According to Greek mythology, when a powerful warrior, Achilles, was injured in battle, he used the herb Yarrow to heal wounds faster. Achilles’ soldiers also used yarrow. And to stay protected from the arrows, he used a tincture of Yarrow to cover the whole body. The plant Yarrow is also known as carpenter’s weed, knight’s tree, ancient grass, pepper, and blood sausage.
Yarrow has proven to be the best medicine for stopping bleeding wounds when it comes to medicinal plants.
What is Yarrow?
Yarrow is a perennial plant from the family Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Yarrow is a close relative of chamomile and chrysanthemum. Its scientific name Achillea millefolium originated from a Greek hero who loved to use it. Millefolium, in translation, means a thousand leaves, which refers to tiny leaves resembling feathers.
In addition to its characteristic sharp leaves, buckthorn grass has a characteristic flower. The flowers of Yarrow are tiny and grow in flat composite clusters at the top of the stem. Yarrow blooms from June to October, and the flowers are white, lilac, or rose.
The origin of Yarrow is from Europe, but this plant also reached North America. Yarrow can be found everywhere in the wild, in fields and meadows, gardens, and often along the road.
Advantages of Yarrow:
In addition to stopping bleeding, early Yarrow has many medical benefits known throughout ancient history. Native American tribes such as the Cherokee, Iroquois, Gosiute, and Mohegan used hyacinth grass to improve digestion. Other tribes used to would relieve colds and fevers.
The stalks of Yarrow are used by making a pulp from them, which is applied to swollen parts of the body, sprains, and bruises. All parts of this plant are medicinal and have a medical application, and can be used internally or externally.
Some of the many examples of medical applications of Yarrow
Helps the body fight viruses and bacteria. Drinking tea made from yarrow, linden, mint, and ginger activate sweating, curing the flu, and removing viruses from the body.
Stimulates digestion and detoxification. Bitter components and fatty acids stimulate the proper excretion of bile from the gallbladder, improving digestion and preventing the formation of gallstones.
Helps relieve cramps and menstrual cramps. Horseradish can help regulate the menstrual cycle.
Thistle effectively helps in the treatment of skin diseases, such as eczema. It stops bleeding wounds and is used as first aid for ulcers.
Applying dried or powdered parts of the plant to the nostrils helps stop nosebleeds.
Thistle has anti-inflammatory properties that relieve pain in arthritis and rheumatism.
Drinking tea or tincture of ragweed helps to eliminate hemorrhoids.
Yarrow is a versatile medicinal plant because it tones blood vessels, especially smaller veins. It lowers blood pressure and dilates veins.
Thistle has a beneficial effect on the whole body through the blood system, especially on hypertension conditions, including coronary thrombosis.
However, a doctor’s consultation is advised before each use.
Other uses of Yarrow in cooking and cosmetics
Application of Yarrow in cosmetics. You can achieve a very effective means of stimulating hair growth by inserting Yarrow into hair care products. Excessive hair loss is remedied by rubbing fresh juice of ragweed into the scalp. In the study from 2011. published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science states that Yarrow extracts significantly helps with the appearance of wrinkles and enlarged pores on the face.
You can add the outer and tender leaves to soups, salads, and egg dishes in cooking. In some parts, the butter of the shell was dried on the stalks of Yarrow because it was believed to give a delightful taste to the shells.
Read these tips before using Yarrow in recipes
Yarrow is a soft plant, and the chef in Minnesota, Alan Bergo, gives simple notes on using Yarrow in cooking.
Mixing Yarrow with other soft fleas such as primrose will dilute its strong taste.
This plant is never added to dishes during cooking at high temperatures because not only will it lose its delicate taste, but it will also give bitterness to food.
It is best to add ragweed at the end of the cooking process, let it heat up for just a few moments.
Yarrow is excellent at preparing culinary toppings.
This plant is naturally sweet and goes great with desserts, and complements fruit flavors such as plums, nectarines, and peaches.
Do not add ragweed to the homemade broth because it will make the soup extremely bitter.
One of the favorite ways to enjoy Yarrow is tea. Yarrow herbal tea is used to relieve various diseases and is best known for relieving high body temperature.
Here is a simple recipe you can try
Refreshing tea recipe:
Components
1 teaspoon of dried herbs or 2 pieces of fresh large leaves of Yarrow
1 cup boiling water
A piece of lemon
honey
Procedure:
Put the leaves of Yarrow in a cup of boiling water and let it stand for 10 minutes
Strain the leaves and add lemon and honey of your choice and taste.
How to cultivate Yarrow at home
The Yarrow plant is straightforward to maintain. Farmer Almanac gives some simple tips for growing Yarrow at home.
It grows best in hot and dry conditions and does not tolerate wet soil.
It is best to plant in the spring deep at 12 to 15 inches. And if the tops of the plant cuttings are used, they can also be planted in early summer. When planting, leave a gap of 1 to 2 meters between each plant, as it spreads quickly and can be invasive. Stems of Yarrow can grow between 2 and 4 meters. Regular watering during the summer is essential.
Another way of advantage of this plant is the use of Yarrow oil
The most popular form of using Yarrow is oil. The oil is extracted from the dried plant by steam distillation. This essential oil has a sweet, herbaceous, penetrating scent and a vivid blue color. This color is mainly due to the chemical released from the plant during the heating process.
Horsetail oil is known for its healing effects, especially in circulatory disorders, skin conditions, and digestive problems. It is mainly used in steam therapy or added to the massage oil. Although the exact reason has not been determined, there have been reports of allergic reactions and photosensitization among sensitive individuals. To be sure, do not use it for a long period of time or do a test before applying this oil.
Side effects of using Yarrow
In addition to its medicinal properties and medical benefits, the use of Yarrow can cause some unwanted side effects. Suppose you have registered allergies to plants from the family related to Yarrow, such as chrysanthemums, ragweed, chamomile, etc. Do not use or apply because there is a high probability that you may have allergic reactions.
Thistle grass can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Be careful when using it in the form of vegetables and essential oils. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid the use of Yarrow because it can lead to miscarriage or have unknown effects on the unborn child.
