Yarrow
(Acilia millifolium):

The Greek hero Achilles is believed to have used yarrow to cure battle injuries in the Trojan War - hence its botanical name and its ancient use as a wound herb.

Yarrow is a very useful herb. It promotes sweating and stops bleeding. Yarrow is a urinary antiseptic, blood vessel relaxant as well as an anti-inflammatory.

Yarrow infusions are used for many things. It is taken for colds, poor circulation in the elderly as well as used for compresses for varicose veins. The fresh leaves of yarrow are used to stop a nose bleed. To do so, insert one fresh leaf of the herb yarrow into the bleeding nostril. The yarrow poultice is used to stop bleeding wounds.

In terms of cultivating yarrow, it prefers hot, dry conditions with well-drained soil. Plant seeds in the spring.

To harvest yarrow, gather the stems during the summer. Hang them in small bundles to dry, then crumble the leaves, discarding any thick stems. To store, hang them in a cool, dry place away from any sunlight.

CAUTION:

In rare cases, yarrow can cause an allergic skin rash.

DO NOT TAKE IN PREGNANCY

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