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Yarrow is an amazing and beautiful plant. A plant that can add height and color to our gardens and a medicinal wonder for our medicine cabinets. Harvest some this summer and fall to harness that healing power with these 10 ways to use yarrow.
Yarrow can be used fresh or dried for many things. Use it fresh this summer and dry bunches for winter too.
Yarrow for External Use
1) Yarrow has astringent properties that can help reduce swelling for external wounds. Make a poultice from the fresh leaves for bruised areas or make a tea from dried yarrow and use rags to apply it as a poultice.
2) It also stops bleeding. Dry the leaves and pulverize into a powder that can be applied to bleeding wounds.
3) Make a cup of yarrow tea and let it cool before using it as an astringent on the face to clean and tighten pores. For especially problematic skin, infuse the yarrow in witch hazel. Apply the infused witch hazel to the skin with cotton balls.
4) Take a warm bath in yarrow to help reduce fevers.
5) Infuse oil with yarrow flowers and leaves. Use that oil straight or make a balm for healing irritated skin.
6) Spritz a yarrow tincture or yarrow infused witch hazel over varicose veins to help tone and move blood in the body.
Yarrow for Internal Use
7) Yarrow tea induces sweating to help reduce fevers. To make yarrow tea steep 1 Tablespoon fresh leaves (1 teaspoon dried) in 1 cup of boiling water for 4-5 minutes. Sweeten with honey if desired.
8) Make a yarrow tincture to help with weak digestion.
9) Reduce excessive menstrual bleeding and ease cramps with the tea or tincture.
10) High blood pressure and problems with the heart and blood vessels may be helped with yarrow.
Yarrow is an important part of the herbal medicine cabinet, but be sure to keep some in the garden too because it attracts pollinators and can act as a fertilizer.
Precautions: Yarrow should not be used by pregnant women. It may cause problems for people allergic to plants in the aster family. Always check with a trained professional to avoid complications or interactions with other medications.
Before the blooms fade completely this fall, get out there and start some home medicine making by collecting some yarrow for drying, infusions, and more.
I love yarrow! I use it in my healing salve which I sell at farmers’ market, and I love it for providing forage for my bees! Thanks for sharing!
How do you make your healing salve
My general healing salve method is here: https://homespunseasonalliving.com/how-to-make-healing-salve/
should I only use the white ones? I have pink ones in my yard. Thanks
You can use any color – they all have medicinal properties.
The color does make a difference, white yarrow is best, colored yarrow is genetically modified.
Hybrid isn’t the same as genetically modified, to my knowledge there is no GMO yarrow (feel free to cite a source / give me a link if you know otherwise). White might be best but that doesn’t mean the others are unusable.
I was given a yarrow plant and wasn’t really sure what to do with it. Thanks for all the tips!
Do i use the leaves or the flowers? Can i also use the stems and root?
Use the leaves and flowers, the stems and roots aren’t necessary for these preparations.
The suggestions are great but you say to use the flowers, what are the flowers good for rather than the leaves?
You can use the flowers and leaves.
I heard that the root of yarrow it the most potent healing part
Do you have a source for that statement? A book or teaching I can reference?
Is this safe to ingest? My taste buds really reject the awful bitter taste no matter how much sugar I add to it. Has anyone actually tried drink yarrow tea, was it bitter or is it just me?
It is very bitter. It is safe to ingest for most people – obviously some folks have allergies, pregnant women should avoid. Depending on what you’re using it for … maybe there’s a better choice for you if it’s too bitter.
@Mr. TeaTime, try lemon for the bitter and sugar to sweeten. I use lemons in green juices becauseI don’t like the taste. Lemon cuts that green butter flavor.
I added honey and it really ease the bitterness. It made it drinkable for me.
My husband drinks yarrow tea and mixes it with peppermint tea to combat the bitter taste some…and lots of sweetener.
Yarrow leaves dried can be used in the place of tarragon. I use yarrow, onions,garlic, cumin in cooked beans.
I love yarrow, I didn’t hv much info about it.
I didn’t know that yarrow cn be made as a cup of tea. Thank you for this fruitful information about usage of Yarrow.
I agree about the weak digestion. I am a senior on lots of meds and needless to say have a weak digestive system. I keep yarrow tincture on hand for those moments I need an extra helping hand . It works.