Meet Yarrow: The Guardian of the Meadow

Meet the Plants: Yarrow
A Wild Healer for Wounds and Boundaries

Yarrow was one of the very first herbs I ever worked with. I still remember that first lotion greasy, a little soupy, and made with so much heart. It was summer, the kids were scratched and bitten, and I needed something that worked. Yarrow did. And she still does. Every time I catch her scent, I’m transported right back to where this path began: kitchen experiments, sun-dried herbs on the counter, and the quiet thrill of realizing how powerful plants could be.

Now she greets me each year at the edges of fields and sidewalks, those feathery green leaves rising like familiar hands waving hello. Yarrow reminds me to tend not only to wounds, but to beginnings. To the edges. To the spaces where healing starts.

A Glimpse into Her History

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has long walked beside warriors, herbalists, and dreamers. Her name is rooted in the story of Achilles, the Greek hero who carried Yarrow to the battlefield to stop bleeding. In Western herbalism, she’s been called Soldier’s Woundwort, Nosebleed Plant, Milfoil, and Herbe Militaris. In Chinese medicine, yarrow stalks were traditionally used for divination in the I Ching. In European folk tradition, she was carried in bridal bouquets for protection and longevity or tucked under pillows to dream of true love.

Always, she has been a plant of boundaries, between life and death, love and loss, skin and sky.

Herbal & Traditional Uses

Latin name: Achillea millefolium
Parts used: Aerial parts: flowers, leaves, stems

Uses:

• Topical: Stops bleeding (styptic), soothes inflamed tissue, supports wound healing (vulnerary)
• Internal: Encourages sweating during fever (diaphoretic), supports menstrual balance (emmenagogue), bitter tonic for digestion and liver health, relieves gas and bloating (carminative)
• Spiritual/Energetic: Protective, boundary-defining, emotionally clarifying

Preparations:

• Tincture (fresh plant preferred)
• Infused oil and salve
• Tea or infusion
• Poultice (chewed or crushed fresh plant)
• Sitz bath or foot soak
• Smoke or hydrosol for energetic clearing

Properties:
Styptic, astringent, vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, carminative, bitter tonic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, protective

Energetics:
Cooling, drying, bitter; toning to tissues; harmonizing to Qi and Blood in TCM; moves stuck energy

Taste:
Bitter, pungent, slightly aromatic

Warnings & Contraindications:

• Avoid during pregnancy unless under practitioner guidance due to potential uterine-stimulating effects
• Can cause allergic reaction in some, especially those sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae family
• Excess internal use may be too drying for those with already dry constitutions
• Always positively ID, can be confused with Queen Anne’s Lace or hemlock

"She teaches us how to mend what’s torn, inside and out."

Why I Work With Her in My Apothecary

That first homemade lotion, soupy or not worked wonders on bug bitten skin and restless summer kids. And Yarrow’s stayed with me ever since. You’ll find her now in my Happy Camper Spray, where she lends her wisdom to outdoor skin comfort with other essential oils. I also make a Yarrow tincture each season, always with fresh plant material to honor the clarity and effectiveness she offers when used internally for fevers, digestion, and boundary work.

There’s something deeply grounding about infusing her, like steeping in ancient knowledge that still has work to do.

 

Myth vs. Truth or Safety Notes

• Yarrow does stop bleeding topically but may stimulate blood flow internally, context and dose matter
• Always patch test oils or salves if you’re sensitive to ragweed or other Asteraceae plants
• Not all yarrow is created equal, look for wild or organically grown plants, ideally harvested in early bloom
• While often considered safe, internal use should be approached with caution if pregnant or very constitutionally dry

Working with the Plant Spirit

Yarrow is an ally of boundaries, thresholds, and healing from the edge inward. Place a sprig by your door or in your shoe when walking into challenging spaces. Burn her dried leaves to clear emotional residue, or steep a small handful into bathwater for energetic protection and repair.

Affirmation: “I honor the beginnings, the edges, and the healing still unfolding.”

Final Thoughts

Yarrow will always hold a place of honor in my herbal journey. She helped me find my footing as a budding medicine maker and continues to walk beside me with wisdom, protection, and strength.

You’ll find her in my Happy Camper Spray and Fresh Yarrow Tincture: crafted with care, gratitude and just a touch of summer memory.

 

Yarrow Recipes & Formulas

 

Yarrow Infused Oil (for wounds, bites, and salves)
Ingredients:

• Fresh (wilted) or dried Yarrow aerial parts
• Olive oil (or your preferred carrier oil)

Instructions:

1. If using fresh yarrow, wilt for 12-24 hours to reduce moisture.
2. Fill a clean, dry jar loosely with plant material.
3. Cover completely with oil. Stir to release air bubbles.
4. Infuse for 4-6 weeks in a warm place, shaking gently every few days.
5. Strain and store in a dark glass jar.

Use in: bug bite oil blends, first aid salves, muscle rubs, or massage oils.

Yarrow Fever Tea (Traditional diaphoretic blend)
Ingredients:

• 1 part Yarrow
• 1 part Elderflower
• 1 part Peppermint

Instructions:
Steep 1-2 teaspoons of the blend in a cup of hot water for 10-15 minutes. Drink warm, wrapped in a blanket to encourage sweating and support the body in resolving fevers or viral onsets.

Optional: Add a pinch of ginger for added warming action.

Field First Aid Poultice
Fresh Yarrow leaves chewed or crushed directly and applied to:

• cuts
• scrapes
• bites
• stings

Hold in place with a bandana or clean cloth. This was used by soldiers and field herbalists for quick bleeding control.

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Yarrow & Chamomile Sitz Bath
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup dried Yarrow
• 1/2 cup dried Chamomile
• Optional: Calendula or Lavender

Instructions:
Steep herbs in 1 quart boiling water for 30 minutes. Strain and pour into warm bath or sitz basin. Soothes hemorrhoids, postpartum discomfort and promotes gentle wound healing.

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Yarrow Flower Water for Bug Bites (Folk Recipe)
1 part Yarrow infusion (cooled tea)
1 part Witch hazel extract (alcohol-free or low-alcohol)
Optional: A few drops of Lavender essential oil

Combine in a small glass bottle. Mist onto itchy bites or sun-kissed skin for cooling relief.

 

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