Yarrow is one of the most helpful and useful Western herbs I know and use. This lovely little wildflower, Achillea millefolium, offers multiple Herbal Actions for use at home, around the homestead, in the clinic, and in the wild. Here are some of Yarrow's wonderful uses:

Yarrow as an Astringent

Both yarrow leaves and flower petals can be used as an astringent. For topical use on wounds, especially wet oozy wounds such as poison ivy, make a variety of remedies to suit the circumstance: a water-based rinse, an oil, a salve, a vinegar, a soak, etc. For internal use for cases of diarrhea, make an infusion (tea), a syrup, or an oxymel. Because it is astringent, yarrow will dry up excess moisture and fluids, and for this reason it is not to be consumed internally during breastfeeding.

Yarrow as a Styptic

Even more powerful than an astringent, a styptic stops bleeding. Using yarrow on the surface of the skin will stop minor bleeding from a wound, scrape or puncture. Be sure to keep the area super-clean.

Yarrow as an Antimicrobial

Because it kills germs/pathogens/fungus/bacteria on contact, a topical application of yarrow will help diminish infections at a wound site. Use yarrow in combination with cleanliness, and consider other supports as well, such as betadyne. A compress or poultice can often be more useful than a salve, but all are great contenders for a germ-free wound site.

Yarrow as a Diuretic

A diuretic stimulates the flow of urine, and yes, consuming hot yarrow tea will make you pee, though drinking the tea cold serves as an even stronger diuretic. This can be helpful, actually, especially if you are dealing with a urinary tract infection -- yarrow will not only help keep the renal system free of bacteria, but it will help "flush" the system. In this case I call this a Tier 4 Vehicle (see my course Formulary).

Yarrow as a Diaphoretic

Along with herbs and spices such as cayenne and horseradish, yarrow can bring on a sweat, which can be helpful with a fever. If breaking a fever is what you're looking for, drink yarrow tea hot, be sure to keep hydrated with plenty of fresh water, wrap up in warm blankets, and be aware of overheating. Consider combining yarrow with peppermint (not spearmint), ginger, chili powder, and immune stimulating herbs such as usnea, calendula, thyme, oregano, elderberry, and astragalus.

Growing and Harvesting Yarrow

Yarrow grows wild and is a straggly, thin little wildflower with a stiff stalk. You'll often find it by roadsides and in poor soil, and it is usually white-flowered. However, you can also cultivate yarrow, in which case your flourishing garden plant will be large-leaved, thick and much more healthy-looking than in the wild. Often cultivars have yellow, red or orange flowers. I have experimented and find them equally useful, though wild flowers tend to have a stronger "survivor energy" than cultivated. But use them interchangeably for remedies.

For more detailed information on growing and using yarrow, get my Llewellyn's Little Book of Herbs here or for more in-depth formula-making and apothecary guidance, get An Herbalist's Guide to Formulary here.

To learn more about herbal actions (the characteristics or qualities that an herb provides medicinally), check out my online course Herbal Actions here. It is the best resource and learning tool for discovering how to categorize herbs for blending or formulating herbal recipes.