Yarrow Leaf and Flower: At a Glance
Yarrow leaf and flower are parts of the yarrow, a flowering perennial plant. This relative of the sunflower is also known as milfoil, or in New Mexico and southern Colorado, plumajillo, the Spanish word for “little feature” due to its distinctive leaf shape.
Yarrow leaf and flower are thought to have several medicinal benefits. Herbal practitioners say they can ease fevers, reduce the duration and severity of colds and flu, relieve cramps, stabilize the liver, and aid relaxation. Topical application can help skin problems, including itching, rashes, and hemorrhoids.
Fresh or rehydrated leaves of the yarrow can be juiced. The dried leaves and flowers make great tea and tinctures. Some people even add yarrow leaf and flower to their bathwater.
Cooking With Yarrow Leaf and Flower
Yarrow tea is one of the most common ways to enjoy yarrow’s cold-fighting and prevention properties. Add a cup of yarrow flowers and leaves to 6 cups of boiling water. Let the mix steep for at least five minutes. Cover your saucepan to contain the yarrow oils and prevent evaporation. You’ll know it’s ready when the water has a rich honey color. Strain the flowers and leaves and let your tea cool. Yarrow tea has a bitter taste, so many people flavor it with honey, lemon, or other herbs like chamomile and mint.
While you can use yarrow leaf and flower as the principal ingredients in various recipes, many herbal practitioners suggest combining their powers with other healing herbs.
For example, you could make a tincture to aid sleep with yarrow leaf and flower, mint leaves, chamomile flowers, and other herbs. Simply add the herbs to a jar and cover with boiling water to steep for five minutes. Fill the jar with vodka or rum, or vegetable glycerine if avoiding alcohol, close the lid, and store in a cool, dark place for between two and eight weeks. Shake the jar daily during this time. Then strain the herbs through a muslin or cheesecloth and your tincture is ready to use. Adults should take two or three droppers before bed when needed.
Yarrow Leaf and Flower: History and Origination
The yarrow plant is native to temperate regions in North America, Asia and Europe. It has been used for centuries and even has a place in Greek mythology. Its Latin name Achillea references Achilles, who apparently used the yarrow plant to stem blood flow from his soldiers’ wounds. This use gave the yarrow plant the common name herbal militaris. Legend has it that Achilles painted himself with a tincture of yarrow to make himself invincible to arrows. However, he forgot to paint his heel, leading to his downfall.
The ancient Chinese people also used yarrow to heal wounds. In addition, they assessed the stalks, which grow tallest in wet conditions, to find water sources. Yarrow was among a number of medicinal herbs found in 50,000-year-old Iraqi graves.
Native American healers have traditionally used yarrow in various ways. The Mimac people living in Nova Scotia, Maine, and New Brunswick chewed on the yarrow stalk, either fresh or stewed, to reduce fevers and cold symptoms. They also ground the stalks down into a pulp and applied them topically to sprains, bruises, and swollen or inflamed parts of the body to speed recovery. The Navajo dubbed yarrow “life medicine”; they chewed it for a toothache and poured yarrow infusions into their ears for an earache. Cherokee, Iroquois, Mohegan, and Gosiute tribes used the yarrow plant as a digestive aid.
During the Middle Ages, yarrow was a key ingredient in gruit, an herbal mix used to flavor beer before hops became widely used. Yarrow flowers and leaves are still used in some liquors and bitters today.
Cultivation of Yarrow Leaf and Flower
The yarrow plant grows stalks and flowers in the warm weather from May to July. The more rain it receives, the taller it gets. The stalks may grow just a foot or two if conditions are dry, but during wet seasons, when the plant doesn’t need to preserve its energy, it will grow higher than four feet. Clusters of fragrant yarrow flowers, which can be white or pale purple, grow from the stalks.
The yarrow is an ornamental plant commonly grown in gardens. It thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil. However, it isn’t too fussy and will grow even when the conditions aren’t ideal.
Since yarrow seeds need light to grow, they are planted no more than a quarter inch beneath the soil. The soil should also be warm; temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees are ideal.
About Our Yarrow Leaf and Flower
We source our yarrow leaf and flower from Hungary. The yarrow flowers in this part of the world have an appealing minty scent, while their leaves have a vibrant green hue. Their potency makes them some of the best yarrow plants in the world.