Herbs to Collect: Yarrow

For over 30 years, I have been fortunate enough to live out in the "boonies" (A term which I dearly love since it originated in the land of my childhood, the Philippines, coming from the Filipino word "bundok.") where I can often wild-harvest various herbs. Recently my herb-loving daughter and I went on a yarrow hunting foray.

Yarrow is one of the roadside herbs often neglected though very helpful healthwise. Here's what WebMD has to say as an intro: 

Yarrow is commonly used orally for diarrhea, gas, and other stomach issues. But there is limited scientific research to support these and other uses.

In manufacturing, yarrow is used as a cosmetic cleanser and in shampoos.

How does it work?

Yarrow contains chemicals that might help to stop stomach cramps and fight infections, but more research is needed.

Mountain Rose Herbs shares this fun story as well as noting that the stems, leaves, and flowers are all used: 

Yarrow received its Latin name Achillea from the legendary Greek hero Achilles. According to the common legend, Achilles's mother dipped him into the river Styx by the ankle in an effort to make him invulnerable. Fighting many battles as a seemingly invincible warrior, Achilles used yarrow to treat the wounds of his fellow soldiers. He later died from a wound to his heel, as it was the one unprotected part of his anatomy.

This history and information comes from botanical.com:

--Medicinal Action and Uses---Diaphoretic, astringent, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic. Yarrow Tea is a good remedy for severe colds, being most useful in the commencement of fevers, and in cases of obstructed perspiration. The infusion is made with 1 OZ. of dried herb to 1 pint of boiling water, drunk warm, in wineglassful doses. It may be sweetened with sugar, honey or treacle, adding a little Cayenne Pepper, and to each dose a teaspoonful of Composition Essence. It opens the pores freely and purifies the blood, and is recommended in the early stages of children's colds, and in measles and other eruptive diseases. A decoction of the whole plant is employed for bleeding piles, and is good for kidney disorders. It has the reputation also of being a preventative of baldness, if the head be washed with it. ---Preparations---Fluid extract, 1/2 to 1 drachm. An ointment made by the Highlanders of Scotland of the fresh herb is good for piles, and is also considered good against the scab in sheep. An essential oil has been extracted from the flowers, but is not now used. Linnaeus recommended the bruised herb, fresh, as an excellent vulnerary and styptic. It is employed in Norway for the cure of rheumatism, and the fresh leaves chewed are said to cure toothache. In Sweden it is called 'Field Hop' and has been used in the manufacture of beer. Linnaeus considered beer thus brewed more intoxicating than when hops were used. It is said to have a similar use in Africa. Culpepper spoke of Yarrow as a profitable herb in cramps, and Parkinson recommends a decoction to be drunk warm for ague.

Rxlist.com has this list of possible uses:
Yarrow is used for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating.

Some people chew the fresh leaves to relieve toothache.

Yarrow is applied to the skin to stop bleeding from hemorrhoids; for wounds; and as a sitz bath for painful, lower pelvic, cramp-like conditions in women.

In combination with other herbs, yarrow is used for bloating, intestinal gas (flatulence), mild gastrointestinal (GI) cramping, and other GI complaints.

In foods, the young leaves and flowers of yarrow are used in salads.

In manufacturing, yarrow is also used as a cosmetic cleanser and in snuff. Yarrow oil is used in shampoos.

I hope to use it in some soaps and shampoos as well as perhaps a cramp salve.