Yarrow
1:1 Ethanol/distilled H2O Spagyric tincture of fresh organic Achillea millefolium leaves, with salt principle added.
Planetary rulers: Venus, Mercury.
Physical Properties*:
Yarrow is an age old battle herb, once being known as ‘herba militaris’, it is a potent vulnerary (wound closing) herb that has in many instances staunched cuts as deep as the arteries (from chainsaws, log splitters, car crashes etc). It extends its blood flow staunching properties inside the body also, thus being particularly beneficial for women who have heavy menstrual bleeds, and it can regulate menses to address amenorrhea, reduce the period pains and spasms of dysmenorrhea and is also said to address ovarian cysts. Whilst Yarrow has been greatly appreciated by women world over for centuries the area of the body in which yarrow really shines is the blood. Yarrow is known to some as ‘master of the blood’, being able to cool the blood and tonify blood vessels, arteries and veins, this is useful for people experiencing blood in the stool or urine, frequent blood noses and/or the coughing of blood. Furthermore, Yarrow is said to cool ‘hot blood’, an affliction can result in trouble concentrating, heart arrythmia, tremors, anxiety, explosive outbursts, delirium, malabsorption from rapid digestion and more. This herb is a strong anti-inflammatory that can scrub toxins from the blood, thus making it the perfect wound healer (it disinfects the wound, it helps the blood clot and wound close, and it eases the intensity of pain). In the digestive system it cools and strengthens boundary layers and linings, tonifying the mucousa, flushing a stagnant portal vein connected to the liver, reducing pancreatic irritation and ulcers, mitigating diabetes and its volatile oils reduce digestive spasms (with pain) along with belching and/or gas. The herb can be used to break fevers as it ‘churns up’ blood within the core and pushes it, along with the heat, out to the surface of the body, then causing sweating.
Emotional/Spiritual Properties:
Think about all the ways in which we can extend metaphorical hands to people only to have our fingers and hands cut and scraped – indeed Yarrow is indicated for those who sustain damage during caring for others around them, either professionally as healers, nurses, doctors etc, or non-professionally, as a compassionate friend, heartfelt child of a volatile parent, good Samaritan etc. It is particularly indicated if such individuals are busy in offering their help, their quick action and high readiness to help causing the heating of the blood which yarrow eases. When one is in a protracted habit of extending themselves and being drained (little emotional frays), or wounded (deep mistreatment) in the process a certain kind of bitterness and resentment can grow deep beneath the surface. This is a stagnation of sorts, and the heart that once extended the warmth and help can now harden. Yarrow’s blood moving properties can help to shake out this stagnant bitterness – not without helping one to find the discernment that will steer one away from helping such unappreciative friends or patients in the first place, or it will enable one to help others in a way that is innately self-protecting and therefore self-respecting, and therefore of more use to everyone and themselves in the long run.
Yarrow encourages consistency, discipline and self-pacing. It is clarifying for over-doers. It opens one to new inspirations, whilst helping one to accept the truth of the situation at hand – and all the reasons for possible stagnancy therein.
Contraindications:
-Antiplatelet/anticoagulant medications: Yarrow can thin the blood, thus making the blood too thin in combination with these medicines.
-Pregnancy: Yarrow can act as a smooth muscle relaxant, thus it should be used with caution or avoided during pregnancy.
-Antacid stomach medications may have their effect reduced by yarrow.-People allergic to chrysanthemums, daises, or ragweed may also be allergic to yarrow.
*Before purchase please see full disclaimer at bottom of page.
