(Achillea Millefolium)
Parts Used: Leaves and Flowers
Flowers: June to September

Yarrow is said to have been used by Achilles to heal the wounds of his comrades in the Trojan War. For wounds and sores, gather the fresh leaves. Beat the leaves into a pulp and rap the pulped leaves in gauze or thin muslin, then apply to the affected area.

We collect the flowers and leaves to make a tea as well. Yarrow is affective dried as well as wet, so you can store it over winter - just gather the leaves and flowers, then leave to dry on some newspaper, out of direct sunlight. Once dried, keep in an airtight container.

Yarrow is excellent for easing period pains - start drinking it a week before the onset of your period and then for another three days - it gets more effective if you follow this routine each month.

Yarrow is also a great friend in winter, because the tea is good for treating colds and flu - especially if you drink the tea early on in the illness. We usually mix it with Elder Flower and Meadowsweet to make a really good cold cure.

Spiritually, Yarrow represents the Wounded Healer, an archetype which is about gaining wisdom by learning from any suffering you have to go through in your life. It is about coming to terms with your wounds. Through this process you become healed and develop the ability to heal others. It is the empathetic healer.