Yarrow - Achillea millefolia 

by Jo Francks, MH

Yarrow has been chosen as the herb of the year for 2024 by the International Herb Association. I think Dr. Christopher would say, “It’s about time!” His most memorable way of using yarrow was as a diaphoretic. When used as a hot tea, it acts as a diaphoretic and will cause perspiration. He would have his patients soak in a hot tub of water and drink hot yarrow tea which caused profuse perspiration. This was a process used in his famous Cold Sheet Treatment which was used for acute illnesses such as pneumonia, colds, flus, and fevers. The point of the therapy was to raise the body temperature which in turn incubates the immune cells so they rapidly increase and go out and destroy invaders like bacteria and viruses. The bath is followed by wrapping the patient in a cold wet sheet and putting them to bed to continue sweating for a while. (For more information about this procedure see Dr. Christopher's booklet, The Cold Sheet Treatment.)

 

Another thing Dr. Christopher taught about yarrow was to bring the hair back to its original color. He promised that by rinsing the hair with yarrow tea, it would bring the hair back to its natural color within a year. I have seen this work for many people, to their great surprise. 

 

Yarrow is used as a styptic which means it stops bleeding when applied topically. It also helps with pain and to help wounds heal. Yarrow can be packed into a wound for complete healing. An ointment of yarrow can also be used for any kind of skin issue. It is very good to heal old wounds. 

 

The key to using most herbs is to use them at the first sign of an illness. If used abundantly at the first sign of a cold, yarrow will break it up within 24 hours. Yarrow also helps with circulation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, kidney, liver and glandular issues.

 

Some interesting facts about Yarrow:

 

Old names for yarrow are Soldier’s Woundwort and Knight’s Milfoil for its ability to heal wounds. The word millefolium is derived from the many segments of its foliage and is sometimes called Milfoil or Thousand Weed. Nosebleed is another name for yarrow. The leaf was rolled up and applied to the nostrils which would cause bleeding and afford relief to headaches. Interestingly, it was also used to stop a nosebleed.

 

This is the year to celebrate the use of yarrow and all of its wonderful qualities. It is easy to grow. The whole plant is used. Harvest just as the flowers appear. The flowers are a little more potent than the leaves, but I find the whole plant works great. 

 

Jo Francks is a Master Herbalist working at the School of Natural Healing.