Yarrow Tea for Survivalists

By Ghost Eagle

Yarrow is a native medicinal plant that bees love

As a prepper, some things I always look for when foraging is plants that can be used for food and medicines. In fact you will find that most plants that are usable to eat and also useful as medicines, so finding a plant you can eat often provides you with a remedy you can use when you are sick.

One such plant is Yarrow. It has many different properties that are useful. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a native North American plant that’s popular with pollinators and practically care-free, making it perfect for borders, ground covers, and open meadows. It can be found in stores and sold as supplements. You can also grow yarrow in your garden!

It is a hardy and versatile perennial, yarrow has showy flower heads composed of many tiny, tightly-packed flowers rising above clusters of ferny foliage. The flowers may be yellow, red, pink, or any shade in between.

Yarrow is pest-resistant, drought-resistant, attracts butterflies, and is excellent for cutting and drying.

The plant is also an aromatic herb which has many healing properties!

Note: Despite yarrow’s many beneficial characteristics, it can also be an invasive grower that readily pushes out its neighbors. So if you are going to cultivate it Plant responsibly!

WIT AND WISDOM

Some Native Americans used ground yarrow infused in water as a wash to treat sunburns. It is also sometimes used as a remedy for anxiety and stress.
Yarrow is thought to symbolize everlasting love. Find out more flower meanings here.

Yarrow tea has been known to help with menstrual complications, it helps get the blood flow makes it easier to deal with.

How to make homemade Yarrow tea

1 teaspoon of dried leaves to one cup boiling water
cover for 1/2 hour
strain
drink

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Precautions and Warnings

Note: If you are pregnant do not use Yarrow internally because it can affect the menstrual cycles and might cause a miscarriage. There also isn’t enough reliable information about the safety of taking Yarrow if you are breastfeeding. So, stay on the safe side and avoid use in such cases.

Note: Do not take Yarrow if you have a bleeding disorder. Because the properties in Yarrow might slow blood clotting it could increase risks of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

Note: Yarrow may cause an allergic reaction in people who are senitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before ingesting Yarrow.

Note: If you are planning on having surgery beware. Yarrow might slow blood clotting so there is a concern that it might increase bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking Yarrow at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Poultice or Compress

Yarrow can also be used as a poultice or compress. You will need to use enough hot water with enough ground Yarrow to make a paste, then apply to the affected area.

Note: Make sure to clean a wound first.

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Other Uses

Yarrow can be used for skin and shampoo for dry scalp. It can be steamed for use to unclog pores. It helps with urinary tract infection. It is a diuretic, helps with cardiovascular health, and helps strengthen veins to help blood flow better.

Other Names

Achilee, Achillea, Achillea borealis, Achillea lanulosa, Achillea magna, Achillea millefolium, Achillée, Achillée Boréale, Achillée Laineuse, Achillée Millefeuille, Acuilee, Band Man’s Plaything, Bauchweh, Birangasifa, Birangasipha, Biranjasipha, Bloodwort, Carpenter’s Weed, Civan Percemi, Common Yarrow, Devil’s Nettle, Devil’s Plaything, Erba Da Cartentieri, Erba Da Falegname, Gandana, Gemeine Schafgarbe, Green Arrow, Herbe à la Coupure, Herbe à Dindes, Herbe aux Charpentiers, Herbe Militaire, Huile Essentielle d’Achillée, Katzenkrat, Milefolio, Milenrama, Milfoil Millefeuille, Millefolium, Millefolii Flos, Millefolii Herba, Millegoglie, Noble Yarrow, Nosebleed, Old Man’s Pepper, Rajmari, Roga Mari, Sanguinary, Soldier’s Wound Wort, Sourcil de Vénus, Staunchweed, Tausendaugbram, Thousand-Leaf, Wound Wort, Yarrow Essential Oil.

Interactions with Yarrow supplements

Lithium Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Yarrow might have an effect like a water pill or “diuretic.” Taking yarrow might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Large amounts of yarrow might slow blood clotting. Taking yarrow along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Sedative medications (Barbiturates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Yarrow might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking yarrow along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness.

AntacidsInteraction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Antacids are used to decrease stomach acid. Yarrow may increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, yarrow might decrease the effectiveness of antacids.

Some antacids include calcium carbonate (Tums, others), dihydroxyaluminum sodium carbonate (Rolaids, others), magaldrate (Riopan), magnesium sulfate (Bilagog), aluminum hydroxide (Amphojel), and others.

Medications that decrease stomach acid (H2-blockers)Interaction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Yarrow might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, yarrow might decrease the effectiveness of some medications that decrease stomach acid, called H2-blockers.

Some medications that decrease stomach acid include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid).

Medications that decrease stomach acid (Proton pump inhibitors)Interaction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Yarrow might increase stomach acid. By increasing stomach acid, yarrow might decrease the effectiveness of medications that are used to decrease stomach acid, called proton pump inhibitors.

Some medications that decrease stomach acid include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

Yarrow is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in the amounts commonly found in food. However, yarrow products that contain thujone might not be safe.

Side Effects

Yarrow is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts. In some people, yarrow might cause drowsiness and increase urination when taken by mouth. When it comes in contact with the skin, yarrow might cause skin irritation.

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Summary

Yarrow is an herb. The above ground parts are used to make medicine.

Yarrow is used for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating.

Some people chew the fresh leaves to relieve toothache.

Yarrow is applied to the skin to stop bleeding from hemorrhoids; for wounds; and as a sitz bath for painful, lower pelvic, cramp-like conditions in women.

In combination with other herbs, yarrow is used for bloating, intestinal gas (flatulence), mild gastrointestinal (GI) cramping, and other GI complaints.

In foods, the young leaves and flowers of yarrow are used in salads.

In manufacturing, yarrow is also used as a cosmetic cleanser and in snuff. Yarrow oil is used in shampoos.