Herb library · Herb · Achillea millefolium
Yarrow
A common wayside plant with feathery leaves and flat white flower heads, long used on wounds and as a bitter for the stomach. There are no trials of it by mouth in Europe's assessment; one recent small trial in diabetes and one of an ointment after childbirth reported benefits.
Traditional use
Named, by one ancient account, for Achilles. The European Medicines Agency lists yarrow herb for loss of appetite, digestive disorders, skin disorders and minor wounds, and urinary and genital disorders. King's Dispensatory (1898) records it made into an ointment for wounds in the Scottish highlands, sold by herbalists in India as a bitter and for medicated vapor baths, and used by the Dalecarlians in place of hops in ale. Among the Zuni of New Mexico, Matilda Coxe Stevenson recorded (1915) the plant's name as "cold leaf" and a use open to everyone: the whole plant, ground and mixed with cold water, put on burns.
Traditional energetics
Americas folk tradition
Counted as cooling. Ethnobotany of the Zuñi Indians (1915), p. 42 (opens in a new tab)
Galenic (hot or cold, dry or moist)
Cold. Culpeper's Complete Herbal (1814), p. 241 (opens in a new tab)
What studies show
- Limited
Episiotomy wounds: in a trial of 140 first-time mothers, a yarrow ointment reduced pain, redness, swelling and bruising more than a placebo ointment. The EMA notes the tested product is not one of the preparations in its monograph.
- Limited
Type 2 diabetes: in a 2025 Iranian trial of 60 people, yarrow capsules (500 mg a day for 3 months) lowered liver enzymes, LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides compared with placebo. The trial was small.
- Insufficient
Appetite and digestion: the EMA says no clinical studies have tested yarrow taken by mouth; these uses rest on long tradition.
Be careful of
Cautions
- AllergyDo not use if you are allergic to yarrow or other plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae). Allergic skin reactions (rash, blisters, itching) are the main reported side effect, and handling the dried flowers caused asthma in one person who made dried-flower arrangements.
- PregnancyYarrow is reputed to cause miscarriage and affect the menstrual cycle, and its oil holds traces of thujone. The EMA does not recommend it in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- ConditionNot recommended for children under 12. If symptoms worsen, or a wound shows signs of infection, see a doctor.
- InteractionA yarrow constituent has shown blood-thinning activity in preclinical studies; its relevance in people is unclear, so mention yarrow if you take anticoagulants.
- Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.
From the old books
What herbals and dispensaries of the past printed. History, in their words.
“The leaves of this plant are said to produce a cooler sensation, when applied to the skin, than those of any other plant.”
“Pliny states that the generic term, Achillea, was named from Achilles, a physician, who was one of the first to use a species of this plant as a vulnerary.”
“According to Linnæus the Dalecarlians used it as a substitute for hops in the making of ale, believing it to impart to it intoxicating qualities.”
Sources
- Yarrow herb (Millefolii herba) – herbal medicinal product (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
- Assessment report on Achillea millefolium L., herba, Revision 1 (EMA/HMPC) (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
- Achillea millefolium capsule improved liver enzymes and lipid profile compared to placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes (2025) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
Reviewed September 25, 2026.