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Yarrow is an herb that I always keep on hand, especially with kids. It is part of my Sweet Dreams Sleep Tincture and I often add it to teas or preparations.
What is Yarrow?
According to Mountain Rose Herbs:
“It is a long-stemmed member of the sunflower family found in the wild throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It can be recognized by its highly segmented leaves (millefolium literally means “thousand leaves”), and the clusters of daisy-like white or lavender flowers at the top of the stalk.
Greek myth had it that Achilles painted himself with a tincture of yarrow to make himself invulnerable to arrows, everywhere on his body except his heel. Native American herbal medicine makes extensive use of yarrow. Among the Micmac people of Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, the stalk was chewed or stewed to induce sweating to “break” fevers and colds. They also pounded the stalks into a pulp to be applied to bruises, sprains, and swelling.
The Cherokee, Gosiute, Iroquois, and Mohegan peoples used it as a digestive aid. Other herbal healing traditions use yarrow to treat a variety of conditions characterized by swelling, often combined with echinacea, elder flower, ginger, and peppermint.”
Benefits of Yarrow:
Yarrow is one of my go-to herbs for children. It is helpful in relieving fevers, shortening the duration of cold and flu, helping improve relaxation during illness, and relieving cramps associated with hormones or illness. Applied topically, it is helpful with skin itching, rash or other issues.
An external tincture or poultice will often help with hemorrhoids, rashes and broken skin. Some people will notice relief from allergy symptoms by drinking a tea of yarrow and mint.
From Practical Herbalism:
“Yarrow flower used in chronic diseases of the urinary apparatus, is especially recommended by Prof. J. M. Scudder. It exerts a tonic influence upon the venous system, as well as upon mucous membranes. It has been efficacious in sore throat, hemoptysis, hematuria and other forms of hemorrhage where the bleeding is mall in amount; incontinence of urine, diabetes, hemorrhoids with bloody and mucoid discharges, and dysentery. Also in amenorrhea, flatulency and spasmodic diseases, and in the form of injection in leucorrhea with relaxed vaginal walls. It will be found to be one of our best agents for the relief of menorrhagia.”
Priest & Priest tell us that it is a mild, slow, and stimulating diaphoretic that is best used for the first stage of acute fevers, and for atonic and relaxed tissues where there is free discharge or passive hemorrhage of bright red blood. They recommend cold preparations to stimulate the appetite and tone the digestive organs, and give the following specific indications: Acute stage of colds; influenza and respiratory catarrhs; chronic diarrhea and dysentery; epistaxis; intestinal hemorrhage, bleeding hemorrhoids, uterine hemorrhage; profuse or protracted menstruation; and leucorrhea.”
From Mountain Rose Herbs:
“The British Herbal Compendium notes that preparations of yarrow lower fevers, induce sweating, stop cramps, encourage menstruation, relieve inflammation, and stimulate the release of stomach acid to digest proteins and fats. The herb is taken internally to treat colds, fevers, and indigestion, and used in skin treatments of slow-healing wounds. The Complete German Commission E Monographs recommends sitz baths with yarrow added to the bath water to relieve pelvic cramps in women.”
How We Use Yarrow:
- In homemade Buckwheat Relaxation pillows to help promote restful sleep
- In sweet dreams sleep tincture for times when falling asleep is difficult
- In teas (with mint and chamomile) during illness
- As a tea, tincture or poultice on skin for rashes and itching
- As a tincture to help ease menstrual cramps and hormone issues (not for use during pregnancy)
- Yarrow tea often helps with congestion symptoms from allergies and illness
- Adding yarrow to skin lotions, oils or salves can help with eczema or dry skin
- I add a strong yarrow tea to my child’s bath for a high fever that I want to bring down naturally
- Since it is helpful in stopping bleeding and avoiding infection, poultices of yarrow and plantain can be helpful on wounds
Where to Buy Yarrow
I buy Organic Yarrow Leaves and Flowers in bulk from here, as this is the most inexpensive way I’ve found and I just make my own teas, tinctures and poultices as needed. It can also be found in pre-made tinctures, teas, and lotions. For those who like to wildcraft herbs themselves, check with herbalists or experts in your area to see if Yarrow is a native plant.
Safety Notes
Not for use during pregnancy since it may stimulate the uterus, but I personally use in my post-labor tincture to help tone uterus, reduce cramping and avoid hemorrhage. Some people will develop a rash from touching the fresh plant. Should be avoided by those with allergies to ragweed. There are no studies proving safety in children so ask a doctor or herbalist before using.
Have you ever used yarrow? How do you use it? Share your tips below!
Teaching Christmas Joy to Children
you mentioned making a tea out of Yarrow and Mint. I don’t have mint growing in my yard put I do have Catnip… can you use the Catnip with the Yarrow for a tea??
Thank You
Hi, I see that yarrow root can induce menstruation. I have also read conflicting information about parsley and yarrow that indicate if taken early enough that it could delay or postpone menstruation. Has anyone foudn this to be true?
I am going on a coastal vacation and am certain that I am not pregnant, I am looking for a way to postpone menstruation a few days. I have been off birth control pills for several years now and do not want to use that as method ever again.
Thanks
I realize this is probably too late for you, but I successfully did this one time before a beach vacation. I can’t remember how far in advance I started taking the yarrow tincture, but it was at least a week or two. If I remember correctly, it delayed my period for about 5 days, which was long enough for me. I didn’t use parsley though.
Hello Debbie,
Thank you so much for sharing. Your experience gives me hope – I would like to delay my period for my first ever beach holiday in early July (in the past, I’ve only ever gone on sightseeing trips). Will take yarrow tincture and see if it works for me! 🙂 Could you kindly share how many times you took it (e.g. 3 drops under your tongue per day?) and which brand of pre-made tincture did you use, if it wasn’t homemade?
Many thanks and blessings!
Sonia
I believe it was a local brand from a company here in town, and I took a dropper full probably once or twice a day. I usually take tinctures in a small amount of water.
Hi there!
I was wanting to try Yarrow root to help with pain/discomfort in the rectum from hemorrhoids. I have a Yarrow tincture. Are you able to help me as to what would be the best way to use this tincture for this purpose?
I appreciate any help.
Annmarie
The best treatment I have found for hemorrhoids is ice. Hold an ice cube against them when u go to the bathroom til it melts down some. It is cooling, takes away the pain and itching and will reduce them quickly. It may take a week of this or so, but I cured a nasty case that way and they have never returned…
Karen,
Chaga mushroom tea has been used effectively to cure psoriasis. I drink chaga everyday and highly recommend it. Plenty of research and information online.
Hi Karen. If you haven’t already, quit all wheat, dairy and processed grains/sugars. Eat only organic and as raw as you can handle.
I’ve been eating a lot of yarrow. It’s a good vegetable, though frustratingly low-bulk. It also wilts pretty quickly so it’s kind of pick-n-eat.
Help!! Both my husband and I have been diagnosed with stage 3 CKD. We itch like crazy. Nothing helps. Nothing. He has a lot of health problems but CKD is the main thing with me. We have yet to find a Dermatologist that can help us. There is no way I could list everything we have taken. My husband also has psoriasis, a scorching case which combats the itchy skin. Does anyone know of anything natural we could try for this itchy skin. I did buy some Yarrow capsules but now as I have read further it can interact with some meds. We just need help. Thank you
c.b.d. oil!!!!
Hi Karen, one of my favorite natural medicines, chaga mushroom tea, has been used to cure psoriasis in numerous cases. Chaga has many wonderful healing properties and there is plenty of research and information online to get you pointed in the right direction. Good luck!
Josh
here is a recipe for a salve that helps with itching /rashes/burns/superfitial wounds/poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac/ pretty well any skin issue
you’ll need
3 ounces of dried yarrow
3 ounces of dried plantain(I don’t think I spelt that right)
1/4 ounce of dried cannabis(this helps with pain from symptoms)
2 liters of olive oil
1/4 pound of bees wax
how to make
preheat oven to 230c
chop up cannabis into small chunks with sissors then place on a cookie sheet and put into the oven for 9 minutes . then take out and let cool(this process eliminates the tupins from the THC and leaves all the mendicinal aspects CBD,CBG,ect.)
take a large pot and steel bowl to make a double boiler then take dried yarrow/plantain/cannabis into the double boiler add all of the olive oil that will fit leaving a one inch space from the top. simmer for 1.5 hours
remove from heat and begin to strain into another steel bowl making sure there is no more plant matter left inside the oil
put back onto double boiler
take beeswax in small chunks and mix into the oil stirring as you go,do this until your oil has turn into the consistency of neo sporin
take small containers and fill with the new salve seal and there u go this stuff has a maximum potency for around 6 months
hope this helps
take
Aw, this sounds lovely. I only wish I had access to the cannabis. Everyone should, of course. I bet it would make a nice salve without it but it’s ridiculous that I can’t purchase and use a healing herb.
Karen,
A friend had bad psoriasis, redness and burning on her hands that kept her up nights and used Calendula oil made with olive oil infused with Calendula flower petals. She said she had relief with the first drop, now a few years later her hands are mostly cured. She told me none of the hundreds of dollar spent on drugs and creams helped her until the Calendula oil.
To make Calendula oil: I add about a cup of dried (Have to be dried, no moisture) Calendula flower petals in a quart mason jar, fill the jar with olive oil tie a paper towel or cheescloth on top of the jar and set it in a window with indirect light for a few weeks to a month. Strain the oil into a clean jar or bottle.
I use it for light wrinkles and it really helps, since I refuse to use any chemicals on my skin.
My neighbor’s son got bad psoriasis by age one. Her chiropractor told her to give him a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of goats milk and carrot juice. Within a few months all his psoriasis is gone. After a week of drinking it you have to increase the amount of gost’s milk and decrease the amount of carrot juice. She gave it to him throughout the day. I would recommend brushing your teeth a bit more often, too.
Karen. Research and try yellow dock root…good luck. Namaste, Tammy
is there a difference between using red yellow or white yarrow, I’ve heard to only use white but was unsure of the validity of the statement and haven’t been able to find an answer anywhere
I am interested in how to make the teas. Can I use fresh or dried leaves. What are the flowers used for?
Do the coloured varieties (pink, yellow, etc.) have the same properties and are they safe to use in the same manner? Thanks
I planted yarrow in my garden. It’s grown like crazy! I’d like to use it, but haven’t much time to invest in the process these days. Can I just use the undried plant/flowers? & if so – for what.? Can I make (safe/effective) teas, poultices, tinctures etc from the freshly picked flowers/leaves?
AND – how helpful is yarrow for allergies? If I’m having itchy, irritatedeyes-with some swelling – is it safe to use a cloth soaked in yarrow tea? Yarrow tea made from the fresh plant? (ie. not dried)??
Thanks!