Achillea millifolium

May 7

Written By Remedium Vitalis

Botanical Name: Achillea millifolium

Plant Type: Flower

Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Soil pH: Varies

Bloom Time: Summer

Flower Colors: Pink, Red, White, Yellow

Hardiness Zone: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Special Features: Attracts Butterflies

Other Names: Milfoil, Sneezewort, and Nosebleed, Allheal, Angel Flower, Bad Man's Plaything, Bloodwort, Cammock, Carpenter's Weed, Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Dog Daisy, Gordoloba, Green Arrow, Herbe Militaris, Hierba de las Cortadura, Knight's Milfoil, Old Man's (the Devil's) Mustard, Old Man's Pepper, Plumajillo, Sanguinary, Soldier's Woundwort, Squirrel's Taile, Stanchgrass, Stanchweed, Thousand-leaf, Thousand weed, Woundwort, Yarroway

Key actions:

Antispasmodic
Astringent
Bitter Tonic
Increases Sweating
Lowers Blood Pressure
Reduces Fever
Mild Diuretic
Mild Urinary Antiseptic
Stops Internal Bleeding
Promotes Menstruation
Anti-Inflammatory

Parts Used:

Ariel Parts (fresh or dried)
Leaves
Roots

Key Preparations:

Tea
Tincture
Essential Oil

General Overview of Yarrow

Sold as a hardy and versatile perennial, yarrow has showy flower heads composed of many tiny, tightly-packed flowers rising above clusters of ferny foliage. The flowers may be yellow, red, pink, or any shade in between.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a native North American plant popular with pollinators and practically carefree, making it perfect for borders, ground covers, and open meadows. Despite yarrow’s many beneficial characteristics, it can also be an invasive grower that readily pushes out its neighbors, so be sure to plant with that in mind.

Native to North America & Europe and is used as a diaphoretic tonic, and stimulant, for women’s/uterus havers menstrual & vaginal troubles, bronchitis, and flatulence. Yarrow has also been used as a tea for internal reasons such as venereal diseases and externally as a douche. It is also powdered and snuffed for headaches.

This perennial herb is named after Achilles and was thought to be a Witch's herb. It was brought to weddings to ensure everlasting or 7 years of love.

When to Plant Yarrow

Plant in the spring or early summer after the danger of frost has passed. See local frost dates.
If you plant yarrow from tip cuttings, plant them in spring or early summer.

Choosing a Preparing a Planting Site

Plant in an area that receives full sun to encourage compact growth and many flowers. In partial sun or shade, yarrow tends to grow leggy.
Yarrow performs best in well-drained soil. It thrives in hot, dry conditions; it will not tolerate constantly wet soil. Loamy soil is recommended, but yarrow can also be grown in clay soil as long as it does not stay saturated with water all the time.
Use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil in your garden to about 12 to 15 inches deep, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost.
If you grow yarrow in soil that is too rich, the plants may require staking due to overenthusiastic growth. To keep it from growing too tall, choose a site with average to poor soil and supplement it with some compost to give the plants a good start.

How to Plant Yarrow

Space the plants 1 to 2 feet apart.
They are quick to establish and spread, though some species, like Achillea millefolium, are extra-aggressive growers, so be careful when choosing your plants. Most kinds grow to be about 2 to 4 feet tall.

How to Grow Yarrow

Add a thin layer of compost around your plants each spring to keep them fed.
Yarrow is very drought tolerant, but if you receive less than 1 inch of rain a week in the summer, remember to water your plants to keep them looking their best.
Cut off “deadhead” flowers when they start to fade in mid-summer; this encourages most varieties to produce another round of flowers.
Divide yarrow plants every 3 to 5 years to sustain vigorous, healthy plants. Lift the clumps in early spring or fall and remove any dead stems from the center of the clump. You can replant the divisions elsewhere in the garden or share with a friend!
Yarrow flowers.

Pests/Diseases

Yarrow is generally disease-free and easy to keep, though it is susceptible to the following:

Aphids
Powdery mildew
Rust
Stem rot

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium ) is an aromatic member of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. This perennial European native with lovely, fern-like foliage is also named millefoil, or thousand leaves, because of its finely-divided leaves. There are many species and subspecies of yarrow, including a similar native American variety known as A. Millefolium var. lanulosa. Yarrow is naturalized throughout North America and can be found growing wild in meadows, fields, and along roadsides. Introduced to North America by early colonists, yarrow soon became a valued remedy used by many tribes of indigenous people. American Shakers gathered yarrow for use in numerous medicinal preparations. The plant was listed in the official U.S. Pharmacopoeia from the mid-to-late nineteenth century.

Yarrow's hardy rhizome, or underground stem, develops from underground runners as the extensive root system spreads. The lacy, finely-divided leaves are multi-pinnate, and grow alternately, clasping at the base along the simple, erect and angular stem. The feather-like leaves may reach 6 in (15.2 cm) in length. They mound near the ground in early growth; then the slightly hairy stems reach upwards to 3 ft (0.91 m) in height during flowering. The tiny blossoms may be rose or lilac colored, or a creamy white; they flower from June until October. Yarrow blossoms grow in flat-topped composite clusters at the top of the stems.

As you can see from the lists above Achillea millefolium has many uses! It has been shown to be anti-inflammatory; the azulenes are also anti-allergenic. The sesquiterpene lactones are bitter and have anti-tumor activity. Achille and the flavinoids help arrest or stop internal and external bleeding: the flavonoids may be responsible for Yarrow’s antispasmodic/analgesic actions. There are some laboratory studies indicating that Yarrow dilates blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure. It works, in part, like conventional ACE inhibitors, which are prescribed for high blood pressure.

Yarrow is a styptic, an astringent herb that stops bleeding. This ability comes mostly from the alkaloid achillene, which facilitates the coagulation of blood which can lead to the rapid closure of a wound. Yarrow also activates the blood platelets in the affected area, which forms a protective layer to keep the body protected from infection-causing bacteria while the wound clots and heals.

Lore

Yarrow received its Latin name Achillea from the legendary Greek hero Achilles. According to the common legend, Achilles's mother dipped him into the river Styx by the ankle in an effort to make him invulnerable. Fighting many battles as a seemingly invincible warrior, Achilles used yarrow to treat the wounds of his fellow soldiers. He later died from a wound to his heel, as it was the one unprotected part of his anatomy.

Yarrow also has a reputation in Asia. It is said to grow around the grave of Confucius and it is said in China that yarrow brightens the eyes and promotes intelligence.

In other Asian tradition, it is said that where yarrow grows, one need not fear wild beasts or poisonous plants.

During the middle ages, yarrow was purported to be able to assist in both summoning the devil and driving him away. It was used in complicated Christian exorcism rituals.

Pollen from yarrow was found in a 60,000 (or more) year old Neanderthal burial.

In the Victorian language of flowers, Yarrow can mean both war and healing.

Magical Attributes

Yarrow is associated with Aphrodite, Hermes, the Horned God and the hero Achilles. It is ruled by Venus and the element water and is associated with the seventh chakra.

Yarrow is used for divination and love spells and in spells for contacting or seeking out a specific person.

The stalks are traditionally used for casting the I Ching and the flowers can be added to dream pillows to encourage prophetic dreams. Rubbing your eyelids with yarrow is said to enhance psychic abilities. It can be used in incense or oil to cleanse the aura, and for divination. Yarrow tea can also be drunk prior to divination, and to help the mind focus on a specific issue, or avoid distractions. Especially useful for psychic communication with a loved one and, when in times of strife, can help you and your loved one see things from each others' point of view.

Hanging a bunch of yarrow over the bed on the wedding night is supposed to ensure lasting love for seven years. Adding it to the bouquet or garlands worn by the bride or groom serves the same affect.

Back in the day, hanging a bunch of yarrow over a cradle was said to protect a baby from witches trying to steal its soul.

It is used also as a charm for pregnant woman; keep it on the right side to have an easy labor.

Yarrow strewn across a threshold will prevent unhelpful spirits from entering.

Yarrow can be used in sachets for love, courage, communication and psychic abilities.

Eastern European- Tickle the inside of your nose with the leaves saying-

''Yarroway, Yarroway, bear a white blow,''

''If my love love me, my nose will bleed now.''

European- Stuff a pouch of red flannel with Yarrow repeating the following words to get a vision of your future spouse in your dreams. If you dream of cabbages, however, it means death or misfortune.

''Thou pretty herb of Venus' tree,''

''Thy true name it is Yarrow;''

''Now who my bosom friend must be,''

''Pray tell thou me to-morrow.''

(In this case, the yarrow must be picked from the grave of a man who had died young)

''Yarrow, sweet Yarrow, the first I have found,''

''In the name of Jesus Christ, I pluck it from the ground.''

''As Jesus loved sweet Mary and took her for his dear,''

''So in a dream this night,''

''I hope my true love will appear.''

Precautions

Not for use in pregnancy except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner. Persons with allergies to other members of the Asteraceae family should exercise caution with Yarrow, as cross-reactivity is common in Asteraceae plants. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product or information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease or ailment. For educational/curio purposes only.

This article is a mixture of original writings by The Emerald Hexe and sited materials. All resources listed here:

Books:

Rose, Herbs & Things, New York. Grosset & Dunlap, 1980

Sam Coffman, Herbal Medic, North Adams, MA. Storey Publishing, 2021

Anothy J. Cichoke, D.C., PH.D., Secrets of Native American Herbal Remedies, New York. Penguin Putnam Inc. 2001

Andrew Chevallier FNIMH, MCPP, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, New York, NY, Dorling Kindersley Limited 2016

Other:

https://www.almanac.com/plant/yarrow

https://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/plants/plants/yarrow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azulene

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709812/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antispasmodic