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How I use herbs - yarrow

I haven't found the best spot for yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in my garden yet, but when it does grow well, it has a number of uses.

How to grow yarrow
According to this link, yarrow will tolerate a sunny position and doesn't like wet soil.  I currently have yarrow in a pot with my other herbs and occasionally it flowers, but more often it looks like its struggling to survive, especially if the pot dries out.  I really need to find a more permanent position for it, maybe if it has deeper roots it will be more resilient.  Yarrow can be propagated by division or from seed.  When it does grow well it can be a vigorous ground cover.

eight acres: how I use herbs - yarrow



How to use yarrow
  • In the garden, yarrow's flowers attract beneficial insects and the plant is used as a compost activator, and in biodynamic preparations
  • The plant contains volatile oils (linalool, camphor, sabinene, azulene), flavonoids, bitter alkaloid (achilleine), and tannins
  • It has medicinal uses as a diaphoretic (inducing sweat), and is therefore, good for fevers, cold and flue
  • It also stimulates digestion, lowers blood pressure, is good for circulation and can regulate the menstrual cycle
  • And applied topically it aids in healing wounds, having an anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effect
For topical application I like to add it to a salve by infusing olive oil with yarrow leaves (and usually other skin herbs such as chickweed, calendula, borage and comfrey).  I also add dried leaves to a herbal mixture which I drink daily as an infusion.


eight acres: how I use herbs - yarrow


Do you grow yarrow?  (What am I doing wrong?) And what do you use it for?


Other posts about herbs in my garden:
How I use herbs - Mint, Peppermint and Spearmint

How I use herbs - Aloe Vera

How I use herbs - Basil

How I use herbs - Ginger, galangal and turmeric

How I use herbs - Marigold, calendula and winter taragon

How I use herbs - Soapwort

How I use herbs - Comfrey

How I use herbs - Nasturtium

How I use herbs - Parsley

How I use herbs - Borage

How I use herbs - Herb Robert

How I use herbs - Purslane

How I use herbs - Chickweed

How I use herbs - Neem oil

How I use herbs - Rue, tansy and wormwood

How I use herbs - Brahmi


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