Journal of Plant Medicines: Yarrow: 18 Medicinal Uses

Yarrow is a common herb with many extraordinary medicinal benefits. What is yarrow and how is it used?

Appearance and Habitat

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is an herbaceous plant with feathery, fern-like leaves and clusters of small white or pink flowers. It's native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and commonly found in grasslands, meadows, and along roadsides.

Yarrow is known for its resilience and ability to thrive in various soil conditions, including poor or disturbed soils.

Yarrow is a perennial herb with divided, fern-like leaves. It will seasonally sprout clusters of small, white or pale pink flowers.

It commonly grows in dry, grassy areas, along roadsides, and in meadows throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.

Yarrow has a Rich History

Yarrow is an herb with a rich history of medicinal use dating back centuries.

Traditional medicinal uses of yarrow span cultures worldwide. The Ancient Greeks and Romans used yarrow for its wound healing properties. They named it after the mythical Greek hero Achilles.

Achilles apparently used yarrow to treat the wounds of his soldiers.

Indigenous peoples of North America used yarrow for various medicinal purposes. These uses included fever reduction, pain relief, and as a digestive aid.

Traditional Chinese medicine employs yarrow for a number of conditions. These include its ability to regulate blood flow, reduce inflammation, and treat conditions like hemorrhoids and menstrual disorders.

As pointed out in a review of research, the flowers and fruits of the Yarrow have been prescribed successfully by traditional herbalists for hepatitis B and C. It has been used to treat malaria, jaundice and other liver disorders, and is considered liver-protective.

Some of its scientifically confirmed health benefits include:

Wound Healing

Yarrow has a long history of use in wound care due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help staunch bleeding and promote healing.

The herb's astringent properties promote wound healing by helping to stop bleeding and reduce inflammation. This means that yarrow has been used topically to accelerate the healing process of cuts, bruises, and minor burns.

Digestive Health

Yarrow has been used to alleviate various digestive issues. These include indigestion, cramps, and bloating. In other words, yarrow is said to have carminative and stomachic properties.

Yarrow is believed to support digestion by stimulating the production of digestive juices and bile. This effect may help alleviate symptoms of indigestion and improve overall digestive health.

Anti-inflammatory

Yarrow contains compounds like flavonoids and alkaloids that possess anti-inflammatory effects. These give it the potential potentially aiding in the treatment of conditions related to inflammation. These include arthritis and gastrointestinal inflammation.

Extracts of Yarrow have also been tested for their antimicrobial effects with much success. Achillea millefolium also produces significant antioxidant effects, as it neutralizes oxidative radicals.

More specifically, yarrow contains sesquiterpene lactones. These have anti-inflammatory properties.

Yarrow has been used traditionally to reduce inflammation associated with conditions like arthritis.

Fever Reduction

Yarrow is known for its diaphoretic properties, meaning it can induce sweating. This has been traditionally used to help reduce fevers and aid in detoxification.

Menstrual Support

Yarrow has been used to alleviate menstrual cramps and regulate menstrual flow due to its astringent and antispasmodic properties.

Anxiety

Yarrow has been used to calm and soothe the nerves. Research from the University of Melbourne and the University of Milan found that Yarrow has anxiolytic-like effects. The research determined that yarrow modulated the GABAA/benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptors.

Blood Pressure

Yarrow has also been found to reduce blood pressure. This is added to its ability to help purify the blood stream. These effects are likely related, as clearing the blood of radicals prevents blood vessel wall damage – and thereby helps decrease hypertension.

Research has shown Yarrow’s ability to reduce blood pressure, as well as purify the blood stream. These effects are likely related, as clearing the blood of radicals prevents blood vessel wall damage – and thereby helps decrease hypertension.

This was proven in a 2000 study of 120 adults who were between 40 and 60 years old. They were randomly divided and given either a placebo or an extract of Achillea wilhelmsii – ‘Wooly Yarrow’. After two months of treatment, the Yarrow group showed significant decreases in triglycerides. After four months, LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol levels were significantly reduced and by six months HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher among the Yarrow group.

This study also showed that both diastolic and systolic blood pressure was reduced among the Yarrow group after two months and six months.

Liver Health

Yarrow has been used to treat malaria, jaundice and other liver disorders, and is considered liver-protective.

In a study of 36 patients with liver cirrhosis, treatment with an herbal combination containing Yarrow significantly decreased liver enzymes and other symptoms of the disease in all the patients taking the formula (Liv-52) while the placebo group showed no change in symptoms or liver enzyme levels.

A 1999 clinical study from the Ukraine illustrated Yarrow’s ability to treat and rehabilitate elderly patients with chronic cases of hepatitis.

Kidney Issues

A from the School of Pharmacy of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The researchers studied 31 patients with chronic kidney disease. They were randomized and given either a placebo or 1500 milligrams of powdered yarrow flower or a placebo for three days a week for 60 days.

The researchers focused on the patients' plasma nitrite and nitrate levels – which were high among these kidney disease patients. High plasma nitrite and nitrate levels are produced when water nitrate levels are high or a person consumes significant levels of nitrates without a healthy kidney clearance.

The researchers found that over the two months, the powdered yarrow group had lower levels of nitrites and nitrates, while the placebo group had higher levels of these in their bloodstream. Nitrite levels went down 37% while nitrate levels decreased 11% among those taking the yarrow.

The researchers noted that the dosages were minimal – with only three days per week of doses at only 1500 mg – and the period of dosage was short for herbal medicine. “Higher doses or longer duration of plant administration may make these changes more significant,” they stated in their conclusion.

Yarrow has also been used to treat various kidney disorders in traditional medicine. These include kidney stones, cystitis and others.

Malaria

Yarrow’s ability to counteract malaria – though proven in traditional clinical use – was studied in 2008 (Lehane and Saliba) in the laboratory. The researchers tested eleven a number of potential medicines against malarial parasites and found that among all tested the luteolin (full chemical name luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide) from Achillea millefolium significantly inhibited the malaria parasite more than any other compound tested.

Skin Health

A 2011 clinical study from France illustrated that an Achillea millefolium extract significantly decreased skin thickness and wrinkles on the face after treating the skin for two months.

Many medicinal compounds in Yarrow

Yarrow's primary Latin name is Achillea millefolium, though it has a number of relatives or subspecies - most of which have the same medicinal properties. It grows throughout most of the world's temperate areas, including Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. It is hardy in colder climates, where it blooms during the spring times.

Yarrow contains a number of bioactive constituents, including luteolin, choline, azulene, salicylic acid, glucosides, glucoonides, camphor, eucalyptol, artemetin, apigenin, pinene, terpineol and others. Its alkaloid content gives Yarrow some of its astringent properties, making it useful in reducing fever and infection.

How is Yarrow used?

Yarrow can be prepared and consumed in various forms. These include steeped in water as a tea, concentrated into a tincture, or applied as a poultice.

Scientific References

Li H, Liu L, Gou G, Xin X, Li J, Aisa HA. Guaianolides from Achillea millefolium L. and their anti-inflammatory activity. Phytochemistry. 2023 Jun;210:113647. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113647.

Benedek, B., Kopp, B., Melzig, M. F. Achillea millefolium L. s.l. revisited: Recent findings confirm the traditional use. Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946), 2007;157(13–14), 312–314.

Kazemi, M. Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Achillea Millefolium from the Eastern Region of Iran. International Journal of Food Properties, 2015;18(10), 2187–2192.

Gilani, A. H., Shah, A. J., Zubair, A., Khalid, S., Kiani, J., Ahmed, A. Chemical composition and mechanisms underlying the spasmolytic and bronchodilatory properties of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria L. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2009;121(3), 405-411.

Ożarowski, M., Mikołajczak, P. Ł., Bogacz, A., Bartkowiak-Wieczorek, J., Szulc, M., Kujawski, R., ... Seremak-Mrozikiewicz, A. Influence of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) on the wound healing process. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postȩpy Dermatologii i Alergologii, 2015;32(1), 21–26.

Abad, M. J., Bedoya, L. M., Apaza, L., Bermejo, P. The Artemisia L. Genus: A Review of Bioactive Essential Oils. Molecules, 2012;17(3), 2542-2566.

Akram M. Minireview on Achillea millefolium Linn. J Membr Biol. 2013 Aug 20.

Vahid S, Dashti-Khavidaki S, Ahmadi F, Amini M, Salehi Surmaghi MH. Effect of herbal medicine achillea millefolium on plasma nitrite and nitrate levels in patients with chronic kidney disease: a preliminary study. Iran J Kidney Dis. 2012 Sep;6(5):350-4.

Sarris J, McIntyre E, Camfield DA. Plant-based medicines for anxiety disorders, Part 1: a review of preclinical studies. CNS Drugs. 2013 Mar;27(3):207-19. doi: 10.1007/s40263-013-0044-3.

Vitalini S, Tomè F, Fico G. Traditional uses of medicinal plants in Valvestino (Italy). J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jan 12;121(1):106-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.10.005.

Harnyk TP. The use of preparations of plant origin in treating and rehabilitating elderly patients with chronic hepatitis. Lik Sprava. 1999 Oct-Dec;(7-8):168-70.

Pain S, Altobelli C, Boher A, Cittadini L, Favre-Mercuret M, Gaillard C, Sohm B, Vogelgesang B, André-Frei V. Surface rejuvenating effect of Achillea millefolium extract. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2011 Dec;33(6):535-42. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2494.2011.00667.x.

Huseini HF, Alavian SM, Heshmat R, Heydari MR, Abolmaali K. The efficacy of Liv-52 on liver cirrhotic patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled first approach. Phytomedicine. 2005 Sep;12(9):619-24.

Asgary S, Naderi GH, Sarrafzadegan N, Mohammadifard N, Mostafavi S, Vakili R. Antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic effects of Achillea wilhelmsii. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2000;26(3):89-93.

Sarris J, McIntyre E, Camfield DA. Plant-based medicines for anxiety disorders, Part 1: a review of preclinical studies. CNS Drugs. 2013 Mar;27(3):207-19. doi: 10.1007/s40263-013-0044-3.
Vitalini S, Tomè F, Fico G. Traditional uses of medicinal plants in Valvestino (Italy). J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jan 12;121(1):106-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.10.005.

Harnyk TP. The use of preparations of plant origin in treating and rehabilitating elderly patients with chronic hepatitis. Lik Sprava. 1999 Oct-Dec;(7-8):168-70.