Yarrow grows from 10 to 20 inches high, a single stem, fibrous and rough, the leaves alternate, 3 to 4 inches long and 1 inch broad, larger and rosette at the base, clasping the stem, bipinnatifid, the segments very finely cut, fern-like, dark-green, giving the leaves a feathery appearance. The flowers are several bunches of flat-topped panicles consisting of numerous small, white flower heads. Each tiny flower resembling a daisy. The whole plant is more or less hairy, with white, silky appressed hairs. Flowers bloom from May to August. Gather stem, leaves and flower heads in bloom, dry for later herb use. Dry herb edible as a spice or flavoring, strong sage flavor.

Anticancer, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, cytotoxic and antispasmodic (essential oil); hemostatic, alterative, analgesic, antidiarrheal, antiemetic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, astringent, purifies the blood, carminative, anthelmintic and anticonvulsive.

Floridata
Plants for a Future

1,8-Cineole, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpinene, ascorbic acid, azulene, beta-pinene, borneol, camphene, camphor, caryophyllene, cuminaldehyde, gamma-terpinene, limonene, myrcene, p-cymene, terpinen-4-ol (leaf); alpha-thujone, apigenin, asparagine, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, betaine, bornyl-acetate, caffeic acid, chamazulene, choline, eugenol, folacin, formic acid, furfural, inulin, isorhamnetin, luteolin, mannitol, menthol, myristic acid, niacin, oleic acid, palmitic acid, quercetin, quercitrin, riboflavin, rutin, salicylic acid, stigmasterol, succinic acid, tannin, terpineol, thiamin, thujone, trigonelline (plant)

For various maladies of the major organs and systems throughout the body, abscesses, atony, backache, hemorrhages (including those of the lungs), bruises, burns, cancer, colic, common cold, condyloma, cough, as a depurative agent, in fever,hypertension, menorrhagia, amenorrhoea, haemorrhoids with bloody discharge, atonic gastric and intestinal dyspepsia and leucorrhoea.

Oral administration of yarrow at 56 times the human dose in rats, was associated with reduced fetal weight and increased placental weight and it is suggested that consumption of yarrow is contraindicated during pregnancy (Ruys et al., 2003)
Yarrow should not be used to treat large, deep, or infected wounds, all of which require medical attention. Yarrow is not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding (McGuffin et al.,1997)

Stary, Medicinal Herbs and Plants.