Yarrow, common (common, medicinal), raw

Common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) is a traditional medicinal plant from the daisy family (Asteraceae). When collecting the wild plant, caution is advised because of poisonous lookalikes from the umbelliferous family (Apiaceae).

Use in the kitchen:

Can you eat yarrow raw? Thanks to its spicy taste, the food plant can be used in many ways in the kitchen. Raw yarrow (or ground yarrow ) is a good ingredient for herb salt, pasta dough, herb butter, spreads or spiced vinegar. The tender leaves, flowers and shoots taste great finely chopped in raw salads, potato salad, pasta salad, vegetable dishes and soups. The flowers can be used to flavor drinks or to make syrup.

Vegan recipe for wild herb smoothie with yarrow:

For the raw vegan wild herb smoothie you need 12 g nettles , 4 g ground elder , 2 g chickweed , 3 g dandelion leaves , 2 g ribwort plantain , 3 g shimeji , 2 g blackberries and 8 g yarrow. Mix the ingredients in a blender with a little water. For a thick, cold soup, add just a little water, for a drinkable smoothie, add a little more. Yarrow flowers make a lovely decoration.

Note: This smoothie will work even if you don't have all of the wild herbs mentioned on hand.

Recipe for fresh yarrow tea:

Yarrow tea can be prepared with dried or fresh herbs. Pour 2 g of finely chopped yarrow herb with 150 ml of boiling water and let the tea steep, covered, for about 10-15 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups of this medicinal herbal tea per day (as a treatment over a maximum period of four weeks). ^1,2

Purchasing - where to buy?

Yarrow herb and yarrow flowers are available in conventional or controlled organic quality as a single drug in pharmacies, drugstores, herbal and tea shops, health food stores, organic shops or online. The medicinal plant can be purchased as bulk goods, instant tea or in filter bags.

However, yarrow is often found as a component of special tea blends, e.g. in gastrointestinal tea, women's tea or liver and gall tea. Supermarkets such as Rewe , Edeka , Spar , Coop and Migros or the organic supermarket chains Alnatura and Denns sell tea blends with yarrow. We have not yet found any tea blends with yarrow at Aldi , Lidl , Denner , Volg or Hofer .

Today, there are numerous finished medicinal products as well as aqueous or alcoholic extracts from yarrow. Common yarrow products, usually available online or in specialist shops, are liqueur, schnapps, essential oil, tincture, mother tincture, powder as a mouth and throat therapeutic, fresh plant juices, tonics, film-coated tablets, dragees or ointments.

The quality of yarrow herb is defined in the European Pharmacopoeia : It requires a minimum content of essential oil (0.2%) and the medicinally effective proazulenes, calculated as chamazulene. ^2,3

Found in the wild - Season:

Where does yarrow grow? This wild food plant is native to the subtropical and temperate zones of Eurasia. Some yarrow species are found in North Africa and America. They can be found throughout Europe up to the Arctic Circle and in the Alps. ⁴

Typical locations are dry roadsides, meadows, embankments, gravel heaps, (sheep) pastures, semi-dry grasslands, field and roadside edges. Common yarrow is a pioneer plant and root creeper and is considered a soil stabilizer and nutrient indicator for nitrogen-rich soils. ⁵

There are two subspecies of the true common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium s. str.). In subalpine and alpine regions, you are more likely to find the Sudeten yarrow ( Achillea millefolium subsp. sudetica ) with its purple flowers - and at lower altitudes (up to a maximum of subalpine altitudes) you will find the common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium ) with its white flowers. ⁵

The upright stems reach a height of 15-70 cm and are only branched in the upper part. The pinnate leaves are arranged alternately and are elongated and narrow at 5-15 cm. The flower heads are 6-8 mm wide and are popular with many insects because of the short corolla tubes. ⁶

When does yarrow bloom? The main flowering period of yarrow is from June to September (or October) and therefore in mid to late summer. ⁷

Season : From March to April you can harvest the tender, fresh basal leaves. From May to June or even September you can pick all the herbaceous parts, the soft leaves below the inflorescence and the flowers. ⁷

Storage:

After drying, yarrow herbs and flowers should be stored away from light and moisture. Suitable containers are brown glass jars or metal containers, but plastic containers are unsuitable. ³ Plastic containers usually have their own smell and can affect the aroma of the herbs - especially if they are rich in essential oils. ⁸

Ingredients - nutritional value - calories:

Yarrow contains 0.2% to over 1% essential oils. In some cultivated varieties, the content is up to 5.8%. The composition of the essential oil varies greatly. On average, 10-20% (max. 40%) is chamazulene, which is produced by steam distillation from proazulenes (including achillicin). The azulene content in high-quality drugs is 25% of the essential oil. Azulene-free yarrow does not provide an official medicinal drug. ^3.9

So far, around 100 components have been identified in yarrow. In addition to essential oils, it contains bitter-tasting sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids (0.07-1.8%), phenolcarboxylic acids, hydroxcoumarins, chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acids (0.5-1.3%), alkamides, polyacetylenes (= polyethines), betaines (approx. 0.05%) and caffeoylquinic acids. ^2,3,9

Health aspects - effects:

Azulene, a component of yarrow essential oil, is the medicinal ingredient responsible for the anti-inflammatory (antiphlogistic) and antispasmodic (spasmolytic) properties of yarrow, but also of chamomile. In high-quality yarrow, the azulene content can be higher than in chamomile. In contrast to chamomile, yarrow also contains bitter substances that promote bile flow (choleretic) and stimulate the appetite. ¹⁰

Is yarrow good for the liver? Yarrow has a liver-protecting (antihepatotoxic) effect, lowers blood pressure and is antimicrobial against bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella enterica , Aspergillus niger (black watering can mold) and Candida albicans . The above-mentioned effects have been demonstrated in studies with extracts and ingredients of yarrow. ³

Yarrow is also effective against bacteria that cause tooth decay and plaque. ¹¹

Dangers - Intolerances - Side effects:

There are currently no known cases of overdose with yarrow. The rare side effects of the basic remedy include contact allergies and hypersensitivity reactions of the skin. These manifest themselves as itchy and inflammatory skin changes with blisters (meadow or yarrow dermatitis). ¹² Sensitive people can drip some of the plant juice onto their skin before using yarrow to see if irritation occurs.

Contraindications for the internal or external use of yarrow are hypersensitivity - on the one hand to the active ingredient, on the other hand to other plants from the daisy family (Asteraceae). ¹² Gallstones are another contraindication for treatment with yarrow. ¹⁰ Interactions with other medicines are not known. ¹²

There is currently no data on the safety of yarrow use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, or in children under 12 years of age. ¹²

Sensitive people may become photosensitized.15 In such cases ^, direct exposure to sunlight should be avoided or an effective UVA and UVB sunscreen should be used.

Use as a medicinal plant:

The Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products ( HMPC ) classified yarrow as a traditional medicine ("traditional use"). Yarrow can be used internally for temporary loss of appetite, for the symptomatic treatment of mild, cramp-like complaints in the gastrointestinal tract (flatulence), for mild cramp-like menstrual problems and externally for the treatment of small, superficial wounds. The use for the above-mentioned indications is based on many years of experience. ^3,12

In the case of loss of appetite and gastrointestinal complaints, adolescents, adults and seniors can take the following preparations (internally): three to four times a day between meals, a herbal tea (2-4 g of herbal substance per 250 ml of water) or a fresh plant juice (5-10 ml, two to ten times a day) or a liquid extract (2-4 ml three times a day) or a tincture (ethanol, 45%, 2-4 ml three times a day) or a weaker tincture (31.5%, 4.3 ml four times a day). In the case of loss of appetite, take the preparation 30 minutes before meals. If the symptoms persist for more than two weeks, you should consult a specialist. ¹²

For mild cramp-like menstrual pain, you can drink yarrow tea (1-2 g of herbal substance per 250 ml of water) two to three times a day. For external skin application, boil a yarrow decoction (3.5 g of herbal substance per 250 ml of water) and use it to impregnate a bandage and apply it to the affected area two to three times a day. If the symptoms do not subside after a week, you should consult a specialist. The HMPC recommends that you always seek medical advice if you notice any signs of a skin infection. ¹²

The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy ( ESCOP ) recommends external use in the form of sitz baths for painful cramps in the small pelvis of women (pelvipathia vegetativa). According to ESCOP , yarrow can also be used externally for superficial wounds, insect bites and to treat mild skin and mucous membrane inflammations. ^2,3,13

Folk medicine - natural medicine:

In China, yarrow has been used as a medicinal plant for 4,000 years. ⁷ The Germanic tribes and the Native Americans used the plant for the yarrow oracle. In the Iliad, which dates from the 8th or 7th century BC, yarrow is mentioned in connection with wound healing and stopping bleeding. ⁵

Yarrow is considered a special medicinal herb for women and is used for typical women's ailments such as menstrual cramps, hemorrhoids, liver problems, vaginal inflammation (vulvitis, colpitis), excessive sweating and congestion in the venous system. ^3,9,10 A tea mixture for menstrual cramps can consist of yarrow, chamomile, fennel and marjoram . To stimulate the liver and gall bladder, you can use a mixture of yarrow, dandelion leaves and roots, chicory roots, fumitory and agrimony. ¹⁰

Other indications for internal use in traditional medicine include feverish infections, catarrh, digestive disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, prevention of thrombosis after stroke and heart attack, ¹⁴ stomach and intestinal problems, kidney diseases, circulatory disorders of the heart, nerve pain, headaches and toothache as well as chronic liver diseases. ⁷

Externally, common yarrow is used in folk medicine for wounds, nosebleeds, ulcers, eye inflammations, ¹⁴ joint inflammations, impure skin and to stop bleeding. ⁷

Occurrence - Origin:

The common yarrow originally came from Eurasia, North and Central America. It is a neophyte in South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Today it is widespread on all habitable continents. It is rare in Mediterranean regions. ⁵

Growing in the garden or as a potted plant:

Yarrow is easy to grow and is suitable for dry areas in the wild plant garden. The plant is very proliferating, which is why growing it in pots is recommended. ¹⁴

The ideal location is full sun and well-drained. In dry heat, the plants are susceptible to mildew. The flowers attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies, ladybirds and parasitic wasps, which decimate aphids and other pests. ¹⁴

Cultivation - Harvest:

Yarrow for trade comes from wild stocks and cultures. The main supplier countries are the southeastern and eastern European countries, partly also Germany. ³

Danger of confusion:

Is yarrow poisonous? Yarrow itself is not poisonous, but can easily be confused with the poisonous spotted hemlock ( Conium maculatum ). Especially as a young plant, spotted hemlock is similar in height to yarrow, but when fully grown it reaches a much taller height of up to two meters. The inflorescences look very similar, but if you look closely you can see that spotted hemlock is an umbel flower (all flower-bearing axils are attached together at the tip of the stem). The inflorescence of yarrow is a composite flower that is not recognizable at first glance (like dandelions, for example), which is why yarrow flowers are also called false umbels. The stem of spotted hemlock is smooth, usually reddish-spotted or tinged with red. Another distinguishing feature is the pungent smell of the highly poisonous plant. Even contact between the mucous membranes in the mouth and the spotted hemlock causes a burning sensation in the mouth and increased salivation, as well as difficulty swallowing and paralysis of the tongue. Consumption can lead to nerve paralysis and respiratory arrest within a short period of time. ⁶

Giant hogweed ( Heracleum mantegazzianum ) is another, very poisonous lookalike of yarrow. Although the plant is significantly larger than yarrow, the stems are thicker and have red spots, the white umbel flowers can cause uncertainty - especially in children. Even skin contact with hogweed or giant hogweed causes burns that last for weeks and can become worse when exposed to sunlight. ⁶

The inflorescence of ground elder ( Aegopodium podagraria , an umbelliferous plant) is also similar to that of yarrow; however, like yarrow, ground elder is a non-toxic wild plant and tastes delicious raw.

Animal protection - species protection - animal welfare:

Due to the short corolla tubes, the flowers of the yarrow are popular with many insect groups. The flowering period is from June to September (summer and early autumn forage). Forage is the general term for the food that the bees bring in, i.e. nectar, pollen and honeydew. The nectar value of the yarrow is medium and the pollen value low (nectar value and pollen value scale: none, low, medium, high, very high). ¹⁵

General information:

The common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) is a plant species from the daisy family (Asteraceae) and the eponymous species for the species aggregate Achillea millefolium agg. ⁵ In the genus of yarrows ( Achillea ) there are about 200 species. ¹⁶

Alternative names:

There are numerous alternative names for this medicinal plant, which has been used for thousands of years. Important names in the German-speaking world are Achilles herb, blood-stopping herb, goose tongues, groats flower, tile, forceps flower, field sheaf herb, stomachache herb, sheep's rib herb, sheaf herb and ground healing. Wikipedia lists more than 120 other names that are used in the region. ⁵

The genus name Achillea goes back to the Greek hero Achilles, who is said to have used yarrow to heal wounds. The species name millefolium (= thousand leaf) alludes to the finely feathered leaves. ⁵ The German name is probably related to the fact that sheep like to eat the herb. ⁴

In English, the plant is called yarrow or (common) yarrow. Other alternative names include bloodwort, woundwort, yarroway, carpenter's weed or devil's plaything.

Literature - Sources: