Yarrow

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America. It has been introduced as a feed for livestock in places like New Zealand and Australia, where it is a common herb of both wet and dry areas, such as roadsides, meadows, fields and coastlines.

Description[edit | edit source]

Yarrow grows from 10 to 60 cm tall and has small, roughly 3mm, white to pink flowers. The plant produces an aromatic, sweet smell, and is known for its hardiness and drought resistance. The leaves are evenly distributed along the stem, with the leaves near the middle and bottom of the stem being the largest. The leaves have varying degrees of hairiness (pubescence).

Uses[edit | edit source]

Yarrow has been used as a food, and was very popular as a vegetable in the 17th century. The younger leaves are said to be a pleasant leaf vegetable when cooked as spinach, or in a soup. Yarrow is used to flavor alcoholic beverages such as beer. It is also used to make some brands of bitters.

In traditional herbal medicine, yarrow has been used for various ailments. Its dried leaves, in combination with other herbs, are used to treat colds, fevers, and indigestion. Yarrow has also been used as a poultice for wounds and to stop bleeding because of its astringent effects.

Cultivation[edit | edit source]

Yarrow is a common plant that is easy to grow. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun, but can be grown in less ideal conditions. In fact, it is often grown in gardens for its ability to withstand drought and heat.

References[edit | edit source]


See also[edit | edit source]


Yarrow Resources

Find a healthcare provider anywhere in the world quickly and easily!

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD