Origins of the Achillea Millefolium Plant

Other Common Names: Biranjasif, Bloodwort, Carpenter's Weed, Cickafarkkoro, Civanpercemi, Common Yarrow, Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, Duizendblad, Milefolio, Milenrama, Milfoil, Millefeuille, Millefoglio, Millefolium, Nose Bleed, Plumajillo, Rojmari, Rolleka, Rollike, Schafgarbe, Soldiers Woundwort, Staunchweed, Thousand Seal, Tlalquequetzal, Western Yarrow, Woundwort, Plumajillo, Yarroway, Achillea millefolium

Range: Asia; Britain; Canada; China; Denmark; Europe; France; Germany; Hungary; India; Italy; Mexico; Netherlands; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; Turkey; USA

Habitat: Meadows, pastures, lawns etc. on all but the poorest soils, it becomes a troublesome weed in gardens.

The name Yarrow is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon name for the plant - gearwe; the Dutch, yerw.

Yarrow was formerly much esteemed as a vulnerary, and its old names of Soldier's Wound Wort and Knight's Milfoil testify to this. The Highlanders still make an ointment from it, which they apply to wounds, and Milfoil tea is held in much repute in the Orkneys for dispelling melancholy. Gerard tells us it is the same plant with which Achilles stanched the bleeding wounds of his soldiers, hence the name of the genus, Achillea. Others say that it was discovered by a certain Achilles, Chiron's disciple. It was called by the Ancients, the Herba Militaris, the military herb.

Its specific name, millefolium, is derived from the many segments of its foliage, hence also its popular name, Milfoil and Thousand Weed. Another popular name for it is Nosebleed, from its property of stanching (stopping) bleeding of the nose, though another reason given for this name is that the leaf, being rolled up and applied to the nostrils, causes a bleeding from the nose, more or less copious, which will thus afford relief to headache. Parkinson tells us that 'if it be put into the nose, assuredly it will stay the bleeding of it' - so it seems to act either way.

It was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, in earlier days, being sometimes known as Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, and was used for divination in spells.

Yarrow has a high reputation and is widely employed in herbal medicine, administered both internally and externally. It is used in the treatment of a very wide range of disorders but is particularly valuable for treating wounds, stopping the flow of blood, treating colds, fevers, kidney diseases, menstrual pain etc. The whole plant is used, both fresh and dried, and is best harvested when in flower. Some caution should be exercised in the use of this herb since large or frequent doses taken over a long period may be potentially harmful, causing allergic rashes and making the skin more sensitive to sunlight.

The herb is antiseptic, antispasmodic, mildly aromatic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, odontalgic, stimulant, bitter tonic, vasodilator and vulnerary. It also contains the anti-inflammatory agent azulene, though the content of this varies even between plants in the same habitat. The herb is harvested in the summer when in flower and can be dried for later use.



Leaves - raw or cooked. A rather bitter flavor, they make an acceptable addition to mixed salads (In the seventeenth century it was an ingredient of salads.) and are best used when young. The leaves are also used as a flavoring and preservative for beer etc. Although in general yarrow is a very nutritious and beneficial plant to add to the diet, some caution should be exercised. See the notes on possible toxicity.

An aromatic tea is made from the flowers and leaves.

An essential oil from the flowering heads is used as a flavoring for soft drinks.

The growing plant repels beetles, ants and flies. The plant has been burnt in order to ward off mosquitoes.

Yarrow is an excellent plant for growing in lawns, meadows, orchards etc., it is tolerant of repeated close cutting and of being walked on. It works to improve the soil fertility. A very good companion plant, it improves the health of plants growing nearby and enhances their essential oil content thus making them more resistant to insect predations.

A good bee plant, it is an important nectar source for many insects.

Known Hazards: Extended use of this plant, either medicinally or in the diet, can cause allergic skin rashes or lead to photosensitivity in some people.

  • Grieve. M. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
  • Plants For A Future - A Resource and Information Centre for Edible and other useful plants.