For
a very long, long time, people have been using
the delicate-looking yarrow plant to soothe many
ailments. So long, in fact, that yarrow pollen
has been found in Neanderthal burial sites.
The ancient Chinese tapped
into yarrow’s spiritual realm, as did some
Native American Indian shamans. The Chinese book
of divination, the I Ching, is also called the
Yarrow Stalk Oracle. Stalks of the plant were
thrown to reveal the secrets of divine.
Yarrow’s botanical name, Achillea
millefolium, suggests a connection with the great
Greek warrior, Achilles, who is said to have used
it on the battlefield during the Trojan wars to
staunch the wounds of his downed soldiers. It
was used the same way in the American Civil War.
Some colloquial names for the lovely plant
hint at its many medicinal uses – soldier’s
woundwort, carpenter’s weed, and nosebleed.
Many Native American Indian tribes were known
to rely on it for its astringent qualities and
to stem the flow of blood to an injury. The Shakers
drank yarrow tea as a general tonic and digestive
aid.
Modern science has confirmed yarrow’s
anti-inflammatory action which is perhaps why
many Native Americans and Europeans alike have
used it for treating fevers, swelling, and painful
rheumatic joints.
Modern herbalists list yarrow tea as a
favorite for causing sweating that will break
a fever. They recommend it for fever, colds, and
influenza. Yarrow is often used in conjunction
with elderflower and peppermint for this purpose.
The astringency of the plant makes it a
popular addition to skin cleansers and toners.
When yarrow tea is made from the flowering stems,
it is reputed to be especially helpful on excessively
oily skin.
Reference
Kruger, Anna; An Illustrated Guide to Herbs: Their
Medicine and Magic; A Dragon’s World Book;
Limpsfield and London; 1993
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