Yarrow (achillea millefolium)

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Other names for yarrow

Yarrow
Milfoil
Soldier’s Woundwort

Synopsis of yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial herb found throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Recognizable by its feathery, fern-like leaves and clusters of small white to pink flowers, yarrow is revered in traditional herbal medicine for its wide range of actions—especially as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, vulnerary (wound-healing), diaphoretic (sweat-inducing), and digestive aid. The plant contains essential oils (including azulene and camphor), flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, tannins, and salicylic acid derivatives that give it both soothing and stimulating effects.

Yarrow is used internally to regulate menstruation, relieve fever, stimulate digestion, and tone the gastrointestinal tract. Externally, it is applied to wounds, cuts, rashes, and bruises to stop bleeding, fight infection, and speed healing. It is often made into teas, tinctures, poultices, salves, or herbal washes. Yarrow also supports circulation, helps lower blood pressure, and promotes sweating to break fevers.

Modern herbalists consider yarrow a multipurpose "first aid" herb due to its combination of hemostatic (bleeding-stopping), antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is also sometimes used in blends for varicose veins, urinary tract health, and as a general tonic for the reproductive and circulatory systems.

Historical Use:
Yarrow has an ancient and mythic history, with medicinal use dating back over 3,000 years. Its botanical name Achillea honors the Greek hero Achilles, who, according to legend, used the plant to stop the bleeding of wounded soldiers during the Trojan War. The plant was widely used in Greco-Roman medicine for treating hemorrhages, menstrual disorders, and wounds. Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder both wrote about its styptic (blood-staunching) properties.

In European folk medicine, yarrow was known as "soldier's woundwort" or "nosebleed plant" and was carried by soldiers into battle for field dressing wounds. It was also used to soothe digestive complaints, ease menstrual pain, and reduce fever. Yarrow tea was a common household remedy for colds, flu, and inflammation.

Among Native American tribes, yarrow was equally valued. The Cheyenne used it for headaches and toothaches; the Navajo used it for colds and wounds; and the Zuni applied it externally for burns and swelling. It was smoked ceremonially and used in sweat lodge rituals for purification and protection.

Yarrow was also tied to spiritual and divinatory practices. In ancient China, dried yarrow stalks were used in casting the I Ching, while in medieval Europe, it was considered a magical herb for warding off evil and enhancing psychic awareness.

Today, yarrow retains its revered place in Western herbalism as a gentle yet potent healing ally. Its long-standing use in wound care, fever management, and menstrual regulation has been supported by modern phytochemistry, confirming the wisdom of centuries of herbal practice.

Yarrow is used for these health conditions

Abdominal Pain (Traditional)
Abrasions (Traditional)
Afterbirth Pain (Traditional)
Bleeding (external) (Traditional)
Bruises (healing) (Traditional)
Burns and Scalds (Traditional)
Cuts (Scientific)
Diarrhea (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Dyspepsia (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Gas and Bloating (Traditional)
Indigestion (Traditional)
Inflammation (Scientific)
Injuries (Traditional)
Itching (Traditional)
Menstrual Irregularity (Traditional)
Pain (general remedies for) (Traditional)
Parasites (tapeworm) (Traditional)
Rashes and Hives (Traditional)
Scratches and Abrasions (Traditional)
Skin (infections) (Traditional)
Sore Throat (Traditional)
Sweat Baths (herbs for) (Traditional)
Ulcerations (external) (Traditional)
Ulcers (Traditional)
Wounds and Sores (Scientific)

yarrow is used to support these body systems

Arteries (Traditional)
Bladder (Traditional)
Blood (Traditional)
Capillaries (Traditional)
Capillaries (Traditional)
Circulatory System (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Estrogen (Traditional)
Female Reproductive System (Traditional)
Female Reproductive System (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Gums (Traditional)
Heart (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Intestinal System (Traditional)
Kidneys (Traditional)
Large Intestines (Colon) (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Lymphatics (Traditional)
Mucus Membranes (Traditional)
Nerves (Traditional)
Rectum (Traditional)
Reproductive System (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Sinuses (Traditional)
Skin (Traditional)
Small Intestines (Traditional)
Spleen (Traditional)
Stomach (Traditional)
Sweat Glands (Traditional)
Sympathetic Nervous System (Traditional)
Thymus (Traditional)
Urinary System (Traditional)
Uterus (Traditional)
Veins (Traditional)