What is yarrow?

Yarrow, a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae), has one of the oldest documentations of human use throughout a variety of cultures worldwide. Many of these cultures share common threads of yarrow being used to heal wounds and treat inflammation, gastrointestinal distress, and menstrual concerns. The common name “yarrow” is sometimes used for a group of plants including other species of Achillea, so attention to full scientific names is advised. The genus name (Achillea) originates from Greek mythology: Achilles used yarrow to remedy wounds. Yarrow can be taken internally as a tea, while external applications usually take the form of lotions and ointments. The leaves and flowering tops are the parts most often used medicinally, but there are ethnobotanical records of traditional medicinals employing the entire plant.^[1][2]