Kingdom Plantae Division Magnoliophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Asterales Family Asteraceae Genus Achillea Species A. millefolium Binomial name Achillea millefolium

The other common names for this herb yarrow are Milfoil, Old Man's Pepper, Soldier's Woundwort, Knight's Milfoil,Herbe Militaris,Thousand Weed, Nose Bleed, Carpenter's Weed,Bloodwort,Staunchweed,Sanguinary,Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything,Yarroway,Gandana,I-chi-kao,Millefoil,Noble Yarrow,Nosebleed,Stanchgrass,Thousand-leaf and thousand-seal.

The genus name, Achillea derives from Greek mythology. Achilles, hero of Homer's "Iliad," had been a student of Chiron, the centaur renowned for his knowledge of medicinal herbs. Yarrow plants were highly regarded at the time for their medicinal properties. Yarrow plants were widely used prior to modern times to staunch blood. The species name, mille folium (thus the common name, "milfoil") means thousand-leafed and derives from yarrow plants' deeply toothed, fern-like foliage. The English name Yarrow comes from the Saxon and Dutch words 'Gearwe' and 'Yerw' respectively. Yarrow was once known as "nosebleed", its feathery leaves making an ideal astringent swab to encourage clotting. It is a well known and versatile herb that is still effective for its historical use of staunching bleeding and disinfecting wounds, but its uses extend far beyond that. It was called by the Ancients, the Herba Militaris, and the military herb.

A native perennial upright, aromatic herb, with tough, erect, furrowed woody stems up to 50cm high, growing from a creeping rhizome. It is unbranched, except near the apex, where the flower heads occur. The central stem is light green, furrowed, and more or less covered with whiteCorymb of Flower heads cobwebby hairs. However, some plants may have glabrous stems. The finely-divided alternate leaves are 5-12cm long, bi- and tri-pinnate, accounting for its Latin name meaning 'thousand-leaf'. The composite flowers are arranged in dense flat-topped terminal corymbs, white to pink, each flower being about 4-6mm in diameter and with a characteristic odour.The yellow discs in the flower heads gradually turn brown. It flowers from June to September, the flowers, white or pale lilac, being like minute daisies, in flattened, terminal, loose heads, or cymes. The whole plant is more or less hairy, with white, silky appressed hairs. The floral bracts are pale green and lanceolate-oblong; they often have cobwebby hairs. All parts of this plant exude a distinctive aroma that is somewhat soapy and astringent. It is common in pastures, grassy banks, hedgerows and waste places in dry sunny positions throughout most of Europe, but is rare in the Mediterranean. Plants with only white flowers grow on calcium-rich soils, but pink-flowered yarrow may grow on acid soils. Plants grown on acid soils contain greater quantities of the active constituent azulene.

Yarrow was introduced into the United States from Europe as an ornamental and medicinal plant. However, a Western form of this species that is smaller in size and woollier in appearance may be native to North America. Thus it is widely distributed in Europe, Asia and North America.

The plant can be found flourishing in waste lands, countryside, meadows, pastures, edges of the railway tracks, along the highways and in many other places where it is most unlikely to be plucked primarily owing to the chemical spraying done in those areas to keep the weeds out.

Yarrow is propagated through its roots. Grow yarrow plants in full sun and in well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established.pH preference is acidic to slightly alkaline. Common yarrow is a drought tolerant species of which there are several different ornamental cultivars. Seeds require light for germination, so optimal germination occurs when planted no deeper than ¼ inch. Seeds also require a germination temperature of 18-24 °C (65-75 °F). Common yarrow responds best to soil that is poorly developed and well drained. The plant has a relatively short life, but may be prolonged by dividing the plant every other year, and planting 12 to 18 inches apart. Common yarrow is a weedy species and can become invasive. It may suffer from mildew or root rot if not planted in well-drained soil. The aerial parts of the plant are plucked during summer when it is in blossom.

The white pale liliac flowers of the yarrow are in bloom between the months of June to September.

The common pests seen are the aphids but the plant usually shows no effects from these pests.Powdery Mildew, Root and stem rot and rust are the diseases attacking the yarrow plant.

Dried aerial parts and the essential oil of the plant are used for its medicinal and commercial applications.

• An ointment of the leaves cures wounds and is good for inflammations and applied to ulcers and fistulas.


• A decoction of it boiled with white wine is good to stop the running of the reins in men and whites in women.


• It also contains a substance which hastens the clotting time of the blood following injury.


• It regulates menstruation, reduces blood pressure and heals bleeding piles.


• Yarrow is one of the best-known herbal remedies for fevers, common cold, influenza and helps the body expels toxins.


• It opens the pores freely and purifies the blood, and is recommended in the early stages of children's colds, and in measles and other eruptive diseases.


• A decoction of the whole plant is employed for bleeding piles, and is good for kidney disorders.


• It has the reputation also of being a preventative of baldness, if the head be washed with it.


• When taken internally, yarrow invigorates appetite, increases digestion as well as absorption of nutrients by the body.


• The astringent feature of yarrow makes it a useful medication in stopping diarrhea and dysentery as well as impedes hemorrhage from the intestinal coatings.


• It helps in healing infections and swollen organs like in the case of gastritis and enteritis.


• Yarrow helps in relieving cramps arising out of tensions, wind, colic or nervous dyspepsia.


• The herb is also useful in lowering blood pressure.


• The herb is useful in soothing painful joints and also clears the skin.


• The herb contains sterols, which have actions similar to hormones and aids in controlling the menstrual cycle and as well as heals uterus blockages.


• Yarrow is also useful as an herbal cleanser for skin wrinkles.

• It is used as an ingredient in salads. Yarrow has also been used as a food, and was very popular as a vegetable in the 17th century. The younger leaves are said to be a pleasant leaf vegetable when cooked as spinach, or in a soup.


• In the middle Ages, Yarrow was part of an herbal mixture known as gruit used in the flavouring of beer prior to the use of hops.

Yarrow stalks are still used by the Chinese for casting I Ching predictions.

It was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, in earlier days, being sometimes known as Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, and was used for divination in spells. It is believed that an ounce of Yarrow sewed up in flannel and placed under the pillow before going to bed, having repeated the following words, brought a vision of the future husband or wife. The yarrow stalk is famous for its use in the revered Chinese divination system called I Ching or Book of Changes. In Europe, ancient astrologers assigned the entire plant to the war-god Mars and its golden flowers thereby gained a reputation for imparting to the bearer Exceptional Bravery and protection from wounds and curses. People versed in these matters tell us that if you write your fears on a piece of paper, cross the fears with your name written 9 times, and carry the paper in a yellow conjure bag with yarrow flowers, you will overcome your fears through courage, personal mastery, and luck.

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