Genus name Achillea is derived from mythical Greek general Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. Young Yarrow leaf and flowers are used as a vegetable in some cultures and in Chinese I Ching divination as a randomising agent. Until modern times, Yarrow was used in the flavoring of beer and mead alcoholic beverages. Many independent brew masters still use it, as some of the medicinal benefits are still transferred when it is used in this manner, mainly to offset the damaging effects of alcohol on the kidneys and liver.

Yarrow is important to treat digestive disorders, specifically colon inflamations, ulcers and acid reflux. It increases the body's immune system and is effective against common colds as well as influenza. The flowers are used in steam treatments for allergies and severe migraines. The whole plant is considered a good treatment for infections of the urinary tract when used in raw or tea form. Yarrow has been used for centuries to treat varicose veins and general circulatory ailments.

Yarrow is a mild diuretic and is instrumental in formulas used to purify and cleanse the blood. It also has been used for millenia to treat hemorrhaging of the lungs. Its use as a treatment for thrombrosis and stroke is also well documented. Some of the plant's effects are similar to aspirin, mainly because of its content of alicylic acid derivatives. With that in mind, it is easy to understand why it has been used extensively for headaches and body pains.

Yarrow is a mainstay of any real herb garden, and draws many bees and insects (all varieties of Yarrow have bee attracting flowers), as it is important to sustain such colonies and aids in the production of medicinal honey and bee pollens. The whole plant is also well-known as an anti-parasite. Far-Eastern doctors also regularly used Yarrow in the treatment of dementia and more recently, alzheimers. Drug addicts wishing to decrease the severity of detox do well to use a heavy regimen of Yarrow in their treatments.

In the dark ages and in early Colonial America, Yarrow was hard to come by because many witches grew Yarrow (as well as Heal-All) in their gardens, though over time it became realized that outside of religion, Yarrow was grown because of its medicinal instead of conjuring properties. Today, amatuers often confuse Yarrow with wild Hemlock, which looks very similar, even in bloom, but Hemlock, though medicinal also, if unprepared and used in raw form, can be very dangerous and poisonous.

Yarrow is grown and harvested at New Jerusalem, and sold by Kingdom Farms. Click here for prices