Harvesting yarrow to make Yarrow Tea

Yarrow tea is a powerful home remedy that eases stomach issues, fever or headaches, and more. But you can also use it to heal wounds or lighten your hair. 

Healing and harmonizing yarrow tea brewed from yarrow has been used for centuries in folk medicine. Learn its benefits and ways to harvest, and identify yarrow so you can enjoy its health benefits all year long. 

Yarrow is often called nosebleed, warrior plant, or knight's milfoil. It is a medicinal plant with a colorful history of uses. It has been used for thousands of years for wound healing and stopping bleeding. So that is where the names military herb or warrior plant comes from. However, its benefits don't stop there.

According to Maria Treben, its first place is as a medicinal herb for women.

Another famous herbalist, Father Abbe Kneipp, said: ""Women could be spared many troubles if they took yarrow tea from time to time!"

In her book Backyard herbal Apothecary, Devon Young said that yarrow won the prize for "the most useful herb".

Another herbalist, Rosalee de la Foret, would take yarrow with her if she was stranded on a deserted island.

It's no wonder that the yarrow plant deserves our attention.

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Identifying yarrow.

This perennial herb, yarrow, likes light, well-drained soils, and sunny fields. Yarrow grows all over the globe and reaches heights of one to three feet.

Yarrow got its Latin name Achillea millefolium from the Greek hero Achilles. When he was born, his mom wanted to protect him, so she gave him a tea bath while holding him by the heel. The heel was the only part of his body that wasn't protected by yarrow. Thus he died from a wound on the ankle. Before that, Achilles used to treat soldiers' wounds in the Troy battle with yarrow. So the millefolium stands for "thousand leaves."

Leaves.

It has finely divided feathery leaves that emerge from the ground and grow along the flower stem.

Flowers.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family, small yarrow flowers form mostly white clusters. However, it can have a pinkish or yellowish hue. In addition, they have a strong, sweet scent described as chrysanthemums that can help their identification.

Harvesting yarrow.

While most herbalists recommend using flowers or leaves of yarrow, some recommend its roots. 

Leaves are the most potent in spring and early summer before the flowers bloom. However, it can be harvested at any time of the year. Leaves contain tannins that have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties; however, they can also speed up the healing of cuts and wounds. 

When you collect the flowers, wait till they are fully opened but not yet turning brown. The best time to forage the flowers is between April and October. 

The yarrow root is the best harvest in the fall and is used for toothache and other pain-related issues.

Look alike

You must become familiar with the herb to avoid any misidentification. For example, common Look like herbs are Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota), which smells like carrot, and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), which is highly toxic!

how to dry yarrow herb?

I usually harvest yarrow flowers and leaves in the morning, just after the dew has dried on a sunny day. Then, I search for white flowers in full bloom that haven't turned brown yet.

You can make tea from fresh yarrow leaves and flowers or dry them.

Use scissors to cut the flower heads off the stems. Then I hold the stem in one hand and remove the leaves with the second hand running down the stem. Or you can also use scissors to remove the leaves.

Make sure you don't wash them; they have pollen that is a carrier of scent and flavor that you want to have in your tea. Instead, mechanically remove bugs and insects and spread them on parchment paper or sieve to air dry.

To speed up the drying, use a dehydrator on a low heat setting or dry them in the oven too.

But air drying works well; it took me four days to have them completely dry.

You can store them in a storage container or drawstring cotton bags in a cool, dry place. Don’t forget to label them.

How to make a cup of yarrow tea for cold season

First step - gather yarrow

Place one tablespoon of fresh yarrow blossom and leaves or two teaspoons of dried herb into a pot and pour over one cup of boiling water. 

Second step - Cover and steep.

Allow the yarrow to steep for 15 minutes or longer to help it release its medicinal properties. 

Tea made of dried yarrow flowers and leaves gets darker color and more robust flavor than fresh ones. 

Third step - strain and serve.

Strain the blossoms, add honey to sweeten, a slice of lemon, and enjoy every sip.

Other herbal teas recipes

Linden tea

Elderflower tea

Pine needle tea

Roasted herbal fruit teas

Rosehip tea

Herbal tea for cough

Medicinal Benefits of yarrow tea.

Tea for healing wounds.

Yarrow has been renowned for its ability to heal and repair on the battlefields; that is where its name, "warrior herb" comes from. It offers complete action for healing injuries. When used externally in the form of a tea bath, it encourages the blood cells to coagulate. When this action is combined with its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity, yarrow is an important part of the herbal medicine cabinet.

HARMONIZING THE BLOOD.

This tea improves circulation and flow of blood when used internally in the form of tea. In addition, it helps to move stagnant blood, such as varicose veins, blood blisters, or fibroids. 

FOR COLD AND FLU.

Yarrow stimulates sweating, lowers fever, and helps to fight infection. In addition, this floral tea can be used as a gargle for sore throat. as a warm drink, it promotes circulation and helps clean and detox the body.

STIMULATES DIGESTION.

It is bitter and stimulates healthy digestion. It increases digestive secretions and improves poor appetite. This study on guinea- pigs confirmed that yarrow contains flavonoid antioxidants that may fight inflammation and digestive spasms.

FOR WOMEN HEALTH.

Drinking tea eases the complex menstrual cycle and helps during menopause with restlessness from hormone shifts.

FOR ORAL HEALTH.

In the book Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, Michael Moore used tea from yarrow root for toothache. Its astringent and antimicrobial properties helped to solve the issue.

For the Urinary system.

It acts as a diuretic forces you to pee more and cleanses the body from infections with its antibacterial action.  

FOR HAIR.

Regular use of strong yarrow infusion will lighten the hair. 

YARROW TEA can be used:

As a healing herb, yarrow tea has internal and external applications.

1)AS A WARM DRINK  

• Fight cold and flu. For the best result, combine yarrow and mint/ peppermint tea or elderflower.
• Yarrow can improve digestion - for better results, combine it with ginger.
• Yarrow may improve blood circulation.
• For urinary tract infections, combine it with uva ursi or marshmallow root (Althea officinalis).
• yarrow tea for menstruation.
• Yarrow root tea - for toothache.
• Use it as a hair rinse to lighten your hair.

2)A GARGLE - FOR SORE THROAT.

Although yarrow tea is a great way to reap the plant's benefits, some people find the taste bitter. In that case, make a tincture.

Yarrow Tincture 

Tinctures, extracts made by steeping fresh herbs in alcohol, are a great way to get your daily dose of yarrow without having to deal with the taste. You only need a few drops, which can be added to juice or another drink, making the bitterness undetectable.

3) FACIAL STEAM TO IMPROVE COMPLEXION.

Leave the yarrow tea covered to infuse for about 10 minutes while preparing a blanket and a wooden spoon. Once you have uncovered the lid, mix it with a wooden spoon for more active substances to evaporate. Immediately cover with a blanket so that steam does not escape. Hold for as long as possible, at least 15-20 minutes. Inhale with frequent mixing. Excellent for relieving a stuffy nose and sinuses, as well as for the skin. 

4) TEA BATH TO HEAL WOUNDS.

Combine it with St. John's wort to boost the healing action. Apply this healing yarrow salve afterward for a perfect result.

Yarrow oil and Yarrow salve.

There are several ways to use yarrow for healing. Topically, you can also make yarrow oil or salve. Yarrow infused oil is made by infusing blossoms in carrier oil for about 4 to 6 weeks. Yarrow releases its medicinal properties into the oil that you can apply after straining directly to wounds. Then, use the oil to make a salve.

Yarrow poultice

Another way to use yarrow's medicinal benefits is to make a yarrow poultice that you can directly apply to wounds. To do this, mix enough hot water with crushed fresh yarrow leaves to make a paste. You can also use a mortar and pestle. Then, apply the paste directly to the wound or bruises and leave it there for 20 - 30 minutes.

Yarrow Safety And Contraindications.

• While yarrow tea is very effective and can help with several issues it must be taken in moderation.
• Use it cautiously if you are allergic to sesquiterpene lactones. You better start with a small amount to see if there are any issues.
• Yarrow is not safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women as it could affect menstrual cycle.