Herb of the Day: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow has always been a warrior’s ally. In Greek myth, Achilles carried her onto the battlefield to staunch the wounds of his soldiers. Even its name, Achillea, honors him. From battlefield poultices to the hearthside teas of village healers, Yarrow has been companion to those who bleed, whether from body, heart, or spirit.

She thrives where others wither, on rocky mountaintops, in dry soil, along roadsides and wastelands. She is resilient, tough, a survivor. And yet, she offers sweetness and relief. Applied fresh, her leaves close wounds and slow bleeding. As tea, she stirs sweat to break a fever, strengthens digestion, and restores circulation. For the womb, she invites balance.

Yarrow is not only healer of wounds in flesh, she is healer of wounds in spirit. She repairs torn energetic boundaries, sealing the subtle body where grief, trauma, or intrusion has left us porous. She fortifies emotional resilience so we are not pierced by every passing blow, but can walk as whole beings, carrying our own power, without absorbing what does not belong to us.

Medicinal Gifts:

Topical: staunches bleeding, heals cuts, strengthens fragile blood vessels.

Internal: tones and strengthens the circulatory system, lowers blood pressure, eases stagnation of blood. Especially beloved for menstrual health, balancing flow, relieving cramps, and normalizing cycles when blood is too scant or too heavy.

Immune: with elderflower and peppermint, Yarrow is part of a fever tea, helping the body to “sweat out” colds and flu.

Urinary: antibacterial and diuretic, easing infection.

Caution: Internal use should be guided by a skilled herbalist. It is not safe for use during pregnancy.

Yarrow is the ally of the sacred warrior. In these times, when the Earth is under siege and justice cries out, she calls us to rise, not with needless aggression, but with fierce love, to defend what is sacred.

Have you ever worked with Yarrow, in tea, poultice, ritual, or dream?