Oh my goodness Yarrow, I have such a deep love for this plant.
It is the time of year where we pick enough Yarrow to last us through till next year, and make our yearly tincture ! We just finished our jar from last summer , to hear my daughters excitement each year the yarrow's start to bloom fills my heart so deeply, and reminds me of the deep magic and importance of the living with the seasons, the plants bring such rhythm, magic and anchoring into our lives, it often brings me to tears. My daughter will gather the young leaves and blooms when they arrive at this time and put them under our pillow for protection she says mama, or she will chew the leaves and put them on her cuts or mosquito bites, and I am continually in awe of just how wise and connected these sweet sweet babies are.
They say Yarrow is the master of blood. Yarrow both is able to stop bleeding & also support healthy circulation. Yarrow is an herb I will always have on hand- especially for fevers and first aid- but we love to add some into our tea for it's physical benefits but also for energetic protection and strengthening of our energy fields and boundaries, both physically as yarrow strengthens our tissues and energetically as well. We will either use an oil with yarrow, spray or tincture/elixir. We like using Yarrow for nightmares and in herbal protection pillows too.
There have been years Yarrow barely has grown around us and other years like this one and last where there has been such an abundance- I truly am a believer that the plants show up for us when we need them most- yarrow is definitely one of those plants we could all use collectively right now. Yarrow is so wonderful to aid us on our healing journeys, but also help us get clear on what is our own energy and not others, yarrow is also so helpful in times of change and transition allowing for us to feel anchored and balanced. It heals wounds both physically ( think external wounds, but also things like ulcers, ibs, leaky gut, emotional wounds & grief)
For most of us Yarrow is likely growing around us ! It is also in bloom typically around this type of year and will bloom through-out the summer.
Yarrow does have a few look a like plants, but once you have identified Yarrow you cannot be mistaken. Below is a photo of the blooms and the leaves! When harvesting, we use both the leaves and blooms for medicine! Although you can use the young leaves in spring for medicine or if you are needing first aid on a trail. You can chew the leaves then put it on the wound.
To harvest Yarrow, usually I will cut them lower on the stem- when they are in full bloom, like down below - really pretty and fresh! There is this sort of sacred window of harvesting yarrow and you will start to see the blooms look a bit more rough, not as soft and feminine looking, we want to harvest before! There are so many ways you can utilize Yarrow and many ways to make medicine. We dry quite a lot from wild harvesting in clean spaces with no spraying and no road nearby or from our garden- of course only ever taking as much as we need! If I harvest from a patch of yarrow, I will never harvest all of it and leave plenty. We usually harvest most of our yarrow to dry, to use for teas, salves, bath tea, oils etc. You can also grind this into a powder for a first aid powder! Once harvested I will take off the blooms, and strip the stem from leaves and dry on a flat basket or you can dry on paper as well- in a well ventilated area, away from sunlight, or hang them in bundles to dry and then remove the leaves and blooms! You can also dehydrate, I prefer to dry naturally as it feels more potent this way! Then store in glass jar out of direct sunlight to preserve your herbs well- many apothecaries will store their herbs in amber glass jars, and keep the space protected from sunlight. We also make Yarrow tincture, elixir, hydrosol, flower essence & bug spray\toner\first aid- I will share a few recipes down below. Yarrow is ruled by Venus. Whenever I can I prefer to harvest plants on their days. In this case it would be Venus days on Fridays. Harvesting in the morning is best.
Look a likes of Yarrow are wild carrot, poison hemlock and Queen Anne's lace. Once you know Yarrow, it looks very different than these plants but when you are just starting out and getting to id plants, poison hemlock is especially one we can be afraid of ( and for good reason) I will list a few books I love below in the comments to take with us on our adventures and also a plant ID app that is amazing!
YARROW MEDICINE:
Yarrow is Ruled by Venus & the Water element.
Energetics/Taste: Although Yarrow is considered drying and cooling in nature, which can be noticed through the bitter, aromatic & astringent taste - Yarrow is a plant who always reminds us of the magic and mystery and the power of the feminine. She is a great balancer because although Yarrow is typically considered drying and cooling she can also shapeshift and will bring balance to where it is needed. Like cooling when needed, stopping bleeding when needed, or activating blood flow where needed- she is like the waters, and she brings this integrity to both our cells and energetic self so we can function at our full capacity in a way that is integral, strong yet flowing freely, unconstricted
Tissue States: Hot/ Excitation, Damp/ Stagnation, and Damp/ Relaxation.
Organs/Affinity: Kidneys, Digestive system , Endocrine system, Spleen, Lungs, Pancreas, Reproductive system and Urinary system.
Medicinal uses: Yarrow is well known for being supportive during colds & flus, it is one of our go to for fevers, as Yarrow is a diaphoretic meaning it supports the heat moving out of the body that is trapped by opening up the pathways. This way you are using the plants to support the vital force of the body rather then shutting it down. Yarrow is a very aromatic plant giving it anti spasmodic and carminative properties. This is excellent for supporting any wind conditions, such as colic, cramps, digestive upsets, nervous digestion, headaches ! It's carminative properties support overall digestion and is beautiful support for moving stagnancy in the body- especially in the liver , making this amazing for supporting hormone health and digestion, along with being amazing support for tension and hormonal headaches. Yarrow is an astringent herb, meaning it tightens, tonifies and brings vitality back to the tissues. This supports draining of dampness, and also of heat and inflammation. Yarrow would be used in many digestive formulas including for leaky gut, Yarrow is ultimate wound healer, which also means healing of the digestive lining. Yarrow is considered anti septic, and amazing for infections as she also cleans the blood, both externally and internally. Yarrow is also wonderful to add into blends that support soothing and calming the mind as she really helps soothe our whole system. I incorporate Yarrow into many of our blends because this plant is such a star in the apothecary. Yarrow can be really supportive for our teeth and gum health as well, you can use this as a rinse etc. It will tighten, tonify and heal the gums. Yarrow is so supportive for womb health, it will support healthy blood flow as well, moving any stagnancy and supporting healthy blood. They call Yarrow the master of blood, yarrow will regulate the blood and blood flow, something spoken about not as much anymore but it used to be spoken about a lot more is " bad blood" or thick blood. Yarrow is amazing for cleansing the blood, amazing for supporting the liver so our blood may be healthy and strong. On an energetic level this feels so important as well as sometimes we lose our life force, lose our purpose and in many ways Yarrow support us in coming back to life in all ways. Of course Yarrow has an affinity for the circulatory system and specifically the heart. Yarrow supports strengthening and tonifying both the heart and blood vessels, while also acting as an anti inflammatory. Yarrow is like the great equalizer said by many, as it knows when to move stagnancy, promote flow, or to tone and strengthen. For these reasons Yarrow is amazing for varicose veins, hemorrhoids etc. With her affinity for the heart, yarrow is also used for mending broken hearts, soothing the heart, high blood pressure etc. She will support swelling, high blood pressure and inflammation ! There is so much more to this plant and Yarrow is one of the plants out there that has been studied more deeply than many other plants as well!
Emotional & Spiritual: There is so much history and folklore surrounding Yarrow. There are many stories of warriors carrying Yarrow for protection, and many other stories how it was also used in battle for healing of wounds and to stop bleeding. Yarrow supports us in moving through our life from a place of wholeness, it mends our wounds and brings our energetic field/aura to a place where it is in tact- so we can filter in a way that allows us to be in our own energy, in our hearts. Whenever I spill a lot of drinks for example, or things overflow etc, this will often indicate that our energy is leaking- a plant like Yarrow just like it regulated and will stop blood, it is very much the same for our energy as well- yarrow will strengthen and heal our field so there is no leaking energy. Someone who is easily affected by others opinions or projections like our young children who are sooo open, or in times when the energy is penetrative from outside energies, yarrow loves to support us ! Yarrow allows for our energy to be open towards life, open and soft hearts while having our discernment intact, and having our energy be fully ours and functioning from a place of wholeness so we do not have to shut down towards life, and build a fortress, so we can receive the good that is trying to enter. It offers beautiful energetic protection for this reason- especially during times when we are deeply tender and needing that extra layer of protection and holding- postpartum, motherhood, grief, young children etc. Yarrow is ultimate ally for mothers. As mothers our senses are so heightened and we are very much wide open especially in the younger years, Yarrow is such a beautiful supportive ally for all the mamas. Yarrow also helps us activate our inner warrior, mama bear, true strength energy, which is fierce and gentle at the same time. She helps hold us safely while also fully feeling alive yet tenderly held- however again being able to access our own inner warrior spirits and hearts.
RECIPES:
Yarrow Bug spray, Wound healer & Toner.
This is a wonderful spray for wound healing, itchy skin after bug bites etc, amazing for hemerroids & post partum healing. You can also choose to add additional herbs to this as well as a summer spray for bugs and to soothe the skin! This is amazing as a toner for inflamed skin, or if you are wanting to tonify and heal the skin. We added lavender and rosemary this year as well.
Ingredients/Tools:
- Fresh or dried yarrow blooms & leaves
- Wide mouth mason Jar - whatever size you prefer ! We usually make 500ml.
- Witch hazel (most will already have alcohol in it but you can get alcohol free too)
- Alcohol as option if your witch hazel is alcohol free.
Method:
1) If you are using fresh yarrow, prepare to harvest your yarrow, picking enough to fill a jar full. We will use the blooms and leaves.
2) If you are using dried yarrow filling the jar about half full.
3) Adding your herbs to the jar - if you are using alcohol I add about an oz and shake well. You can choose without completely as well, however the alcohol will act not only as a natural preservative it will also extract more of the medicinal qualities of the plant ! The alcohol percentage will be so low that this will not dry your skin out.
4) Topping with witch hazel, placing a non metallic lid on, shaking well and allowing to sit for a few hours. Topping with witch hazel again if needed until herbs are fully covered.
5) Labelling and placing in a dark and warm spot for about 2 weeks. You can infuse much longer too but it should be ready in two weeks.
6) Straining well with cheesecloth, you can usually find little glass spray bottles at your local health food store. Using a funnel to pour your herbal with hazel into your bottles. Store in a cool dark place. These should last a long time! Enjoy!!
Yarrow tincture or Elixir:
This is wonderful to have on hand in your home Apothecary and you can make as much or as little as you like !
Ingredients:
- Fresh Yarrow leaves and blooms
- Alcohol such as grape alcohol, sugarcane, or vodka. Clear tasteless alcohol. Or Brandy for an elixir.
- Unpasteurized Honey if making an elixir
- Mason jar size of choice.
Method:
1) Gathering your yarrow, taking some time to be with the plant to ask her for messages, thanking her and allowing her to show you how she can support you.
2) Creating your medicine making space, clearing your counter, setting everything up and lighting a candle.
3) Saying a little prayer and intention for your medicine.
4) Removing your leaves and blossoms from the yarrow. Chopping your plant matter into smaller pieces as well before filling your jar about 3/4 full.
5) If you are making a tincture filling the jar with alcohol of choice, using parchment paper in between the lid and jar. Shaking well. I like to speak extra blessings and prayers while I do this. Labelling and dating your jar and allowing to sit in a cool spot for 4-6 weeks before straining. I will take my tinctures out every few days to shake whenever I remember.
6) If you are making and elixir which I especially love for children and honey is wonderful for delivering the medicine more deeply into the tissues. Pouring honey overtop of your herbs about 1/4 full, and filling the rest with brandy, placing parchment paper in between lid and jar and shaking well. Label and date and allow to steep in a dark place for 4-6 weeks. Again I like to shake the bottle every few days whenever I remember!
7) Time to strain after 4-6 weeks. With yarrow I like to stay on top of this because the taste will become very strong if you allow it to steep for really long. Straining with cheesecloth and pouring into smaller dropper amber glass bottles with a funnel. Labeling and storing in a cool dark place. This medicine will stay good for a long time.
We love using yarrow in oils as well - it is wonderful for the healing of the skin, and as lymphatic and pain support ! It is great for oil cleansing too.
We always dry plenty of yarrow to have in tea and to add to healing baths.
Thank you for reading!
