Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family. It’s the best-known species of the genus Achillea due to its various traditional uses for both food and folklore.*

The genus name, Achillea is said to originate from a Legend that the plant was named after the Greek god, Achilles. He was the Trojan War Hero reported to be highly trained in the healing arts by the Centaur Chiron, to help his fellow soldiers on the battlefield. The species name, Millefolium, may also originate from the Greek “myriophyllon”, which means “countless leaves”.

The plant is native to temperate regions in North America, Europe and Asia, and can be found growing in the wild as well as being used as a decorative garden perennial. The flowers vary in color from white, yellow, red and pink, although wild Yarrow is most often yellow or white. The leaves are fern-like and have a distinctive ‘medicinal’ aroma. The plants usual grow to be 2 to 4 feet tall.

This herb is known by many different names, several of which refer to traditional folkloric uses. Common Names include: Soldier’s Woundwort, Nosebleed Plant, Sanguinary, Thousand-leaf, Thousand-seal, Milfoil and Common Yarrow, to name a few. The parts of the plant that are gathered for food and folkloric use* are the flowers, leaves and stems, which are collected when the plant is in bloom. The Yarrow flower and leaf are edible as a food source.

Yarrow is rich in health supporting* naturally occurring phytochemicals, including a wide range of terpenes and flavonoids, such as luteolin, apigenin, casticin, centaureidin, artemetin, sesquiterpenoids, paulitin, isopaulitin, desacetylmatricarin and psilostachyin.

Yarrow has been scientifically evaluated in mainstream literature. A study in the Journal Food Chemistry( 2013) evaluated the difference in nutritional components between wild and commercially grown yarrow. Wild plants were found to be higher in carbohydrates, organic acids, unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic acids while commercially grown yarrow had higher levels of fatty acids, protein, energy value , sugars and flavonoids.

Yarrow has many uses besides for supporting wellness* and providing food. For example, it is beneficial to gardeners, since the strong herbal aroma repels some insects and improves soil quality. It is considered a Luck Herb in the Chinese Culture. Some birds, such as starlings use Yarrow as a favorite nesting material, and a British Folklore custom suggests holding the plant on the outside of the eyelid to improve ‘inner vision’ and clairvoyance.