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Achillea Millefolium, commonly known as Yarrow, is a perennial plant that grows like a weed in many places; it is native to the northern hemisphere’s of North America, Asia, and Europe. Yarrow has petite white flowers, many small feathery leaves, and a fresh pine needle fragrance.
Yarrow is antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, and is a powerful tool for the cardiovascular system through support of blood circulation.
Yarrow has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity that stands against multiple strains of bacteria and fungi. With the frequent use of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance has grown tremendously, and yarrow has shown itself to be a useful alternative. Studies have shown yarrow’s effectiveness against bacterias, like E. coli and Salmonella, as well as yeasts, like candida and A. niger (black mold).

Not just for infections
Yarrow helps move blood to different parts of the body that need it, and breaks up congested blood (as in wounds), as well as helping to stop hemorrhages. Yarrow has been used for fevers (it helps to stop a fever and induce sweating to rid the body of toxins), high blood pressure, digestive problems, respiratory infections, liver disease, wounds/bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, hemorrhages, ulcers, and many more ailments.
We use yarrow flowers as a tea multiple times a week to help support our immune system by protecting our bodies from bad bacteria and viruses we could have come into contact with. Yarrow has a slightly bitter taste so I often combine it with other herbs (like elderberries for a great immune boost). Besides loose leaf, you can also buy yarrow in tincture or capsule form, or as an essential oil. When we take yarrow to counter infection and/or help with a fever I steep it for at least 30min to overnight, using plenty of flowers (about 4 Tbsp) for a pot of water (around 3-4 cups). We drink this multiple times a day when battling illness (around 3 mug fulls). Studies have shown yarrow to be most effective against bacteria and yeasts through hexane: ether: methanol = 1:1:1 extracts.

Herb Highlights are meant to be brief and provide a basic overview of the featured herb’s properties. If you would like more information about this particular plant, such as medicinal properties, chemical compounds, efficacy studies, and contraindications, I encourage you to explore the following links, and as always recommend doing your own research.
“Antibacterial activity of traditional medicinal plants…” by Frank M Frey, Ryan Meyers. 2010
Each person’s body and needs are unique, though this herb is natural and considered safe by most, I am unaware of any pre-existing conditions or medications you may be taking and how those would interact; it is advisable to check with your doctor before starting anything new, especially if you are taking pharmaceutical medications. Herbs can interact with each individual differently, though many people experience the same effects, you may not get the same results when using certain herbs.