any herbal regimen, especially if you are taking any kind of pharmaceutical medication. Because every body is different, the following information may or may not apply directly to you.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow’s Latin name can tell you a lot about this plant. A unique member of the Asteraceae family, yarrow was named after the Greek hero of the Trojan War, Achilles. That’s because yarrow is known for being the “warrior’s medicine”. If you become wounded on the battlefield, you better hope to see some yarrow around. If you do, you can grab some to help stop the bleeding. Yarrow acts quickly and can be the difference between survival and death (if you’re a Greek warrior, of course).
Yarrow Monograph
In this section of the yarrow monograph, we are going to discuss the plant’s energetics, tastes, medicinal plant parts, herbal actions, body systems affinities, notable constituents, and cautions.
Yarrow Monograph Video
Energetics & Tastes
Yarrow has a distinct bitter, pungent, acrid, and aromatic flavor and smell. In fact, yarrow used to be a popular addition to beer before hops took over. Energetically, yarrow is drying, stimulating, tonifying, and both warming and cooling, depending on the application.
Medicinal Plant Parts
When working with yarrow, we work with the aerial parts, mainly the leaves and flowers.
Herbal Actions
Yarrow has a wide array of medicinal properties.
Stimulant
Yarrow stimulates blood movement and has a “blood intelligence”. This means that it with help stop blood flow where there shouldn’t be any (in the case of wounds) and help create movement where there should be.
Diffusive
Yarrow helps move heat around in the body and clear stuck heat, especially in the core.
Astringent
When yarrow comes in contact with a tissue, it has a tightening or constricting effect. This effect is partially responsible for yarrow’s ability to help stop bleeding.
Styptic
If there is bleeding, whether internal or external, yarrow can help stop the bleeding faster than it would on its own.
Hepatic
Yarrow stimulates the liver and is comparable to St. John’s wort’s liver-stimulating abilities. It is gentle enough that it won’t cause irritation but powerful enough to pull the liver out of stagnation. Even though yarrow stimulates the liver, it has no negative drug interactions and is usually safe to take with pharmaceuticals.
Diaphoretic
When taken internally, yarrow can help move heat from the core to be released through the pores of the skin.
Diuretic
Yarrow gently stimulates the kidneys and can increase urine production.
Emmenagogue
Yarrow can help increase a stagnant menstrual flow while helping calm a heavy one.
Antimicrobial
When yarrow comes in contact with microbes, it can help fight them off.
Antiseptic
You can work with yarrow in wound care and it will help clean out harmful microbes and prevent infections.
Anti-inflammatory
Because of its blood stimulation effects, yarrow can help reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Body Systems Affinities
Yarrow has a couple of particular body systems it has an affinity for.
The Circulatory System
Yarrow’s herbal properties act almost entirely on the circulatory system. It stimulates the flow and direction of blood. In turn, it affects the healing of wounds, the core temperature of the body, systemic levels of inflammation, and more. Through the circulatory system, yarrow also acts on the digestive system, reproductive system, immune system, and skin.
The Digestive System
Besides yarrow’s effect on the circulatory system, it also stimulates the functioning of the liver. This effect helps clean and move blood through the circulatory system as well as increases bile production in the GI tract. The assistance with bile production helps the body break down fats more efficiently and eases the task load on the GI tract.
Notable Constituents
- α-bisabolol
- carvacrol
- cineole
- pinene
- thujone
- chamazulene
- linlool
- apigenin
- caffeic acid
- chlorogenic acid
- coumarins
- tannins
- flavonoids
Cautions When Working with Yarrow
If you’re allergic to other members of the Asteraceae family (ragweed, dandelion, calendula, goldenrod, etc.) then you may also be allergic to yarrow.
Working with large amounts of yarrow isn’t recommended for pregnant people.
Working with Yarrow
Yarrow’s diverse actions have many applications in practice. In this section of the yarrow monograph, we’re going to discuss these applications.
Wounds, Bruises, Internal Bleeding & Hemorrhaging
First of all, if you are dealing with a medical emergency, go to the ER! Herbs should never be a replacement for emergency medical attention unless you have no other option (such as in backcountry situations). Yarrow can be useful to help stop bleeding while on the way to the ER, but remember that pressure is more important than this herb. In the case of life-threatening bleeding, apply consistent pressure and get to the hospital.
When dealing with non-life-threatening wounds and bruises, yarrow can be a great help. If you have yarrow hydrosol or wound wash available, it’s great to use to clean out a wound. I would avoid putting dry yarrow (especially powdered yarrow) directly into the wound because you’ll have to get it back out eventually and you end up making more work for yourself. Yarrow salves can be used to help clear up a bruise.
Yarrow is also particularly helpful when managing a nosebleed. A few drops of yarrow tincture, maybe combined with another herb like shepherd’s purse, on the tongue, can help wrap up a nosebleed quickly. Plus, if you take yarrow tincture or tea regularly, it can help prevent nosebleeds in people prone to them.
It is common for birth workers to give their clients yarrow if they are experiencing minor hemorrhaging (that doesn’t need emergency medical attention). The same yarrow and shepherd’s purse combo can really help in this situation. Otherwise, internal bleeding and hemorrhaging should only be handled by emergency medical professionals.
Fever Production & Regulation
Because of its diffusive diaphoretic actions, yarrow is a great ally when we’re dealing with a fever. Paired with carminative herbs like ginger and cayenne, yarrow can help move heat around in the body and help mount a productive fever (yes, sometimes we need to create a fever to burn the infection we’re dealing with off). Pairing with other diffusive and diaphoretic herbs like elder or peppermint can help break a fever after it’s been burning too hot for too long.
Stagnant Liver Conditions
Yarrow is a pretty important liver stimulant. In fact, yarrow can be comparable to St. John’s wort in its liver-stimulating abilities. Yarrow helps the liver to produce and secrete bile while also helping it clean and filter the blood making it an excellent herb for those with slow or sluggish liver conditions. Even though yarrow is a liver stimulant, it isn’t so stimulating that it’s irritating to those who are already dealing with irritation in the liver. And unlike St. John’s wort, we don’t have to worry about yarrow affecting most medications. If you’re taking a medication that interacts with St. John’s wort but you still would like to receive its benefits, I recommend talking with your doctor about trying yarrow.
Scant or Heavy Menstrual Flows
Because of yarrow’s blood intelligence, it knows how to regulate imbalanced menstrual flows. For people with slow periods and who have difficulty eliminating uterine contents, it can help make menstruation more effortless for your body. And for those with uncomfortably heavy flows, it can help calm your menstruation to make it more comfortable for you. It’s best to work with tea daily for this purpose.
Blood & Systemic Inflammatory Conditions
Yarrow is known as the “master of the blood”. Not only does yarrow have the intelligence to know how to regulate the blood flow of wounds, but it also has the intelligence to create equilibrium systemically throughout the circulatory system. Yarrow stimulates the liver to filter and clean the blood increasing the overall quality of the blood. Yarrow also stimulates blood to move from the core to the periphery helping to eliminate stagnation throughout the body. Lastly, yarrow stimulates overall blood movement helping to get fresh, oxygenated, and nourished blood to where it needs to go, decreasing overall inflammation throughout the body.
Stress Due to Impossible Demands
It’s safe to say yarrow can give you emotional “armor”. Yarrow, especially when it’s paired with motherwort, rose, and/or hawthorn can help heal emotional wounds and hemorrhaging, so to speak. It’s the kind of herb you want to reach out to for support when dealing with impossible stress or when you feel like you’re on an emotional battlefield. Yarrow can help stitch up those emotional wounds and get you back out there.
Preparing Yarrow
Besides it being a beautiful addition to a flower bouquet, you can do a lot with yarrow and prepare it medicinally.
Yarrow Tea
Tea is my favorite way to work with yarrow. Drinking yarrow tea daily can help with wounds in the GI tract, the functioning of the liver, the flow of menstruation, and body temperature regulation. Yarrow tea can also help regulate blood conditions. You can also use a strong yarrow infusion on external wounds.
Yarrow Tincture
If you want to work with yarrow for its effects on the liver, I recommend working with yarrow tincture. I also recommend working with yarrow tincture for nosebleeds.
Yarrow Flower Essence
If you’re looking to work with yarrow for its fortification of the emotional body, I recommend trying out the yarrow flower essence. Of course, you can receive yarrow’s emotional effects by working with the tea or tincture forms, but flower essence works as well.
Yarrow Wound Wash
Yarrow hydrosol is my favorite wound wash, especially when it’s paired with calendula or plantain. This or wound wash helps clean out pathogens to prevent infection, stop bleeding, and stimulate scab formation. I recommend this as an excellent addition to a first aid kit.
Yarrow Salve
Yarrow salves are especially great for helping to clear up a bruise. The yarrow stimulates blood flow to the area, stops bleeding, and helps clear up the junk left behind that creates the bruise. Salves can also be applied to dry wounds to help stitch the wound up and prevent infections.
Yarrow Herbal Pairings
Not only do these herbal pairings taste great together, but they also help boost the medicinal qualities of one another.
- Rose
- Calendula
- St. John’s wort
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Tulsi
- Ginger
- Motherwort
- Hawthorn
- Elder
- Peppermint
Sourcing Yarrow
Yarrow is incredibly easy to grow, so I recommend growing it yourself if you can! It’ll thrive almost anywhere in the garden and it’s perennial so you don’t have to replant it every year. Growing your own herbs is the best way to create a deeper relationship with the plants and to ensure high-quality herb material. Here’s where you can buy yarrow seeds. Yarrow also grows abundantly in the wild in some places, so as long as you’re practicing the Honorable Harvest, you can also gather it yourself!
If that’s not an option for you, I recommend looking into a local herb farm to buy your yarrow from. Herb farms are becoming more common and can be found nationwide. By purchasing your herbs from a local herb farm, not only are you ensuring high-quality products (most of the time) but you’re also supporting your local economy. You can also try buying from a local herbal apothecary.
If you’re looking to buy your yarrow online, I recommend looking into Mountain Rose Herbs. This company sells the best quality dry herbs I’ve seen, plus they have a system of checks and balances to make sure their practices are environmentally and socially responsible. Here, you can buy dry yarrow, yarrow powder, yarrow tincture, yarrow essential oil, and more.
Free Yarrow Monograph Download
More Herbal Monographs
Want to learn about more herbs? In my online Materia Medica, you will find all of the herbs I have written about. Here, you can click on any herb you want to learn about and you’ll get a thorough herbal monograph that’s always being updated, just like this one. Plus, you can download the free monograph for every herb! Learn more here.
The Best Herbalism Books
There are hundreds of herbalism books available on the market. A quick Google search can be really overwhelming! Especially when the top search results from Amazon and Goodreads seem to be unreliable.
In this article, I’ve gathered all of my favorite herbalism titles in one place to share with you. If you don’t know where to start, that’s ok! The books are organized by type and I’ve written descriptions to let you know which I suggest in which situations. Plus, all of the books here are trustworthy, so you can follow your curiosity and pick which books stand out to you!
Summary: Yarrow Monograph
Yarrow is known as the warrior’s medicine, and now you know why. In this yarrow monograph, we discussed this plant’s energetics, tastes, medicinal plant parts, herbal actions, body affinities, constituents, and cautions. We also talked about which conditions to work with yarrow for, how to best prepare it, and which herbs to pair it with. Plus, you’ve downloaded the free yarrow monograph so you can reference this information whenever you need to.
What are your favorite ways to work with yarrow? What are you excited about trying? Personally, I love working with the live plant–gardening and wild harvesting yarrow are wonderful, especially because the fresh leaves smell so good!
Leave your thoughts in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading and happy crafting!
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