Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has been used as medicine for thousands of years in cultures around the world. It is a prolific plant growing in sunny fields, along the roadside and in any well-draining ground. Yarrow is recognized by its feathery leaves and broad white flower heads made up of many small individual flowers.
This plant has many uses in assisting your body to better health and maintaining your health. I think this plant is truly amazing in its abilities to help us heal.
First Aid
Yarrow has styptic and antimicrobial properties making it an excellent herb for first aid. Applying yarrow right in the wound stops the bleeding and prevents infection. It is a first-aid treatment for wounds and nosebleeds, take freshly bruised leaves and put them in the wound or nose to staunch bleeding.
While its ability to staunch blood flow is exceptional, this herb is also used to relieve pain, inflammation, fight infection and soothe spasms. The natural pain relieving, and anti-inflammatory properties make this an ideal herb to use on minor cuts, scrapes and burns, encouraging healing while relieving pain and inflammation.
Drink this as a hot tea when feverish and it will help reduce fevers. In reducing fevers this tea helps your body sweat and break the fever. The tea will open the pores to allow copious sweating and the release of toxins. The herb when taken as tea or as a bath at the beginning of a fever or flu is an excellent way to reduce the body temperature.
Improves Blood Flow
Yarrow improves blood flow and promotes healthy circulation, keeping your organs healthy and functioning properly. This herb is an astringent bringing relief to varicose veins and hemorrhoids by toning the veins and relieving congested blood.
It is A Digestive Aid
Yarrow is a digestive bitter making it an excellent digestive stimulant that encourages proper bile secretion from the gallbladder, which promotes digestion and can prevent gallstones from forming. It also contains the phytochemical azulene, which has anti-spasmodic properties and relaxes the internal stomach muscles, making it extremely useful in cases of digestive cramps.
Learn more about bitters in my article on their health benefits.
Yarrow is the traditional go to herb for stomach flu and other gastrointestinal disorders because of its ability to heal and tone the mucus membranes in the digestive tract. It also normalizes stomach acid secretions, relieving indigestion and heartburn.
How To Make Yarrow Tea
Ingredients
- 1 tsp dried yarrow or 1 tbsp fresh yarrow
- Mug of boiling water
Directions
- Add 1 teaspoon of dried yarrow flower to one cup of boiling water.
- Cover and steep for 30 minutes, then strain and serve.
The tea should be sipped slowly to get relief and can be taken up to 3x a day.
A Woman’s Herbal Ally
This is an herb for women, it is a remedy that helps prevent painful periods. The tea also helps regulate menses and reduce cramps making yarrow a valuable menstrual remedy. It will correct both heavy and suppressed periods normalizing blood flow if there is clotting. It is often used in after birth sitz baths to cool and heal tissue.
Is Yarrow Safe for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
This herb is a uterine stimulant and emmenagogue (increases menstrual flow) and should not be used internally during pregnancy. Yarrow has also not been proven safe for breastfeeding.
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