medicine from ditches: yarrow

or, an ode to yarrow

Achillea millefolium

How do I begin to describe the myriad uses of this modest, lovely flower? Or my feelings about its wildness? It doesn’t grow in large colonies (not in my area, anyway), nor try to muscle its way above the vetches and clovers by the roadside; if you weren’t looking for it, you might miss it.

Yarrow has a rich and diverse folkloric history, from I-Ching divinations to witch hunts to the battle of Troy. It has a long and continual history of use which makes it especially reliable as a herbal medicine. It also has a long history as a fodder plant, companion plant, compost plant and formerly enjoyed popularity as a vegetable.

The flower heads are dried and can be used in a range of preparations. Typically, I use them in a tea that I boil, rather than let steep (the difference between a decoction and an infusion). The fresh leaves and flowers may be used as a poultice to stop bleeding and promote healing. Yarrow is typically used as a diaphoretic, especially for colds, flus and fevers. It increases circulation, aids digestion, regulates the function of the liver and is considered a general tonic and stimulant. It has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and pain relief indications, among many others. Lots more info may be found here (pdf).

Yarrow makes a perfect companion plant in the garden, having almost as many uses here as in medicine. It is often referred to as a nurse plant for its beneficial influence on neighboring plants, generally stimulating growth as well as the essential oil production in herbs grown near it. It is used extensively as a compost activator much like stinging nettle and in biodynamic preparations. Yarrow has deep taproots which makes it drought tolerant, good for erosion control and a rich source of minerals for livestock and soil. As a companion plant yarrow also attracts beneficial insects such as ladybugs and predatory wasps.

I am continually awestruck by how much abundance is right beneath our feet, or quietly existing within tall grass, or in marshy places. Perhaps what amazes me most about wild plants like yarrow is that they don’t require my cultivation. They don’t require my presence at all. I’ve been spending so much time bent over tools and soil here; hewing out space for the foods I’m used to, when all around me is a riot of rambunctious growth. Learning wild foods makes sense to me. These plants propagate themselves, are generally resistant to pest outbreaks, droughts etc and don’t require any effort on my part, other than the responsible gathering of them.