Alternative Medicine: Yarrow--It's Not Just for Greek Warriors

Disclaimer. I am not a licensed health practitioner. This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible. No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician. Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care. A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

When outdoorsy- and prepper-type people start delving into the world of alternative healing, one of the first herbs they come across is yarrow, Achillea millefolium. That's probably because it's been used for thousands of years and has a pretty cool history that the menfolk in particular enjoy. So if you were actually paying attention as you read the first sentence, you'd see that the genus name Achillea looks a lot like Achilles, for whom the genus is named, the Achilles of ancient Greek history who used yarrow to treat his bleeding soldiers' wounds. His soldiers carried little bags of it into war, and in classical times it was often called herba militaris for its ability to stanch the bleeding of battle wounds.  And indeed, that is also yarrow's most common use today.  

Many medicinal plants are used primarily in just a few ways; however, such is definitely not the case with yarrow.  It truly has a vast array of medicinal properties and variety of applications.

Time to harvest:  Yarrow is harvested from June to September, when it starts to flower.  The flowers, leaves, and sometimes the stem are used.  Harvest just the top one-third of the plant.

Medicinal uses:  Yarrow has historically been used to treat bleeding, colitis, cystitis, diverticulitis, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, gall stones, gastrointestinal inflammation, skin conditions,  and UTIs.

Food:  The leaves can be eaten raw or sauteed.  They are bitter and best used in salads when picked young.  They are sometimes substituted for tarragon.

Fresh leaves:  Use whole or crushed leaves to:

• stop bleeding
• alleviate toothache (chew fresh leaves)
• relieve a rash (chew fresh leaves and apply to rash; swallow the bitter juices of the chewed leaves) 

Essential oil:  Dilute a few drops in a carrier oil and rub onto afflicted area to treat:

• eczema
• bee stings
• bug bites

Tincture:  Prepare tincture in a 1:2 (fresh herb, and the preferred method) or 1:5 (dried herb) ratio (1 ounce dried herb by weight to 5 ounces of 80 proof alcohol).  Shake daily for six weeks.  Strain out herb and store the tincture in a dark bottle in a dark cabinet.  Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon 3 times per day.  The tincture has been used historically for treating:

• bleeding ulcers
• heavy menstrual periods
• uterine hemorrhage
• blood in the urine
• bleeding from the bowels
• any internal bleeding
• bleeding from tooth extraction
• toothache 

Dr. Patrick Jones utilizes yarrow to stop internal bleeding in dogs hit by cars with great effect.

Salve: 

• eczema
• abrasions
• lacerations
• bee stings and bug bites

Directions for making your own yarrow salve will be posted next week.  

Infusion:  Steep 1 teaspoon dried or 3 fresh leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for 10-15 minutes and strain.

• Drink hot, 3 cups per day for:
• colds
• fever
• cystitis
• urinary tract infection
• incontinence
• Drink cool or warm, 3 cups per day for:
• dysmenorrhea
• high blood pressure
• bleeding ulcers
• uterine hemorrhage
• blood in the urine
• bleeding from the bowels

Poultice:  Crush fresh leaves and mix with water.  Use to treat:

• minor wounds
• bleeding hemorrhoids
• lacerations
• puncture wounds (including dog and snake bites)
• abrasions
• mastitis (alternate between hot and cold compresses)

Wound powder:  Just like Achilles and his men used yarrow, dried, finely powdered flowers and leaves can be sprinkled on minor wounds or used to stop a nosebleed.

Baths:  Add tincture to a bath for treating:

• skin irritations
• cystitis
• vaginal infections
• bleeding fibroids
• hemorrhoids
• post-partum healing
• heavy periods
• chilblains 

Contraindications:  Avoid in pregnancy.  Do not take if already taking prescription blood thinners.  May interact with omeprazole, high blood pressure medications, and sleeping pills.  Do not use in large or frequent doses for a long time.  May cause photosensitivity or allergic reactions, especially in those sensitive to ragweeds.  May cause drowsiness when taken orally.

Links to related posts:
Bleeding
Juniper
Activated carbon
The Herbal Medic
The HomeGrown Herbalist  

For further reading:
All articles accessed on 5 April 2019
http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.com/habitats-and-ecology/plant-list-at-mount-pisgah-arboretum/achillea-millefolium/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077876/ (menorrhagia)
https://www.drugs.com/npp/yarrow.html
https://www.mottchildren.org/health-library/hn-2188008
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=yarrow%2C+insomnia
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834722/ (skin)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20857434 (asthma and high blood pressure)
https://articles.mercola.com/herbs-spices/yarrow.aspx

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com   

20 december 2020

Yarrow Salve

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.


One of the downsides to herbal medicine is that it takes some time to produce these folk remedies.  Sure, sometimes you can just step outside, pick a few leaves (in this case, yarrow), crush or chew, and apply.  But that only works if you actually have the plant right there, and if it happens to be the right season.  Otherwise, you're SOL.

Naturally, it just makes sense to have medicines prepared in advance.  That's why they call us preppers.  A yarrow salve is super simple to make.  Even a sheeple could do it.

Infused oil. First, make the infused oil.  Begin with about two cups of freshly harvested yarrow leaves and flowers.  Yarrow that is in bloom has the highest concentration of active constituents in it (the stuff that makes us better).  Make sure the leaves and flowers are completely dry.  You may need to let them dry for a day or two before using.

Cut up the leaves and flowers and pack them into a one pint canning jar.  Pour olive oil over the yarrow, covering it completely, and put the lid on the jar. Write the date on the lid and place the jar in a dark cabinet or closet for one month to let the yarrow infuse into the oil.

One month later, strain the yarrow-infused oil through a sieve or cheesecloth and store the oil in a clean jar out of direct light.

Salve.  To make the salve, put into a glass canning jar slightly larger than the amount of infused oil you have, one ounce of beeswax per cup of yarrow infused oil.  Pour the infused oil on top of the beeswax.  Place the jar in a small saucepan with about two inches of water and put it on the stove on medium heat.  Heat and stir until all the beeswax is melted.

Remove the jar from the pan and let it cool slightly.  Pour the salve into small glass canning jars or tins (Altoids tins work well) and let cool completely.  Label (after a while, all salves begin to look alike) and date.  Use within six to twelve months.

Herbalists use yarrow salve to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with:

• stings and bug bites
• minor bleeding
• abrasions
• rashes, including diaper rash
• burns

As with any product, herbal or otherwise, test a little bit on the skin before using to make sure there is no allergy to it.  Yarrow is in the ragweed family and may cause a reaction in those allergic to ragweeds.

For further reading:
https://montanahomesteader.com/medicinal-yarrow-first-aid-salve/
https://modernhomesteadmama.com/diy-yarrow-salve/
https://medievaldigger.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/making-a-strong-yarrow-salve/

 © 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com  

6 march 2023