All About Yarrow
Yarrow has long been used as a folk remedy for wound healing, inflammation, and pain. It may also help reduce anxiety. It has shown in studies to have beneficial antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action, reduce spasms, heal wounds, and more. More human studies are needed.
Fun Fact
Studies have shown that certain bird species that add yarrow to building their nest demonstrate a reduced amount of parasitic infections.
Yarrow Research
Over 30 research articles were found on yarrow. Four double blind human studies demonstrated oral healing, wound healing, reduction in menstrual pain, and reduction in Multiple Sclerosis symptoms and relapse. Additionally, this herb has shown potential in vitro and in vivo action as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-parasite, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, digestive aid, spasmolytic, insecticide, anxiolytic, estrogenic, and hypertensive. It may also be useful as snake bite anti-venom. Click the button below for a detailed review of research.
Yarrow Herb and Essential Oil
Latin Name: Achillea millefolium
Family: Asteraceae
Other Names
- Other common names: Milfoil, thousand leaf, bloodword, old man’s pepper, nosebleed, achilee, band man's plaything, bauchweh, birangasifa, carpenter's weed, devil's nettle, devil's plaything, green arrow, old man's pepper, rajmari, roga mari, sanguinary, soldier's wound wort, staunchweed, tausendaugbram, thousand-leaf, wound wort
- Achillea nobilis is another species of yarrow with differing chemistry.
Plant Description
Yarrow is a flowering plant with long hairy stem up to 1.5 feet, feathery leaves, and clustered flowers that are usually white but may be pink, yellow, red, or orange.
Herb Description
Add 1 tsp of dried herb or 2 tsp of fresh herb (flowers and tops) to 8 ounces of hot water. Cover and steep for 20-30 minutes. Strain and drink or apply topically.
Essential Oil Description
Oil is steam distilled from the flowers, with a herbaceous, floral, complex aroma. With similarities to chamomile, it is also in the Asteraceae family, and contains the chamazulene constituent, giving it a blue color.
Key Constituents
- Chamazulene / Azulene
- Salicylic acid (herb)
- Cymene / Paracymene
- Borneol and Delta Borneol
- 1,8-cineole / Cineole / Eucalyptol / Cajeputol
- Terpineol (alpha, beta, or gamma) / Terpinen-4-ol / Terpinolene
- Sabinene
- Pinene / Alpha Pinene / Delta Pinene / Beta Pinene
- d-Limonene / Limonene / Dipentene
- Camphene
- Linalool / Beta Linalool / Linalyl Alcohol / Linalyl Oxide
