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       Yarrow is a hardy perennial of the aster family, enjoying fully sun or partial shade, it grows abundantly all over America and Europe, yarrow can be found growing wild in the field, and along the road it is also grown in many flower gardens, with a verity of colors, while the white yarrow is what is most commonly used for medicinal purposes.; yarrow is about 10 to 20 inches in height, it has creeping roots, and will spread by root propagation, and seed., it can tolerate poor and dry soil; The leafs are feathery, with many small spines, the young leafs are soft to the touch, the older leafs are more dense.

The flowers and the leafs of the Yarrow plant has many uses, notably its use to heal wounds, and stop hemorrhaging internally and externally. With its anti-inflammatory effects making a topical ointment, is used for mild abrasions, bruises, swellings, strains, muscle aches and arthritis.

For women it will help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and
aids in menstrual regularity.

It has been shown to help with cold and flu symptoms, as well as relieve a fever, by inducing a cool sweat. Yarrow is helpful in enhancing blood circulation in the veins, It helps dilate the peripheral blood vessels and in doing so, helps lower blood pressure, also strengthening capillaries (small blood vessels), and tone varicose veins.

Methods of use

• Infusions/Tea
• Tinctures
• Capsules
• poultice
• oil/cream/salve

There are many different ways use the plant.

Internally: A tea can be made from the flowers and leafs, capsules and tinctures can also be made.

Topically: when to stop bleeding all someone must do is crush with your hands or crew some yarrow leafs and place the yarrow wad on the bleeding, a tea can be made dipping your bandage and holding it on to the affected area, I have done this after a tooth extraction to stop the bleeding, “The same idea as using black tea bag” because it is high in tannins; you can also dry leafs and flowers, make them into a fine powder, then dust the wound.

Other uses:

Using yarrow as a companion plant, will drive away many common garden insects, it is also said to help nearby plants to resist disease. When planting near other herbs yarrow will increase the volatile oil content in those herbs, deepening their fragrance and flavor. The leaf will speed up the decomposition of your compost, by adding one leaf to each wheel barrow load of compost.

Family

Asteraceae Daisies and sunflowers are among the members of the family.

Actions

• Anti-inflammatory,
• Anti-pyretic,
• Anti-septic,
• Diuretic,
• Diaphoretic,
• Astringent,
• Expectorant,
• Vulnerary,
• Hypotensive
• Diuretic
• Peripheral vasodilator

Constituents

• Alkaloids (achilleine)
• Coumarins
• Flavonoids
• Salicylic acid
• Sesquiterpene lactones
• Polyacetylenes
• Volatile oil with variable content (linalool, camphor, sabinene, chamazulene)
• Triterpenes
• Tannins

Common Names

Yarrow,
soldier’s wound wort,
staunch wort,
nosebleed plant,

Usual dosage

Dried herb 2–4 g as an infusion three times daily. or 1-3 tsp for every cup of water.
Liquid extract
daily.
Tincture 2–4 mL 10-40 drops (1 : 5 in 45% alcohol) three times daily.

Herblore

Yarrow gets is generic name Achillea from the legend of the Greek hero Achilles used yarrow to heal the wounds of his soldiers during the Trojan War. The specific name millefolium drives from yarrow’s feathery leaves, so well divided the plant appears to be thousand leafs. Yarrow was carried and used often during wars, up to the time of the Civil War to stop bleeding. 

Blends well with

Elderflowers and Peppermint

Sources:
Readers Digest: Home handbooks Herbs
Herbal Remedies ISBN 978-0-7566-28-66-6
Herbal Medicines-Third edition -Joanne Barnes, Linda A Anderson and J David Phillipson ISBN 978 0 85369 623 0

The Herb Bible By Peter McHoy, Pamela Westland
http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_yarrow.htm
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/y/yarrow02.html
http://wildfoodsandmedicines.com/yarrow/