Family: Asteraceae (Composite)
Other names: milfoil, bloodwort, nosebleed, thousandleaf, woundwort, sanguinary
Name meaning: Yarrow comes from the Old English gearwe, which meant simply yarrow. The name Achillea refers to the Greek god Achilles who was said to use this plant to protect his soldiers, and millefolium means a thousand leaves, referring to finely dissected leaves.
Origin: One common subspecies, A. millefolium var. millefolium, is native to Eurasia and has been introduced to North America, while other subspecies are native to North America; it's difficult to tell these apart.
Range: Found across Eurasia and North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, meadows, lawns, cultivated for flowers.
Life cycle: Perennial
Description: Yarrow grows to several feet tall, and often is covered in coarse hairs. The flowers, which bloom from June to August, are tiny, white, and 5-petaled, and are clumped together in loose, flat-topped flowerheads. In late summer the flowers are replaced by small brown seeds. The aromatic leaves, which clasp the stem, are lanceolate in shape and very finely dissected.
Similar plants: There are several other species in the Achillea genus which are similar in appearance. Yarrow may also be confused with some of the species in the Carrot family, notably poison hemlock (see warning below).

Uses

Edible: The leaves are used for tea. The young leaves can also be added to salads or boiled as a cooked green.

Medicinal: Yarrow is an excellent hemostatic, or blood clotter. The leaves, fresh or dried, can be applied to wounds to stop bleeding and to help the blood clot; the tea has been used to stop internal bleeding, usually in combination with other herbs, such as plantain. Scientific research has confirmed that yarrow is effective at stopping bleeding. As the folk name nosebleed suggests, yarrow leaves have been poulticed for nosebleeds, with very quick results. The tea has also been used to lessen menstrual flow, but caution should be used, because if too much is taken, menstruation may end all together. The leaf tea is also used to induce sweating, prevent colds, and, in combination with salicin-containing plants such as wintergreen, to reduce fever. For the latter use, the tea was taken once a day for two days. Externally, the tea was a wash for infections and irritations of the skin, particularly for boils, pimples, eczema, and poison ivy rash. The tea is also used as a wash for fevers. A poultice made from the leaves was used for bruises, abrasions, burns, scalds, and spider and snake bites. The leaf and flower tea was used for colds, fevers, pain, indigestion, and anorexia; also as an expectorant. The roots, scrubbed clean and crushed, were used by many western Native tribes as a local anesthetic. Pieces of fresh roots were used for painful cavities, inserted into it. The whole plant has been pressed to make an astringent mouthwash and a douche for leukorrhea. The whole plant tea was used for stomach and intestinal diseases, and was taken twice a day after childbirth as a bloodbuilder.

Utilitarian: When added to compost, yarrow helps break down rotting plant substances. The plant, either growing or burned, repels insects, and can be used to make a yellow or green dye.

Magical: Yarrow is said to aid in love spells, either to strengthen relationships or to attract new love, and to have the power to keep a couple together for seven years. For these uses the leaves are crushed and placed into a sachet, often with a mix of other herbs. Sleeping with yarrow under your pillow is said to give you a vision of your future husband or wife. The tea is used to enhance psychic powers, and the plant is carried to promote courage. It is also used in divination, burned or made into tea, and for protection, hung about the home or worn on the body. Some Native American tribes burned it to ward off evil spirits, and it was sometimes smoked ritually. Remains of yarrow were found in an excavation of a Neanderthal grave, suggesting that yarrow played a role in their burial ceremonies. This means yarrow has been in use at least 60,000 years, based on the estimated date of the site.

Warning: Extended use can cause senstivity to light in some people. Also, do not confuse yarrow with poison hemlock, which looks somewhat similar.

Where to find yarrow

Yarrow is found in meadows, old fields, roadsides, and even lawns, and is very common throughout its range. The leaves are most potent before the flowers appear, so the best time to harvest them is the spring. Yarrow is easy to buy; the leaves are sold at natural food stores and can be found many places online, such as Frontier.

Links

Wikipedia: Yarrow
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Plants for a Future: Achillea millefollium
Wild Flowers of Minnesota's Iron Range
Botanical.com: Yarrow
Wildflowers of the Southeastern US: Common Yarrow
King's American Dispensatory: Achillea
Nature's Herbal: Yarrow
HerbNET: U-Z Herbs (scroll down to yarrow)
Herbs 2000: Yarrow
An Illustrated Herbal: Yarrow
Alternative Natural Online Herbal: Yarrow
Herbal Musings: Yarrow
Herbs and Oils: UVWXYZ Herbs (scroll down to yarrow)
The Herbal Encyclopeda: Y
Alchemy Works: Yarrow Flowers