Yarrow: Folklore, Medicine and Magic
Yarrow • Athair thalún
Associated with Venus and Water
“Yarrow magic is the magic of intentional restraint”
An energetically protective herb also used in herbal first aid for slowing bleeding wounds.
This powerful plant ally lines the hedgerow country lanes where I live. Yarrow has long been used for medicine, magic and spiritual remedies and there is plenty of folklore globally surrounding this herb.
Meet Yarrow
A herb with many names. Yarrow is also known by other folk names:
Allheal, angel flower, devils nettle, capenters weed, bloodwort, soldiers woundwort, yarroway, woundwort, thousand-leaf, herbe militaris and more
One of my favourite yarrow facts is that yarrow pollen has been found in Neanderthal burial sites dating back over 60,000 years ago! This shows us how long humans have been connected and in relationship with this herb.
Yarrow is a wonderful addition to any garden because as well as looking beautiful with Her mass of delicate white flowers, She also effortlessly attracts a range of insects, bees and butterflies which help to pollinate the other plants. Yarrow also helps to enrich and improve the quality of soil where shes planted or decided to grow roots. Many rocky or unsafe slopes have yarrow growing there and She helps to protect the land and keep the soil from displacing/moving. She is protective in many ways!
Yarrow is often confused with Queen Anne’s Lace (wild carrot) or even hemlock. This is why knowing your plants when foraging is so essential. Always use an identifying guide and an app. But be careful using just apps as they are regularly wrong. I like to use them to double check what I’ve found along with a local plant identifying book. Hemlock is an extremely toxic, poisonous herb so learn to identify and leave this plant alone.
Yarrow Medicinal Uses
Botanical Name: Achilea milefolium
Plant Family: Asteraceae
Visually: 1 – 3 feet tall with clusters of white fine flowers on branching stems.
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, aromatic
Plant energetics: Bitter, aromatic
Yarrow for First Aid:
The folk names for Yarrow such as woundwort, soldier’s woundwort, nosebleed etc come from this plants ability to stop or slow the bleeding of wounds. This makes it an essential first aid herb. Yarrow acts as a clotting agent to stop bleeding and decreases the chance of infection due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Yarrow for Colds & Fevers:
There are two ways in which yarrow can aid healing from colds and flus. Firstly, yarrow acts as an anti-catarrhal herb which means it helps promote the healthy flow of mucus from the sinuses. This reduces the likelihood of sinus infections as the mucus is moving out of the body and does not stagnant or block the airways/sinuses.
Yarrow also acts as a diaphoretic which means it helps to stimulate circulation in the body, opening pores and stimulating sweating which allows the body to cool off during a fever. Yarrow works best in a tea when using it for fevers.
Flower Essence Therapy:
Yarrow flower essence is said to be a remedy for those who are too easily influence by the emotions and wills of other people. It is also used for spiritual protection as it repels evil intentions and envious energy. This flower essence is a powerful tool for setting energetic boundaries. I highly recommend this flower essence for this use alone as it is powerful when used by those who are living with people who have volatile moods, and for using around family who project their opinions too freely.
Yarrow Plant Allies:
Inflammation: yarrow blends well with licorice, calendula and marshmallow
For healing salves/balms: yarrow blends well with arnica, calendula and st johns wort
For colds: making yarrow tea with elderflower is said to aid in mucus release
Yarrow Folklore
England
In Old England, Yarrow was used by the Saxons as magical amulets. They were said to protect the wearer from ailments, thieves and evil spirits. Another link to the protective nature of yarrow.
In the Victorian ‘Language of Flowers’, Yarrow is said to represent both war and healing. This may be due to the folklore associated with this herbs protective qualities, and Her ability to heal soldiers on the battlefield.
The famous Lancashire Witches of Pendle Hill were said to use Yarrow for their divination. It is told in stories that when Yarrow was placed in their hats it gave them the ability to fly. This could have come from the ability yarrow has to influence dreams and how you act in the astral realm.
It has also been noted that in north England, yarrow was used for healing salves when mixed with lard or pigs grease. In addition to this yarrow has also been noted to have been used to medicinally aid in various poxes.
Celtic
In both Ireland and Scotland, it is common practise to recite charms or incantations when picking herbs to protect the person foraging from the fae, and to infuse the herbs with the intention it will be used for. One Gaelic incantation used when picking yarrow goes as follows:
“I will pluck the smooth yarrow that my figure may be sweeter, that my lips may be warmer, that my voice may be gladder. May my voice be like a sunbeam, may my lips be like the juice of the strawberry…”
As I’ve mentioned, yarrow is an energetically protective herb which means it can be used to shield one from the influence of the fae and various Otherworld entities. It is said that the Druids used Yarrow for this purpose, as well as using the plants stems to divine the weather.
In Ireland Yarrow is one of the herbs of St. John and it was hung outside homes and over beds to protect those inside the home from various sickness.
Asia
As well as being a popular herb in Celtic and European folklore, Yarrow also has a reputation in Asia. It is told that this herb was found growing around the grave of Confucious, and it is folklore across various Asian countries that where yarrow grows, you do not need to fear wild beasts, spirits or poisonous plants. In China yarrow is used as a medicinal herb that brightens the eyes and also promotes intelligence.
Yarrow Occult Uses
Yarrow has long been associated with the occult and divination. Medicine women and witches used to use this herb for incantations and also to ward off the enchantments of elves. This may be where some of the folk names for Yarrow come from, devils nettle and devils plaything, due to the stigma associated with witches in previous centuries.
Yarrow is one of my favourite energetically protective herbs. Growing yarrow around your garden helps keep out evil or ill-spirited energies from your home. Yarrow flower essence is a wonderful self protective measure to ward off and reflect evil-eye and negative energy. Along with making the most of yarrows protective spirit, cooking with basil is another way to incorporate more protective herbs into your daily life. Try making a basil infused oil for an easy way to make a meal more delicious and increase your energetic protective barrier. Nettle is also a potent protective herb to work with. The most simple ways to work with this Mars ruled herb is to let nettle grow around your property and brew nettle tea.
Placing yarrow in a dream pillow (herbs in a pouch placed under a pillow at night) was said to aid someone in not only dreaming about their love, but for finding one’s true love too. If you have pleasant dreams whilst yarrow is under your pillow then your love is the right match for you, if not then this is a sign your love isn’t meant to be.
An old Irish saying used when working with yarrow:
“Yarrow, yarrow, I love thee
In my pocket I’ll carry thee.
The first young man that e’er I see,
Will be true love be.”
Yarrows occult uses can be summarised as follows:
Protection: used in amulets, placed in clothing and used in spells
Love: used in love spells and charms, and used for dream magic
Psychic Shielding: yarrow creates an energetic barrier to protect one from influence (one of my favourite uses of this potent herb)
Divination: said to enhance psychic abilities, enhance spiritual communication, and aid witches in various spell work
Cleansing: used as a herb for ritual cleansing and cleaning, especially during the four Irish fire festivals – a time when the veil between worlds is thin and banishing stagnant energy was encouraged
Weather prediction: used by the Druids for weather forecasting for the upcoming seasons
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about one of my favourite herbs. Yarrow seems to have endless medicinal, occult and spiritual uses — as well as plenty of folk tales from various lands.
Until next time,
Em
