Witnessed by: Western
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), of the Asteraceae family. Aromatic perennial with feathery finely-divided leaves and flat white flower-heads; native range: meadows and waysides throughout Europe and temperate Asia, naturalised in North America. Globally recognized as milfoil, nosebleed, staunchweed, soldier's woundwort in English. The part used is flowering aerial parts. Feathery grey-green foliage, aromatic and pleasantly bitter with a lingering astringency.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
YARROW
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- yarrow
- Scientific name
- Achillea millefolium L.
- Family
- Asteraceae
Form
- Part used
- flowering aerial parts
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- bitter · astringent · aromatic
Temperature
- Western
- cool
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- circulation · blood · uterus · skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- diaphoretic, peripheral vasodilator, hemostatic, astringent, vulnerary, bitter, antispasmodic, hypotensive, emmenagogue
Cautions
Contraindications: pregnancy (emmenagogue); sensitivity in those allergic to the daisy family
Toxicity: prolonged use may cause photosensitivity in fair skin
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: mild coumarin content may add to antiplatelet or anticoagulant action · antihypertensives: hypotensive action may be additive
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