Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.
The Latin name Achiliea millefolium is an homage to Achilles son of the nymph Thetis and the Greek god Peleus. According to legend, when Achilles was born, Thetis tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx, however he was still vulnerable in the part of the body by which she held him, his heels. It was said Achilles used the Yarrow plant to staunch the bleeding from the wounds his soldiers received on the battle field. It was also used extensively for the same purpose by soldiers on both sides of the American civil war. That is where it came to be known by another popular name, soldier's woundwort.
Other Names:
Bloodwort, Carpenter's Weed, Devil's Nettle, Knight's Milfoil, Nose Bleed, Sanguinary, Soldier's Woundwort, Staunchweed
Range:
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.
Identifying characteristics:
An erect herbaceous perennial plant that produces one to several stems up to 3ft tall. It grows from a shallow rhizome. The leaves are arranged almost spirally along the stem. The leaves generally increase in size as you move down the stem, with the largest leaves appearing near the middle and bottom. The leaves are almost feathery in appearance, and are 2-8 in long. The leaves are cauline and more or less clasping. The plant has a flower head containing ray and disk flowers which are white to pink, although I have only seen the white variety where I live in Michigan. There are generally 3 to 8 ray flowers that are ovate to round. Disk flowers range from 15 to 40. The plant commonly flowers from May through June. Common yarrow is frequently found in the disturbed soil of waste areas, roadsides, grasslands, and open forests. Active growth occurs in the spring.
Habitat:
Disturbed soil of waste areas, Roadsides, Grasslands, and Open Forests
Parts Used:
Leaves, Stem, Flower Heads.
Uses:
Wild Food Uses:
Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads. A tea can also be brewed from plant leaves and stems.
Medicinal Uses:
Vulnerary. Antiseptic. Anti-Inflammatory. Diuretic - A Poultice made from leaves and flowers excels at stopping blood flow from wounds, but it also disperses congealed blood pooled under the skin, like found in bruising. Placing crushed up leaves into the nose will immediately stop a bloody nose. Just be sure to leave enough sticking out so that it can be removed when no longer needed. Yarrow directly effects blood. It moves it from where it should not be, and makes it flow into places where it should. This is a wonderfully useful plant with which everyone should become familiar.
Herbal tea or tincture can be used for colds, fevers, anorexia, indigestion, gastric inflammations, and internal bleeding. It has also been used by woman to help start menstrual cycles which are slow in coming. It has also been used to slow excessively heavy flow. Yarrow stimulates peripheral circulation, decongests capillaries, dilates blood vessels, and is anti-inflammatory. It can reduce blood pressure by eliminating factors that create "back pressure" on the heart. Yarrow strengthens blood vessels as well as decongesting them, and can be used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids. In a small tin, I carry an ointment I made from Yarrow and Plantain quite literally everywhere I go. It works great for small cuts, skin abrasions, or insect stings. It also functions quite well to protect lips from wind and sun.
Medicinal Actions:
Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Cholagogue, Hemotatic, Hypotensive, Spasmolytic
Bookmarks