Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Historical tradition – not medical advice, and no health or healing claims. more

Historical botanical drawing: Yarrow — Yarrow

Tradition (Hildegard's writings)

In Hildegard's tradition, yarrow was associated with skin and external care.

Ingredients

Flowers and leaves are used, fresh or dried and powdered.

Note

The sources record several reservations: anyone hypersensitive to the daisy family, arnica included, should avoid yarrow; on contact it can act as an allergen and bring on a rash, and prolonged use can increase sensitivity to light. Taken in excess it may produce the opposite of the expected effect.

Botanical background

White yarrow (Achillea millefolium) belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae) and is among its most widespread members. It is perennial and hardy, growing on sunny, dry meadows, along paths and field margins and on spoil heaps across the temperate zones of Europe, America and Asia; its height varies greatly, from about 20 centimetres to well over a metre. In spring the root sends up a rosette of feathery leaves, two to three times pinnately divided; the flower heads measure only some five millimetres and carry dingy white disc florets with white to purple-red ray florets. The species name millefolium points to that fine division of the foliage, while the genus name recalls the Greek hero Achilles, whom tradition credits with a knowledge of the healing arts; folk names include Achilleskraut, Blutkraut, Frauenkraut and Grundheil, and the German name comes from the fondness sheep show for it. In the Physica it holds chapter CAP. 1-113, where Hildegard describes it as somewhat warm and dry; its essential oil contains up to 40 per cent of the blue compound azulene, alongside chamazulene, camphor, pinene and caryophyllene.

Sources & references

Hildegard von Bingen: Heilsame Schöpfung. Die natürliche Wirkkraft der Dinge (Physica). Hrsg. von der Abtei St. Hildegard, Eibingen. Beuroner Kunstverlag 2012 (4. Auflage 2024). CAP. 1-113.
Strehlow, Wighard: Die Hildegard-Naturapotheke. Heilmittel und Rezepte von A bis Z. Knaur Verlag 2014.
Strehlow, Wighard: Der Hildegard-Kompass. Die wichtigsten Heilmittel und Anwendungen. Knaur Verlag 2014.
Strehlow, Wighard: Die Hildegard-Heilschätze. Schafgarbe, Veilchen, Galgant, Bertram. Knaur Verlag 2018.

The text of this entry is an independent summary in our own words, based on the works listed – not a verbatim reproduction. The page and chapter references document where the content comes from. A superscript number on a section heading points to the work that section follows. All rights to the original works remain with their authors and publishers.

More preparations using Yarrow

Yarrow Powder Yarrow Salve

Historical tradition. The above describes how this preparation was recorded and used in the tradition of Hildegard of Bingen. This is cultural-historical information, not medical advice and not a health or healing claim, and it is no substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. If you have health complaints, please consult your doctor or pharmacy.

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