Yarrow – How to use this Beneficial Plant

I have been growing yarrow for awhile now in my yard, but it wasn’t until this year that I realized just how valuable it is. In fact, I want to make sure that I always have yarrow growing in our yard for the reasons I discovered this year.

Wild yarrow grows a lot around my area with pretty white, light pink, or light yellow flowers. They start popping up around our property in the spring and summer. I have also grown other colorful varieties from seed to plant in my cutting garden for selling in summer bouquets. Those flowers have a beautiful range of colors. From deeps maroons and reds to lighter pinks, yellows, and purple, they are a beautiful addition.

However, it isn’t the flowers that have been such a blessing this last year, but the leaves. Yarrow has frilly or feathery leaves that I have grabbed on many occasions as a busy gardener and homesteader. The reason I reached for the leaves or asked a family member to go and quickly get some is that I had cut myself and the bleeding wouldn’t stop!

A friend taught me that yarrow will stop the bleeding of a wound and I witnessed that first hand this summer. First, as a piece of glass in my garden dirt sliced my hand. Then again when my sharp garden snips got my fingers. I can’t believe I had to reach for it again several times as I sliced bushels of tomatoes with our new set of knives during the harvest season.

To say yarrow has been a a life saver this year might be a bit dramatic. But it sure has come in very handy.

How to Use Yarrow to Stop the Bleeding

Each time I have cut myself, I have run out and grabbed fresh yarrow right away. Then I get to the sink and wash the wound with fresh water. When the wound is washed out, I dabb it off so it is mostly dry. Then I place the yarrow on the would and wrap it with a bandaid. The gushers that normally would be, just stop bleeding as the yarrow does its magic.

The reason that yarrow is able to stop the bleeding is due to its styptic properties. It also is antimicrobial so leaving it on the wound will help with any infection.

The yarrow left on the wound will help it stop the bleeding, but also with the wound healing. I have found that keeping it on the wound for a few hours to a day really helps with the recovery of the wound without any other additional items.

Other Ways Can Yarrow Be Helpful

Even if this is the only way that I use yarrow, it is worth it to have in my yard.

I figured that I should learn about other ways I could use yarrow. I might as well as it is already growing here.

Yarrow is very easy to identify in the wild. Once you see it, you will know it. But a lot of field guides advise about the similarities between yarrow and Queen Ann’s Lace and its twin Poison Hemlock. Here is a video that shows the difference in leaves and flowers so you can be sure if you are sourcing your yarrow from the wild.

The First Aid Plant

Collecting the flowers and leaves of the yarrow plant to dry and make salves is a great way to use yarrow. Because of the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties yarrow has, it can make a great salve. It also has skin-calming and anti-inflammatory effects.

Yarrow has the potential to ease with redness, swelling, and discomfort that comes from sunburn, windburn, chapped skin, or acne.

It can also help with any wounds healing more quickly (after it helps the blood stop), promotes skin regeneration, and even helps with reducing scarring.

If you make a salve, you can use it for all the above, but also just an all-purpose salve that will help with any minor cuts and wounds.

Hop on over here to see how to make a salve using yarrow.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, naturopath, certified herbalist or medical professional. The information in this article is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult a physician or trusted healthcare provider before taking yarrow. For more information on potential yarrow contradictions, please read the section “Who Should Not Use Yarrow” (below).

Yarrow as a Tea

You can harvest both the leaves and the flowers to dry and save as a tea that may help fight colds and fevers. You can use it on its own or add it to other herbs that help with health.

Yarrow can also be added to a bath to help with body aches when you are feeling sick from a cold or fever.

How to Harvest

If you are sourcing the wild yarrow, make sure you have the correct plant and harvest while the flowers are blooming. Also make sure that your are harvesting from an area free of yard or farm sprays.

You can harvest both the flowers and the green fern-like leaves.

I simply bundle them up and hang them upside down until they are fully dry. It usually takes a few weeks.

When the bundle of yarrow is dry, I will remove the flowers and leaves from the main stem and store them in a jar that I label and store out of the sun.

Then I will have it on hand to use in all the various ways listed above.

Who Should Avoid Using Yarrow

Pregnant women should not use yarrow as it is a uterine tonic. It could relax the uterus and lead to miscarriage. Because of this, pregnant women should avoid using yarrow especially as a tea or taken orally. Also avoid using any salves on or around your stomach area.

Some people are also allergic to certain types of plants and may bet a rash or allergic reaction. Yarrow is part of the Aster family of plants (which includes daisies, chrysanthemums, and ragweed), so if you know you are allergic to any of those plants, proceed with caution.

And the reason you should always consult a health professional before using herbs, is if you are on any medications that might negatively react to a certain plant. Yarrow could negatively react with certain medications for blood pressure or blood-thinning medications.

Yarrow – a Great Plant to Know About

I hope you start looking for yarrow in the wild around you or get some seeds this spring to add the beneficial plant to your garden area.

Yarrow is such a great plant to have on hand for many reasons.

If you want to learn about another flower I always have in my garden, pop over here to learn about calendula.