Common Yarrow
In short
Summary of findings for quick reference
Yarrow has a long record as a wound herb. Ancient texts describe plants associated with it, and Fuchs explicitly names yarrow in 1543. Later herbals document uses for wounds, bleeding and digestive complaints. The evidence varies by region, period and precision of plant identification.
The traditional record is stronger than the clinical evidence. Applequist and Moerman’s 2011 review described numerous traditional uses and mainly preclinical research. Randomised trials were published later, including studies of menstrual pain and episiotomy wound care. Their findings are preliminary and cannot be applied to every yarrow preparation.
EMA classifies yarrow herb and yarrow flowers as traditionally used herbal medicines. The plant part, preparation and complaint determine their use. They should not be used by people allergic to yarrow or other Asteraceae plants. Medicinal use during pregnancy and breastfeeding or in children under twelve is not recommended because data are insufficient.
Clinical evidence ↔ Historical significanceWe display two separate evidence categories: clinical evidence from modern trials and historical significance from documented healing tradition. Both are valuable, but they answer different questions.Read more
In every encyclopedia entry we evaluate two distinct categories of evidence. Clinical evidence as used in trials meets a narrower but scientifically essential bar. At the same time, the hundreds of thousands of plant species worldwide have only partially been captured and tested in modern studies.
Alongside the trial picture our researchers compile a comprehensive overview of where and since when a plant has been used across different traditions of natural medicine. When a plant has been used as a medicinal plant in many cultures across many generations, that historical significance deserves to be visible too.
Our position: a truly informative overview emerges only when both categories sit side by side. We communicate transparently what counts as what.
Overview
Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial meadow plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae). Its finely divided leaves and flat clusters of mostly white, sometimes pink flower heads are characteristic. In Austria it flowers mainly from June to September. The flowering herb (Millefolii herba) and flowers (Millefolii flos) are used medicinally. EMA describes traditional uses for temporary loss of appetite, mild spasmodic digestive complaints including bloating and flatulence, minor menstrual cramps and, externally, small superficial wounds.
In Austria yarrow is widespread in meadows, on embankments and in gardens. Its bitter, aromatic tea is traditionally used for digestive and menstrual complaints, and sitz baths are also documented. The plant contains sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids and essential oil, whose composition varies considerably. Laboratory findings and individual clinical trials provide signals of activity but do not establish benefit for all traditional uses.
History
Yarrow has a long European medicinal tradition. In the first century Dioscorides described a finely divided wound herb called stratiotes chiliophyllos, now associated with yarrow. Pliny recounts Achilles healing Telephus and mentions millefolia, although his several plant descriptions cannot all be assigned securely to one species. In his 1543 chapter “Von Garb”, Leonhart Fuchs described yarrow for wounds and bleeding. Names such as milfoil and soldier’s herb recall its leaves and traditional uses.
Yarrow tea for digestive complaints and sitz baths for painful pelvic spasms are documented in European herbal medicine. The monographs differ in scope. EMA lists temporary loss of appetite, mild spasmodic digestive complaints, minor menstrual cramps and small superficial wounds. ESCOP describes sitz baths and supportive use for mild skin and mucosal inflammation. These uses rest mainly on long-standing experience.
Mechanism
Yarrow contains several groups of investigated compounds. Sesquiterpene lactones such as achillin contribute to its bitter taste. Flavonoids including apigenin and luteolin are studied for antispasmodic and antioxidant properties. Essential-oil composition depends strongly on the plant material. Certain precursors, known as proazulenes, can form blue chamazulene during distillation. Its presence alone does not establish an anti-inflammatory effect of a tea.
Antispasmodic effects of yarrow extracts and constituent fractions have been observed in laboratory tests on intestinal tissue from rabbits and guinea pigs. Tannins and other constituents are also investigated in relation to traditional wound care. Such findings can help explain possible mechanisms, but they do not show how strongly a cup of tea affects digestive or menstrual complaints. Human studies are needed for that.
EMA classification rests on long-standing use and sufficient plausibility, rather than established clinical benefit for every indication. In 2015 Jenabi and Fereidoony randomly allocated 96 students with primary dysmenorrhoea to two groups and analysed 91. Tea made from yarrow flower heads reduced pain more than placebo. Treatment covered three days in each of two menstrual cycles. This provides limited evidence for that preparation, not for other yarrow teas or sitz baths, and cannot replace assessment of severe or unexplained pelvic pain.
Hajhashemi and colleagues studied 140 first-time mothers in four groups: yarrow ointment, St John’s wort ointment, placebo ointment and no additional treatment. Some symptoms and signs after episiotomy, including pain and redness, improved with the herbal ointments. Wound discharge and dehiscence did not differ significantly. This specific study does not establish the efficacy of homemade compresses or treatment of skin inflammation generally.
Evidence
| Outcome | Class | Grade | Effect | Studies | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild dyspeptic complaints and temporary loss of appetiteEMA lists temporary loss of appetite and mild spasmodic digestive complaints as traditional uses. Clinical data are insufficient to establish reliable benefit for these complaints. Long-standing use and laboratory findings underpin this classification.Adults with mild digestive discomfort or temporary loss of appetite | TraditionalTraditional use. Long-standing folk practice or EMA HMPC traditional-use monograph. | DEvidence quality grade D. Preliminary signal. A single small trial, pilot result, or laboratory or animal model. Clinical relevance unclear. This is an evidence rating, not a product endorsement. | Traditional Use | [4][6] | |
| Minor spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints and minor cramping during menstruationBoth uses are described as traditional in the EMA herb monograph. A small placebo-controlled trial of tea made from yarrow flower heads additionally reported greater pain relief in students with primary dysmenorrhoea. This result cannot be assumed to apply to other yarrow teas, gastrointestinal cramps or sitz baths.Adults with mild GI cramping or mild menstrual cramping | EmergingEmerging research. Early small trials suggest an effect but await replication. | CEvidence quality grade C. Mixed or limited evidence. Small trials, signals, or traditional use under an EMA HMPC traditional-use monograph. This is an evidence rating, not a product endorsement. | Traditional use; preliminary clinical evidence | [4][1] | |
| Topical use on minor wounds and skin inflammationsEMA lists small superficial wounds as a traditional use. ESCOP additionally describes supportive use for mild skin and mucosal inflammation. A randomised episiotomy study reported improvement in some symptoms with yarrow ointment, but no statistically significant difference in discharge or wound dehiscence. This does not establish reliable benefit for general skin inflammation or homemade dressings.Adults with minor superficial wounds or mild skin irritation | EmergingEmerging research. Early small trials suggest an effect but await replication. | CEvidence quality grade C. Mixed or limited evidence. Small trials, signals, or traditional use under an EMA HMPC traditional-use monograph. This is an evidence rating, not a product endorsement. | Limited clinical evidence | [4][7][2] | |
| Antimicrobial activity (in-vitro)In 2003 Candan and colleagues found laboratory antimicrobial activity of the essential oil against selected bacteria and yeasts. Tested water-insoluble parts of a methanol extract showed weak or no activity. Results depend on the extract and test method and do not establish treatment of infections with tea or compresses.Bacteria and fungi tested in the laboratory | TraditionalTraditional use. Long-standing folk practice or EMA HMPC traditional-use monograph. | DEvidence quality grade D. Preliminary signal. A single small trial, pilot result, or laboratory or animal model. Clinical relevance unclear. This is an evidence rating, not a product endorsement. | In-vitro Signal | [3] |
Usage
Forms and preparation
For tea, use dried, cut yarrow herb in the amount appropriate to the intended use; see the dosage section. Pour boiling water over it, cover the cup and strain after the steeping time stated on the product. Ten to fifteen minutes is common for loose herb. Covering helps retain volatile aromatic compounds. A small handful of fresh herb is not a reliable equivalent of a dried-herb dose. For dressings on small superficial wounds, EMA lists 3 to 4 grams of yarrow herb in 250 ml boiling water. Strain, allow to cool and apply using a clean dressing two or three times daily. A sitz bath is a separate traditional preparation for painful pelvic spasms. Use a suitable bath preparation according to its instructions; a handful of herb without a defined bath volume is not a reliable dose. Herbal vinegar is a kitchen ingredient, not a wound treatment.
Dosage
EMA gives different yarrow-herb tea doses according to the complaint. For loss of appetite or mild spasmodic digestive complaints, it lists 1.5 to 4 grams of dried herb in 150 to 250 ml water, three or four times daily between meals. For loss of appetite, take the tea about 30 minutes before meals. For minor menstrual cramps, it lists 1 to 2 grams in 250 ml water, two or three times daily. These doses concern adults and adolescents aged twelve and over. Follow the instructions supplied with medicinal teas. Do not use yarrow if allergic to it or other Asteraceae, and do not conduct a home tolerance test. Seek assessment if appetite or digestive complaints persist beyond two weeks, or menstrual or wound symptoms beyond one week. Seek advice sooner if symptoms worsen or a wound shows signs of infection. Follow the specific instructions for flower preparations, tinctures and extracts; herb doses cannot simply be transferred.
Safety
Look-alikes
Similar plants and look-alikes
Wild carrot (Daucus carota)
Wild carrot belongs to the Apiaceae. Its flat compound umbels contain many individual five-petalled flowers, whereas yarrow has flower heads composed of several florets. A dark central flower is often, but not always, present in carrot umbels. Leaf shape and smell can help distinguish the plants but are insufficient alone for reliable identification.
Read the entry: Queen Anne’s lace (wild carrot)Monkshood (Aconitum species)
Aconitum species are highly poisonous. Their leaves are palmately lobed or divided rather than finely pinnate like yarrow leaves. Distinctive helmet-shaped flowers form elongated clusters, and colour varies by species. Pale flowers therefore do not rule out Aconitum. Do not taste unknown plants or handle suspect plants with bare hands. Collect yarrow only when identification is certain.
FAQs
How do I prepare yarrow tea?
Use dried yarrow herb and weigh the amount appropriate to the purpose. EMA lists 1.5 to 4 grams in 150 to 250 ml water for digestive complaints, and 1 to 2 grams in 250 ml for minor menstrual cramps. Add boiling water, cover, steep according to the product instructions and strain. The tea tastes bitter and aromatic. Do not use it with a known Asteraceae allergy.
How does a yarrow sitz bath work for menstrual complaints?
Yarrow-herb sitz baths are traditionally used for painful pelvic spasms. ESCOP lists them as supportive use; the EMA herb monograph describes oral use for menstrual cramps rather than a sitz bath. A tea trial therefore does not establish the effect of bathing. Follow the instructions of an appropriate bath preparation for amount, dilution and duration. Severe, new or unusual pelvic pain should be medically assessed.
Can I be allergic to yarrow?
Yes. Yarrow belongs to the Asteraceae family. Do not use it if you are allergic to yarrow or another member of this family, such as chamomile, arnica or mugwort. Allergic reactions after skin contact have also been reported. Stop use and seek medical advice for a rash. Breathing difficulty or swelling of the mouth or throat requires emergency help.
When can I gather yarrow myself?
In Austria the flowering tops are usually gathered from June to September on dry days after the dew has dried. Collect only confidently identified plants from uncontaminated sites. A flat white flower cluster alone is insufficient: examine the finely divided leaves and small composite flower heads too. Leave the plant if uncertain. Dry the herb in thin layers in a shaded, airy place.
7 sources.
- Ensiyeh Jenabi; Bita Fereidoony. Effect of Achillea Millefolium on Relief of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. 2015. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2014.12.008
- Maryam Hajhashemi; Zinat Ghanbari; Minoo Movahedi; Mahmoud Rafieian; Atefeh Keivani; Fedyeh Haghollahi. The effect of Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum ointments on episiotomy wound healing in primiparous women. 2018. doi:10.1080/14767058.2016.1275549
- Ferda Candan; Mehmet Unlu; Bektaş Tepe; Dimitra Daferera; Moschos Polissiou; Atalay Sökmen; H. Aşkin Akpulat. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and methanol extracts of Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium Afan. (Asteraceae). 2003. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(03)00149-1
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). European Union herbal monograph on Achillea millefolium L., herba, Revision 1. 2020. Source
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Assessment report on Achillea millefolium L., herba, Revision 1. 2020. Source
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Community herbal monograph on Achillea millefolium L., flos. 2011. Source
- European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP). Millefolii Herba (Yarrow). 2021. Source
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