Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

What is Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)?

Yarrow is a hardy perennial wildflower (Achillea millefolium) native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia, now naturalized worldwide. Its name traces back to the Greek myth that Achilles used it to staunch soldiers' wounds — a story that reflects its centuries-long reputation as a first-aid herb. Every part of the plant above ground has been used medicinally, from its feathery leaves to its small white-to-pink flower clusters.

How does Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) work?

Yarrow works through several overlapping pathways. Its tannins and the alkaloid achilleine help tighten blood vessels and promote clotting at wound sites, which explains its traditional styptic (bleeding-stopping) use. Its flavonoids — particularly apigenin — relax smooth muscle, which is why it eases menstrual cramps and digestive spasms. The herb also has a mild bitter quality that stimulates bile flow and digestive juices, supporting healthy gut function. Anti-inflammatory compounds including chamazulene (produced when the plant is steam-distilled) and caffeic acid derivatives help calm swelling and irritation both internally and on the skin.

What forms does Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) come in?

Tea made from dried aerial parts is the most traditional and widely researched form for internal use. Tinctures (1:5, 25–45% alcohol) offer a more concentrated and shelf-stable option. Capsules standardized to flavonoid content are available for those who dislike the bitter taste. Topically, yarrow creams and salves are used for minor wounds and skin inflammation. The essential oil should always be diluted before skin contact.

Where it comes from:

Archaeological evidence suggests yarrow may have been used medicinally as far back as 60,000 years ago (Shanidar Cave, Iraq). It appears in ancient Greek, Roman, Chinese, and Indigenous North American healing traditions. In European folk medicine it was carried by soldiers as a battlefield wound herb, and it has remained a staple of Western herbal practice through to the present day.

What does Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) help with?

Yarrow is a flowering herb with feathery leaves and small white flowers. People in Europe, Asia, and the Americas have used it for thousands of years. It was used to stop bleeding, ease fevers, and calm an upset stomach.

Most of what we know about yarrow comes from tradition and lab work. Human trials are few, and none are named in this library's file. Only its use on irritated skin has any early clinical support.

• Red, itchy or irritated skin, including eczema patches
  Early evidence — preliminary clinical work on skin, plus long use in European herbal medicine. Yarrow cream has been used in European herbal practice for eczema and skin irritation. Early clinical work found a mild calming effect on the skin. Yarrow contains chamazulene and flavonoids, which lab studies link to less swelling and redness.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• Small cuts and scrapes that will not stop oozing
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — tradition across many cultures and lab work only; no human trial on file. This is one of yarrow's oldest and best recorded uses. Herbalists press the crushed leaf onto a cut or graze to slow the bleeding. Lab work points to tannins that tighten tissue, and to an alkaloid called achilleine that is linked to clotting.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Period cramps and heavy bleeding
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use in Europe, the Middle East and Indigenous America; lab work only. Herbalists in these traditions have long used yarrow for painful periods. In lab studies, its flavonoids relaxed muscle, which may ease cramping of the womb. Its tannins and the alkaloid achilleine are the reason it was also used for heavy flow, but no human trial on file tested this.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Fever and the start of a cold or flu
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — folk practice in Europe and North America; lab studies only. A warm cup of yarrow tea at the first sign of a cold is a long-standing folk habit. Herbalists use it to bring on sweating, which is one way the body sheds heat. Lab studies found that yarrow acts against microbes and shifts immune activity.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Bloating and a heavy, sluggish stomach after meals
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use and lab work on bitter compounds; no human trial on file. Yarrow tastes bitter, and bitter herbs have long been taken before food. In lab terms, those bitter compounds prompt the gut to release more juices, including bile, which helps break down fat. Herbalists also use it for the cramping that goes with slow digestion.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Gut cramps and IBS-type belly pain
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use plus lab work on flavonoids; no human trial on file. In lab studies, yarrow flavonoids relaxed the smooth muscle that lines the gut. The effect is milder than that of drug antispasmodics. This is why yarrow became a traditional choice for cramping tied to stress or to certain foods.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Burning or discomfort when you pass urine
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use only; no human trial on file. Yarrow has a mild water-pulling effect and raises urine flow. It was used to help flush the bladder during mild irritation. In practice it was given as one herb among several, not on its own.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Nervous tension and winding down at night
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — European herbal tradition and lab work on apigenin; no human trial on file. European herbalists call yarrow a gentle nervine, meaning it takes the edge off without making you sleepy. One of its main flavonoids, apigenin, has shown mild calming effects in lab work. Yarrow tea is often taken as an evening drink.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Blood pressure that runs a little high
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — early-stage research on flavonoids; no human trial on file. Early research suggests yarrow flavonoids may widen blood vessels a little. This work is at a very early stage. Yarrow is best thought of as an add-on to diet, movement and other lifestyle steps.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3

What Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has not been shown to do

• No human trial on file shows that yarrow lowers blood pressure, so it is not a stand-in for blood pressure medicine.
• Yarrow has not been shown to clear a urinary tract infection on its own.
• No human study on file shows that yarrow shortens a cold or brings a fever down.
• Yarrow has not been tested in a clinical trial for IBS, so it is not shown to control that condition.
• No human trial on file shows that yarrow reduces heavy menstrual bleeding over time.
• Yarrow is not a sedative, and no human trial on file has tested it for anxiety or for sleep.
• No human trial on file tested yarrow on wounds, so it is not shown to take the place of proper care for a deep or heavily bleeding wound.

How to read this:

Each use above has its own grade, because each rests on its own evidence. A means many good trials in people agree. B means one good trial in people. C means small or early human studies. D means the human evidence is weak or clashes. Insufficient means no human study at all, just lab work, animal work or long use. Most of yarrow's uses sit at insufficient. That does not mean yarrow does nothing. It means no one has tested it properly in people yet. This page lists options and what studies found. It is not medical advice, and it is not a plan for treating an illness. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, above all if you take medicine or are pregnant.

What can Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) help prevent?

• Excessive wound-site bleeding (topical styptic use)
• Recurrent digestive discomfort when used as a daily bitter tonic

Which foods are rich in Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)?

1. Yarrow tea (dried aerial parts): The most direct and traditional way to consume yarrow — a standard infusion of dried leaves and flowers delivers the full spectrum of its active flavonoids, bitter compounds, and volatile oils.
2. Chamomile tea: Contains the same key flavonoid apigenin as yarrow and provides overlapping antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory support for the gut and menstrual system — a natural companion herb.
3. Ginger: Shares yarrow's anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, and gut-soothing properties, making it a useful dietary complement especially for digestive and menstrual complaints.
4. Parsley: Rich in apigenin and luteolin — the same flavonoids that give yarrow its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects — and easy to add to everyday meals.
5. Celery: Another apigenin-rich plant that supports the same smooth-muscle relaxation pathway, useful for people looking to reinforce yarrow's benefits through diet.

Practical Tips:

Yarrow itself is the primary source of its unique alkaloids and sesquiterpene lactones — no common food replaces it directly. The supportive foods listed above contain overlapping flavonoids (especially apigenin) that complement yarrow's antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory actions. A diet rich in colorful vegetables, bitter greens, and herbal teas generally supports the same digestive and anti-inflammatory pathways yarrow targets.

What are the side effects of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)?

• Allergic skin rash or contact dermatitis (especially topical use)
• Increased sun sensitivity of the skin (phototoxicity) with topical use
• Mild nausea or stomach upset if taken on an empty stomach
• Headache (rare, usually with high doses of the essential oil)
• Drowsiness at high doses
• Not safe during pregnancy (may stimulate uterine contractions)

Good to know:

Yarrow has a strong safety record when used at normal doses for short-to-medium periods. The most common issue is allergic contact dermatitis in people sensitive to the Asteraceae (daisy) family — which includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, and chamomile. If you are allergic to those plants, use yarrow cautiously or avoid it.

How much Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) should you take?

• Recommended daily: Tea: 2–4 g of dried aerial parts steeped in 150–250 ml hot water, 2–3 times daily. Tincture (1:5, 25% alcohol): 3–5 ml up to 3 times daily. Capsules: 300–500 mg standardized extract, 2–3 times daily. Topical: apply cream or salve 2–3 times daily to affected area.
• Best time of day: For digestive support, take 15–30 minutes before meals. For menstrual or nervous system support, evening use (including as a bedtime tea) is traditional and practical. For fever, take as a warm tea at symptom onset.
• With or without food: Can be taken with or without food; taking with a small amount of food reduces the chance of nausea in sensitive individuals. For digestive bitter effects, take before meals on a relatively empty stomach.
• Time to effect: Acute effects (fever, digestion, bleeding) within hours to 2 days; menstrual and chronic benefits within 2–4 weeks of consistent use.
• How long to take it: Safe for short-term use (up to 4–6 weeks) without concern. For ongoing support (e.g., menstrual cycle use), cycling — using it in the 1–2 weeks before your period and stopping afterward — is a practical and traditional approach. Avoid continuous daily use beyond 3 months without a practitioner's guidance.