Yarrow (achillea millefolium)
After last year's Hurricane Floyd's rain caused the water to rise above our “Sleepy Lake” confines, the neighborhood improvement committee (the same ones trying to get mosquito spraying done here...) decided that the dam needed reinforcing and strengthening. “They” leveled numerous strong trees — magnolia, wild cherry, cedar, beautiful wild roses, the alder all along the shore, and every bit of brush and grasses.

Then the dump trucks came, delivering load after load of concrete rubble which was piled toward the marsh. Now the lake was safe from any uncommonly high waters.

I was deep in mourning; the wilderness of the dam had been a refuge. I had carefully watched that wild cherry for the right time to prune one judiciously selected branch to strip the bark from; I had picked rose petals, one-by-one to tincture into a taste of summer as a winter pick me up. And the thick stands of yarrow...I had
made so much good medicine from them. They were all gone.
This spring, I was again inspired by the tenacity and resilience of the green world. Rushes grew strong, inviting the red-winged blackbird back to weave its nests. The frogs, turtles ducks and geese had returned along the shores. Amazingly, wild asparagus poked its head through the parched and packed surface, and one by one those glorious weeds showed themselves. Yarrow, which has become one of my most trusted allies, was among the returning.
This historical herb was named for the warrior Achilles, whose mother dipped all but his ill-fated heel into a bath of yarrow infusion. Yarrow grows wild all around the world, most abundantly in fields, woods edges, hedgerows and road sides. The seeds are quite easy to start. As they grow, the soft, delicately and deeply cut leaves rise up from the ground, curling over to suggest a 'squirrel's tail' (which is one Native American name for yarrow).

Yarrow grows two to three feet tall, has stiff straight stems, and lacey fernlike leaves. As the hollow stalks rise the leaves shrivel, and the flowering top will flatten, opening and revealing many little flowers collected together as one large bloom. In the wild, the flower is usually bone white, although it can be very pale brown, pink or yellow. There are cultivated garden species that are deep yellow and many shades of pink. These are not (as) medicinal as the whiter variety, and in fact it seems the harsher and more gravely the growing condition, the more highly medicinal the “weed” can be.

Yarrow is indeed a wound healer supreme, especially suited to nasty bruised cuts. The flowers and leaves are a potent pain reliever, lightly numbing traumatized nerve endings. The styptic ability slows/increases blood flow and the astringent and anti-inflammatory abilities reduce swelling. The high silica content speeds tissue repair. Due to its highly antibacterial and antiseptic nature, it can be dried, powdered and sprinkled directly on open wounds without the risk of causing infection.

It is even safe to apply externally to a cut that is open to the bone.
Spit poultices of yarrow will quench the pain and swelling of bee stings and will dry up blood blisters. An infusion applied to the gums after dental work will ease the pounding pain that often follows. A mouthwash of yarrow and sage will help to keep the gums healthy and can reduce gingivitis. A cup of hot infusion will help relax the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, easing digestive woes. Traditionally it has been regarded as an important remedy for hemorrhage and moist fever. Take hot for fevers, infection such as colds, flu, coughs and sore throats. It clears toxins by inducing sweating.

As a woman's herb, Maria Treben recommends that, “Every woman from age thirteen to 90 take a cup of yarrow infusion once in a while as a general safeguard”. Yarrow will help to bring on a suppressed period, will staunch menstrual flooding and will stir up stagnant blood in the gynecological tract. It can be useful for promoting rhythmic menstruation in young girls. It eases mental restlessness in menopausal women, inflammation of the ovaries, prolapse of the uterus, uterine fibroids, vaginal discharge and many other conditions. The antispasmodic and pain relieving properties help to ease menstrual cramps, the astringent quality slows excessive flow: use a
cup of infusion sipped throughout the day or 10 drops of tincture every few hours.

The astringent and hemostatic properties can be useful in moving the blood in varicosities and hemorrhoids. Use it in an infused oil,
poultice, salve or tea. A sitz bath of the infusion will soothe and speed the physical healing of post birth woes. Avoid during pregnancy.
The flower essence gives psychic protection by strengthening the aura, and shielding disharmony and unwanted environmental influences. As one who is easily influenced by other’s moods and intentions, I find this remedy to be extremely beneficial.

Ancient folk tales tell us to keep an eye on the yarrow patch and make a wish on the first one to bloom. Yarrow has been considered a magical and ceremonial plant where ever it has appeared through the ages. Fossils of the plant have been found in 60,000 year old Neanderthal burial sites.

Yarrow was thought to be richly endowed with spiritual properties, so it was preserved in temples and treated with special reverence. It was used as an amulet, a charm to protect against negative energy and evil, capable of overcoming the forces of darkness and being a conductor of benevolent powers. Stems from the plant have been used to reawaken the spiritual forces of the super-conscious mind during ritual divination using the Chinese oracle I Ching.

Folklore says a person who works with sharp tools might do well to put a sprig of yarrow in amongst the tools. It has been used to foretell romantic future: a maiden placing a flowering stem under ones pillow and repeating this verse:

Another archaic eastern divination was to tickle the inside of the nose with a leaf and repeat:
Yarroway yarroway, bear a white blow, If my love love me, my nose will bleed now. A bleeding nose was an omen of love returned but, wouldn't you rather just ask the person?

Books recommended for further reading are Herbal Rituals by Judith Berger, Herbal Wisdom by Matthew Woods, Flower Power by Anne McIntyre, Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs by Gail Faith Edwards.