Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

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  1.   1.  Description
  2.   2.  Obtainment
  3.   3.  Uses
    1.   3.1  Medicinal
    2.   3.2  Other Uses
    3.   3.3  Cautions
  4.   4.  More
  5.   5.  Names
  6.   6.  'Souls
Common Name Yarrow, common yarrow, more
Latin Name Achillea millefolium
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1.  Description

Yarrow is an erect herbaceous perennial. It produces one to several 0.2–1 metre (0.66–3.3 ft) stems, and has a spreading rhizomatous form. Its flowers are small and range from white to pink.

2.  Obtainment

Very easy. It is native to most of the Northern Hemisphere and grows wild in spring, especially in grasslands and open plains. However, it is easily confused for several other bunched white plants -- some of which are quite toxic.

3.  Uses

  • Scent: The plant has a strong, sweet scent, similar to chrysanthemums.
  • Drought resistance, combats soil erosion.
  • The plant is a frequent component of butterfly gardens.
  • Yarrow is considered an especially useful companion plant, repelling some insect pests while attracting good, predatory ones. It attracts predatory wasps, which drink the nectar and then use insect pests as food for their larvae. Similarly, it attracts ladybugs and hoverflies.
  • Its essential oil kills the larvae of mosquitoes.

3.1  Medicinal

  • The herb is purported to be a diaphoretic, astringent, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic.
  • Decoctions have been used to treat inflammation.
  • Yarrow has a long history as a powerful 'healing herb' used topically for wounds, cuts and abrasions.
  • Should not be used internally, ever -- highly toxic if taken internally.
  • The dark blue essential oil, extracted by steam distillation of the flowers, is generally used as an anti-inflammatory or in chest rubs for colds and influenza.

3.2  Other Uses

Pain, amenorrhea, anti-inflammatory, bleeding, blood, colds, circulation, diabetes, stomach and digestion, fevers gum and tooth ailments, influenza, internal bleeding, measles, menstruation (regulates, relieves pain), nosebleeds, stomach sickness, toothache (chewed), ulcers, uterus (tighten and contract), stomachache

3.3  Cautions

  • Prolonged use can increase the skin's photosensitivity.

4.  More

5.  Names

Arrowroot, bad man's plaything, bloodwort, carpenter's weed, death flower, devil's nettle, eerie, field hops, gearwe, hundred leaved grass, knight's milefoil, knyghten, milefolium, milfoil, millefoil, noble yarrow, nosebleed, old man's mustard, old man's pepper, sanguinary, seven year's love, snake's grass, soldier, soldier's woundwort, stanchweed, thousand seal, woundwort, yarroway, yerw.

6.  'Souls

  • Hey, did your character do something cool with this plant?
  • Or maybe your pack has it for trade?


Categories: Flora | Resources