Say Yes To Yarrow!
Yarrow is an edible and medicinal plant that is great to have in the garden, but it doesn’t seem to get the attention it deserves. The plant is also named Achillea. As legend has it, this wonderful flower was the “magic potion” of Achilles used in the battle of Troy to stop soldier’s wounds from bleeding. As far back as tales of war, Yarrow has been used on the battlefield to heal wounds and was commonly referred to as woundwort. It’s really an amazing plant and has so many benefits.
First, let’s look at why it’s great to have in the garden. Yarrow’s strong scent and flavor make it a great companion plant to deter pests. In addition to deterring the unwanted, it also makes a great companion plant because it attracts beneficial insects to such as brown and green lacewings, damsel bugs, hoverflies, lady bugs, predatory wasps, and butterflies.
Aphids, cucumber beetles, and flea beetles, are also attracted to yarrow, so it serves as a “trap plant”. While it lures the bad bugs, the beneficial insects that are also attracted to Yarrow, get to feast on them. Plus, if the bad bugs are on your yarrow, they’re not on your squash and cukes! Win-Win!
Speaking of insects, did you know that you can make an all natural insect repellent with Yarrow? Grab a mason jar and enough yarrow leaves and flowers to fill it to the top. They should fit snugly without being mashed in there, so you’ll want to chop them up first. That way you’re not stuffing them all Willy Nilly. Once the jar is filled with chopped leaves and flowers, pour in plain 80 proof vodka right up to the top of the jar and put a lid on it. Keep it in a dark place and give it a little shake-shake each day for one week, then once or twice a week for the next 5-7 weeks. When done, strain and pour some into a spray bottle, then add 100% pure tested grade Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil. Boom! Just like that, you’ve got an easy peasy natural insect repellent. PS: Friends don’t let friends use essential oils from Bed Bath and Beyond or TJ Maxx. Maybe I’ll do a blog on that sometime, but if you have questions about how and where to purchase pure oils without fillers, pesticides, synthetics, etc. Gimme a holla! I’ll hook you up.
The leaves of a yarrow can be used for tea, a spice for cooking, and the young leaves can be used in salads. Medicinally, there are so many benefits of yarrow. It is a styptic and can stop bleeding. It helps reduce fever, promotes circulation, reduces inflammation, relieves pain, sore throat, and stomach cramps and has been used as a digestive aid. Yarrow is also used to treat minor skin ailments, sunburn, bug bites, and minor rashes. If you’re going to use Yarrow for medicinal purposes, I recommend using the plain ol’ white version, which is also the same as wild yarrow. While there are hybrids in all colors, they aren’t as commonly used for their therapeutic properties.
To make a tea, you can use Yarrow fresh or dried. A tablespoon of fresh leaves steeped for 5 minutes, or a teaspoon of dried leaves steeped for 10 minutes. It is bitter though, so you might want to add another herb to mask the taste. Peppermint is always a good one, plus if you’re using it for digestion, peppermint helps with that as well. You can also make a tincture using the same method as the insect repellent without the addition of the essential oils.
When using yarrow for cuts, wounds, stings, bites, skin irritations, etc. I make a poultice of fresh yarrow because it goes to work pretty quickly. A poultice can be made a couple different ways. When I’m outside and need it fast, I put some leaves in my mouth chew them a little and put the “wad” of mashed leaves and spit right on the cut or bite. I know, kind of gross, right? But hey, I’ve stopped many a cut from bleeding profusely this way. In fact, when I first started dating my husband, we were working in the garden and he cut himself pretty good. I quickly grabbed some Yarrow, stuffed it in my mouth, chewed it and slapped that mushy green spit laden slime blob onto his cut. He was pretty freaked out, but I was like, “trust me... I got you”. A few minutes later... guess what? All better. Whoot Whoot! If this method totally freaks you out, you can just mash it up with a mortar and pestle like a civilized person and add a drop or two of warm water to hold it all together.
Another way to use Yarrow is to make an infused oil or salve. There’s a few ways to infuse oil. If using the mason jar 6-8 week method, it is best to use dried yarrow, a shelf stable oil, and add a preservative like vitamin E. Otherwise it can mold quickly.
A quick way to make an infused oil is to chop up the yarrow leaves and flowers, cover with olive, or an oil of your choosing and heat them slowly in a crock-pot, or double boiler. The oil level should be 1-2 inches above the plant matter. Keep the heat low, between 100° and 140° F for 1 to 5 hours. Allow to cool and strain using cheesecloth. Store in sterilized glass bottles in a cool, dark, and dry place. Typically your oil will be stable for 3-6 months. If you add Vitamin E, it can prolong shelf life of topical oils. I find it’s always better to make smaller batches, that way you don’t have any going to waste. If you want to make the oil into a salve, while it’s still warm add some beeswax.
There are some considerations, as with all herbal remedies, that I want to mention. When using Yarrow on your skin, it’s always best to test a spot first. While it’s generally considered safe, if you have a sensitivity to plants in the aster family, it’s best to not use Yarrow. As always, use caution if you’re pregnant, nursing, or taking medications, and consult a healthcare provider before using herbal remedies that you’re not familiar with. Lastly, Yarrow is thought to be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses so do not use on your furry babies.
There you have it. With all these amazing benefits, are you ready to say yes to yarrow? As you can see, Yarrow isn’t just another pretty flower. It’s a powerhouse! Plant yarrow as a companion plant, for its medicinal qualities, or just for its beauty. Either way, you can’t go wrong!
Until next time…
Dream Big, Plant Love, and Grow Where You’re Planted
XOXO – Laurie