Achillea millefolium

Of all plants, yarrow has one of the longest histories of medicinal usage.

Some research indicates the Neanderthals possibly used it as far back as 60,000 years ago. From the ancient Chinese and Greeks through modern times, yarrow has been an important and versatile herbal medicine.

Three thousand years ago, during the Trojan war, Achilles used yarrow on his soldiers’ wounds to stop bleeding. Hence, the generic name Achillea. Yarrow was a very important herb for the Native American Indians in which at least 46 tribes used it for 28 different ailments. British herbalists John Gerard and Nicholas Culpeper noted the use of yarrow for swelling and wounds. The plant was called nosebleed in the 16th century due to its ability to cause a nosebleed, an old remedy for headaches. Yarrow appeared in the US Pharmacopoeia during the 19th century and in European pharmacopoeias of the 20th century.

Throughout history yarrow has been used for wounds and inflammation, spawning the name Herba Militaris, the military herb in ancient Greece. In the 1950s an alkaloid from yarrow was found to make blood clot faster. These findings concur with the historical usage of yarrow as a vulnerary, an herb which promotes the healing of cuts, wounds and burns by protecting against infection and stimulating cell growth. Yarrow contains azulene, a volatile oil which has an anti-inflammatory activity. This presents some insight into how yarrow has been used for ulcers, rashes and as an eyewash. Fresh yarrow poultices were used in China for all wounds (including dog bites and snake bites) while the dried herb was used for internal bleeding (including menstrual and hemorrhoidal bleeding).

Yarrow has an excellent history of usage for colds, flu and fevers due to its diaphoretic and febrifuge qualities which, respectively, cool the body and reduce fever. The tea is commonly used at the beginning of a fever, often with a little honey and cayenne pepper. It has also been used for the onset of measles and other eruptive diseases. Yarrow contains similar derivatives to aspirin or salicylic acid which help reduce pain and fever.

With such a long history of health related uses, yarrow has been used for just about everything. Rinsing the head with a decoction of yarrow is said to prevent baldness. Chewing on the leaves may help toothaches. Other traditional uses include rheumatism, female complaints, hypertension, lack of appetite, stomach cramps, flatulence, diarrhea and gastritis.

Yarrow’s versatility is a welcome addition to anyone’s herbal vocabulary. It spans folklore to modern pharmacopoeias as being an important part of good health. This is a comforting reminder of how such a common, simple plant can play such an important role in the history and well-being of humanity.

• Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal Vol. II. Dover Publications, 1982.
• Kowalchik, C. & Hylton, W. Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Rodale Press, 1987.
• Leung, A. & Foster, S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used In Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. Wiley-Interscience Publication, 1996.
• Millspaugh, C. American Medicinal Plants. Dover Publications, 1974.
• Schauinberg, P. Guide to Medicinal Plants. Keats Publishing, 1990.
• Wren, R.C. Potter’s New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. C.W. Daniel Company, 1988.

From Spring 1997 Herbal Insights.