With its large spectrum of uses, Yarrow tincture helps elevate cold and flu and ease menstrual cramps or digestion. A natural first aid remedy, yarrow tincture is easy to make and requires just two ingredients.
How to use Yarrow herb
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a well-known medicinal herb that has been used and known for centuries. Some herbalists call yarrow a panacea, an herb that can address many conditions. Its other names (warrior plant, nosebleed) suggest Yarrow has been used externally as a first-aid herb to stop bleeding and heal wounds on battlefields. Internally to relieve stagnant blood conditions such as varicose veins or blisters. It also provides cold and flu relief. In addition, Yarrow is a powerful herb that can help with urinary tract infections or support healthy digestion.
If you are lucky to have fresh yarrow growing in your backyard, making a tincture is the best way to preserve and use it in the future.
Harvesting yarrow for First Aid
In addition to all the yarrow’s therapeutic effects, there is one more exciting thing. This versatile medicinal herb grows all over the world. All parts (leaves, flowers, and roots) of the Achillea millefolium herb are therapeutic and can be harvested from spring to autumn.
Yarrow extract can be made of fresh or dried yarrow blossoms, leaves, or roots. We will explore their therapeutic actions so you can decide what part of the plant you want to use for your best benefit.
Yarrow blossoms
When collecting the flowers, search for fully opened ones that have not turned brown yet. The flower harvesting window starts in mid-spring and mid autumn.
Yarrow blossoms contain aromatic oils, such as Chamazulene and Camphor, which have anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, and digestive properties.
Leaves of yarrow
Leaves are the most potent in early spring before the plant starts to bloom. However, you can harvest them any time of the year. They are rich in tannins that contain antibacterial and antiviral properties and are helpful for healing wounds and injuries.
Yarrow root
The tincture can also be made from yarrow root, which is best to collect in autumn. The root is an analgesic used for pain-related issues such as toothache.
To make a tincture, one needs to identify yarrow. You need to become familiar with Yarrow as it can be easily misidentified with Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) that smells like a carrot or poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), which is extremely toxic!
If you’re having trouble, I suggest you order them dried in organic quality from Mountain rose herbs.
How to make a yarrow tincture
While making yarrow tea is a very effective way to enjoy the medicinal benefits of yarrow, its taste is somewhat bitter and, for some people, hard to take. Tinctures are liquid extracts made by steeping fresh organic herbs in alcohol. They are a great way to implement yarrow in your daily routine. And you need just a few drops that can be added to juice or other flavored drink, thus covering the bitter taste.
By soaking yarrow in alcohol for several weeks, you will get concentrated herbal extract packed with active substances. They are one of the most traditional and convenient ways to prepare and preserve herbs.
Stock your medicine cabinet with a few more herbal remedies:
Calendula tincture for sore throat inflammation
Mistletoe tincture for anxiety and stress relief
Violet tincture to ease your cough
Fresh or dried yarrow for a tincture?
When it comes to wild yarrow, you can use fresh or dried herbs. I prefer to use dried for two reasons. Drying the herb will eliminate moisture that can cause the tincture to go bad. Thus extending its shelf life.
If you are using dried yarrow, you can use 40 % alcohol as a menstruum, whereas when you use fresh, you will need stronger alcohol, about 95%.
The choice is yours.
The best time to harvest wild yarrow is on a sunny day when the dew has evaporated off. Make sure you follow the steps to harvest and dry yarrow for tincture.
If you foraged your yarrow, it takes three days to air dry the herb.
First step
Place dried yarrow flowers and leaves into a sterilized glass jar filling it with ⅕. I crush the leaves and flowers between my fingers to increase the surface area for the maceration.
If you are using fresh herbs, fill the jar up to ½.
Second step
Pour in 80-proof vodka (40 % alcohol) to fill the jar almost to the top, leaving just 2 inches below. Make sure that the yarrow is completely covered with liquid, as any plant material exposed to air can mold.
When using fresh yarrow, use 95% alcohol instead).
alcohol 40% = 80 proof ethanol, ethyl alcohol, or grain spirit, organic cane alcohol (58-68%)
Third step
Cover the plant material with a plastic lid. If you have one with a metal lid, use parchment paper in between to avoid corrosion. Cover the jar and set it in a cool place that is easy to reach. To preserve the tincture’s potency, use a mason jar made with amber glass that helps block out sunlight. If you use a clear mason jar, store it in a dark place.
Fourth step
Shake it occasionally and check from time to time if the leaves and stems are covered completely with alcohol. It may evaporate, and you will need to add it up.
Fifth step
Let it extract for 6-8 weeks. Strain the tincture using a fine mesh sieve or layers of cheesecloth. Ensure all herbal pieces are removed from the tincture, as they may lead to mold development and spoilage.
Sixth step
Label and store the tincture in a dark dropper bottle in a cold dark place. For external use, the dark spray bottle is the best choice. It can last up to 5 years.
Medicinal benefits and 8 ways to use yarrow tincture
for colds and flu relief
Yarrow tincture promotes sweating and lowers fever by stimulating the skin’s pores to open. Just a few drops every hour help alleviate the symptoms of cold and flu, helping improve relaxation during illness.
First aid to heal wounds
This tincture provides a complex action to heal cuts, wounds, bruises or other injuries. With its antimicrobial and anti-inflamatory properties, yarrow tincture is the number one solution for your first aid kit. For topical use, dilute yarrow tincture in some water to wash wounds, cuts, bug bites, and scrapes. Yarrow tincture has hemostatic properties that help stop bleeding and disinfects.
Historically, the leaves were used as a poultice – chewed up and applied on top of wounds to help stop bleeding.
If you prefer the first aid salve instead, this yarrow salve is perfect.
Sore throat relief
Gargle the tincture for sore throat relief
Improves blood flow
Achillea millefolium tincture improves circulation and blood flow when used internally. If you suffer from varicose veins or burst blood vessels, taking yarrow tincture improves the walls of blood vessels.
Urinary Tract Infections
The tincture is the most concentrated form of herbal medicine and an important player in urinary infections. You will be forced to pee more often when you drink yarrow tincture in cold water juice. Yarrow tincture contains antimicrobial properties that, together with diuretic action, help your body to clean.
Digestive Organs
Its bitter taste stimulates the digestive organs and promotes healthy digestion. Take the yarrow tincture before meals diluted in water to prepare your body for proper digestion. It can improve poor appetite and increase digestive secretions.
Regular use of this tincture and a high-fiber diet can decrease the chance of forming gallstones.
For women’s health
Achillea millefolium tincture can alleviate painful menstrual cramping and helps during menopause with hormone shifts.
Repel mosquitoes
Excellent mosquito repellent; yarrow tincture makes for a very efficient mosquito spray as yarrow tincture can help repel mosquitoes.
How To Use Yarrow Tincture?
Yarrow tincture is an alcohol extract with several internal and external uses.
The dosage is individual and depends on the person and situation. In general use (1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon, 15–30 drops, 1/2 – 1 dropperful) of tincture is used three times daily for chronic situations. Take smaller and/or more frequent doses for acute conditions. You can take it under your tongue for quick action or dilute it in water. You should not drink any other liquid afterward to keep it the most concentrated.
If you want to use it for kids, use glycerin instead of alcohol.
Yarrow Tincture Side Effects
The yarrow tincture is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. It may also cause some allergies in people sensitive to herbs from the Asteraceae family. Consult with a medical provider before using any herbal preparation.
Alternatives to Yarrow Tincture
Tinctures are potent concentrates; however, it takes several weeks to make them. Luckily fresh yarrow can be used topically in the form of a poultice immediately. Ground and paste yarrow leaves (or chew them) and apply them directly to the wounds or burns. Cover with gauze to keep them in place.
Internally you can make tea. Yarrow can also be consumed as a tea to help improve colds and fevers and cleanse the body.
Yarrow is effective when applied topically on wounds. It could also be applied in oil or salve if the tincture irritates. Test it in a small patch before using it entirely.
You can replace alcohol with apple cider vinegar or vegetable glycerine to make an alcohol-free tincture.
If stored properly in a dark and dry place away from direct sunlight, like a kitchen cabinet, it can last up to 5 years.
If you prefer ready-made lemon balm tincture, you can purchase it from Mountain rose herbs in high organic quality. They also sell dried yarrow leaves.
how to make and use yarrow tincture in the first-aid kit
With its large spectrum of uses, Yarrow tincture helps elevate cold and flu and ease menstrual cramps or digestion. A natural first aid remedy, yarrow tincture is easy to make and requires just two ingredients.
Materials
- dried or fresh yarrow petals
- grain alcohol
Tools
Instructions
- Place dried yarrow flowers and leaves into a sterilized glass jar filling it with ?. I crush the leaves and flowers between my fingers to increase the surface area for the maceration. If you are using fresh herbs, fill the jar up to ½.
- Pour in 80-proof vodka (40 % alcohol) to fill the jar almost to the top, leaving just 2 inches below. Make sure that the yarrow is completely covered with liquid, as any plant material exposed to air can mold. When using fresh yarrow, use 95% alcohol instead). alcohol 40% = 80 proof ethanol, ethyl alcohol, or grain spirit, organic cane alcohol (58-68%)
- Cover the plant material with a plastic lid. If you have one with a metal lid, use parchment paper in between to avoid corrosion. Cover the jar and set it in a cool place that is easy to reach. To preserve the tincture's potency, use a mason jar made with amber glass that helps block out sunlight. If you use a clear mason jar, store it in a dark place.
- Shake it occasionally and check from time to time if the leaves and stems are covered completely with alcohol. It may evaporate, and you will need to add it up.
- Let it extract for 6-8 weeks. Strain the tincture using a fine mesh sieve or layers of cheesecloth. Ensure all herbal pieces are removed from the tincture, as they may lead to mold development and spoilage.
- Label and store the tincture in a dark dropper bottle in a cold dark place. For external use, the dark spray bottle is the best choice. It can last up to 5 years.
Notes
alcohol 40% = 80 proof ethanol, ethyl alcohol or grain spirit
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Yarrow is one of those things I’ve always wanted to grab but have never gotten around to it! Ugh, I so need to have this on hand! Keeping tinctures in the medicine cupboard just solves mom problems lol
Your photos of yarrow are all white. I have both yellow and red yarrow. Are these both safe to use?
If the flowers show a blush of pink or yellow it is ok to use them in this recipe. However if the color is bright yellow, pink, orange, or anything else that isn’t whitish, it probably shouldn’t be used medicinally.