Yarrow, raw, organic?

Use in the kitchen

The common or ordinary Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) is a traditional medicinal plant from the daisy family. When collecting the wild plant, caution is advised because of poisonous counterparts from the umbelliferous family.

Can you eat yarrow raw? Thanks to its spicy taste, the raw Food plant for numerous uses in organic cooking. Yarrow is well suited as an ingredient for herb salt, pasta dough, herb butter, spreads or spiced vinegar. The tender leaves, flowers and shoots taste finely chopped in raw salads - spicy: with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions or sweet: with oranges, apricots . Also in potato salad, pasta salad, in vegetable dishes and as a spice in soups.

Bread and rolls, refined with fresh yarrow, acquire a pleasant aroma. The meadow herb also goes well with rice, potatoes, vegan gnocchi dishes or other starchy ingredients. The flowers can be used to flavor drinks or to make syrup.

Vegan recipe for wild herb soup

Ingredients (for 4 servings): 2-3 handfuls of fresh herbs (e.g. yarrow, ground elder, chickweed, dandelion leaves, ribwort plantain ), 100 g organic potatoes, 1 clove of garlic, 1 shallot, 1 tbsp rapeseed oil, 500 ml vegetable stock, 1 tbsp almond butter, nutmeg ,pepper and a little salt .

Preparation: Chop the shallot and sauté in rapeseed oil. Add the peeled, diced potatoes to the onion pieces and sauté. Chop the garlic and add to the pot with ^2/3 _of the chopped herbs. Add the vegetable stock and cook for about 15 minutes. Add the remaining herbs and puree with the almond paste until the desired creamy consistency is achieved. Season to taste with salt, nutmeg and ground pepper before serving.

Recipe for fresh yarrow tea

Yarrow tea is made with dried or fresh herbs. Pour 2 g of finely chopped yarrow herb with 150 ml of boiling water and let the tea steep, covered, for about 10-15 minutes. To achieve the effects mentioned in the "Health" chapter, drink 2-3 cups of this medicinal herbal tea per day (as a cure over a maximum period of four weeks). ^1,2

Vegan recipes with yarrow can be found under the note: " Recipes that have the most of this ingredient ".

Purchasing - Storage

Yarrow herb and yarrow flowers are available dried - in conventional or controlled organic quality - as a single drug in pharmacies, drugstores, herbal and tea shops, health food stores, organic shops or online. The medicinal plant can be bought as bulk goods, instant tea or in filter bags. If you prefer fresh yarrow, you can either get seeds or shrubs and cultivate them in the garden or collect them in the wild (see next chapter).

Be careful with the term Grundheil: This is ambiguous and does not exclusively refer to the medicinal herb yarrow (see chapter "Alternative names").

Yarrow is often a component of special tea blends, e.g. in gastrointestinal tea, women's tea or liver and gall tea. Supermarkets such as Rewe, Billa, Edeka, Spar, Coop and Migros or the organic supermarket chains Alnatura and Denn's Biomarkt sell tea blends with yarrow. At Aldi , We have not yet found any offers with yarrow at Lidl, Denner, Volg or Hofer .

Today, there are numerous finished medicinal products as well as aqueous or alcoholic extracts from yarrow. Common yarrow products, mostly available online or in specialist shops, are liqueur, schnapps, essential oil, tincture, mother tincture, powder as a mouth and throat therapeutic, fresh plant juices, tonics, film-coated tablets, dragees, combination preparations or ointments.

The availability of yarrow varies depending on the size of the store, catchment area, etc. Our recorded food prices for the DA-CH countries can be found above under the ingredient image - and by clicking you can see their development at various suppliers.

Found in the wild

Today, yarrow is widespread on all habitable continents. It is rare in Mediterranean regions. ⁴ Typical locations are dry roadsides, meadows, embankments, gravel heaps, (sheep) pastures, semi-dry grasslands, field and roadsides. ² Common yarrow is a pioneer plant and root creeper and is considered a soil stabilizer and nutrient indicator for nitrogen-rich soils. ⁵

The true yarrow ( Achillea millefolium s.str.) is divided into two subspecies. In subalpine and alpine regions, the Sudeten yarrow or mountain yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ssp. sudetica ) with its often pink flowers grows; at lower altitudes - up to a maximum of subalpine altitudes - the common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ssp. millefolium ) with its white flowers grows. ²⁸ Yarrow collected in the wild can have a different chemical composition. In Central Europe alone, 15 different yarrow families are known, which show different chemotypes. The correct Latin name for the plant species yarrow therefore includes "sensu latiore" which means "in the broader sense" ( Achillea millefolium L. sl). ²⁵

Their upright stems reach a height of 30-60 cm and are branched in the upper part. The leaves are pinnately dissected several times. The narrow pinnates are arranged alternately and give the impression of "a thousand leaves" (lat. "mille" = thousand, "folium" = leaf). Many flower heads are arranged in umbel panicles at the end of the stem, which is strongly branched at the top. The flower heads are 6-8 mm wide and are popular with many insects thanks to the short corolla tubes. ²

The main flowering period of yarrow is from June to September (or October) . ⁷

Season : From March to April, the tender, fresh basal leaves are harvested. From May to June or even September, all the herbaceous parts, the soft leaves below the inflorescence and the flowers are picked. ⁷

Storage tips:

The best way to store yarrow herbs and flowers is to tie them into bunches and hang them upside down in a covered, ventilated and warm place.

After drying, the shoots should be stored away from light and moisture. Suitable containers are brown glass jars or metal containers, but plastic containers are unsuitable. ³ Plastic containers usually have their own smell and can affect the aroma of the herbs - especially if they are rich in essential oils. ⁸

Ingredients - Nutritional values - Calories

Depending on the clan, yarrow shows different contents of ingredients; ²⁵ differences can also be seen between plant material from wild collection and commercial cultivation. ³²

We assume the following average values (calculated according to Dias et al. 2013): ^32,100 g of yarrow have an energy value of 37 kilocalories (kcal) with a water content of approximately 85-90%. Of this, 6.4% are carbohydrates, 1.4% are proteins and 0.6% are fats.

The complete ingredients of yarrow, the coverage of the daily requirement and comparison values with other ingredients can be found in our nutrient tables. In the article Nutrients explained you will get a detailed insight into the topic.

Health effects

The health effects of yarrow are due to the secondary plant substances it contains.

Secondary plant substances

Our article on secondary plant substances provides an overview of the classification of substance groups, their occurrence in food and possible effects on humans. Yarrow contains the following secondary plant substances, among others:

• Isoprenoids: Monoterpenes: camphor, camphene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, beta-thujone, beta-cymene, borneol, limonene, eucalyptol (1,8-cineole), p-cymene, sabinene, carvacrol; Monoterpenoids: linalool; Sesquiterpenes: austricin, beta-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, trans-nerolidol, proazulene, bisabolol; Sesquiterpenoids: isospathulenol, spathulenol, paulitin, isopaulitin, sintenin; Sesquiterpene lactones: guajanolide (achillinin A), achillin, leucodin, millifolide AC, 3-methoxytanapartholide, seco-tanapartholide A, psilostachyin C; Tetraterpenes: carotenoids (lutein) ^2,18,21
• Alkaloids: Pyrrolidine alkaloids (Betonicin) ¹⁸
• Polyphenols: Phenolic acids: hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid, caffeoylquinic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid), hydroxybenzoic acids (salicylic acid); flavonoids: flavonols (quercetin, rutin, myricetin, isorhamnetin), flavones (acacetin, artemetin, luteolin, apigenin, kaempferol, morin, cynaroside, casticin, centaureidin), flavanols (naringin, naringenin); catechols (pyrocatechol); stilbenes (resveratrol) ^18,20,22
• Other nitrogen-containing compounds: Alkamides, Betaines ^3,5,9
• Other organic compounds: coumarins (hydroxycoumarins); Alcohols (cubenol, choline); carboxylic acids (achimilic acid); hydroxycarboxylic acids (mandelic acid); polymers (polyacetylene) ^18,20

However, it should be noted that the composition of the secondary plant substances in yarrow can vary depending on the variety, time of harvest and growing conditions. Therefore, quantities are only of limited use and should only be understood roughly.

So far, around 100 components have been identified in yarrow. In addition to essential oils (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes), it contains bitter-tasting sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids (0.07-1.8%), hydroxycoumarins, phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acids (0.5-1.3%) and caffeoylquinic acids, alkamides, polyacetylenes (= polyethines) and betaines (approx. 0.05%) as well as various minerals (especially potassium). ^2,3,5,9

Yarrow contains 0.2% essential oils, sometimes even more than 1%. In some cultivated varieties, the content is even higher, up to 5.8%. Their composition varies greatly. Basically, they consist of 90% monoterpenes and a small proportion of sesquiterpenes and chemical compounds. ²⁰ The monoterpenes camphene and limonene have anti-inflammatory effects. ¹⁸ In an animal experiment, gastroprotective effects of the monoterpene 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) were found. It is an important agent for healing ulcers. The results indicate an antioxidant and cell-protective (cytoprotective) effect of eucalyptol. ²⁷

On average, 15% (max. 40%) of the essential oil is proazulene, from which chamazulene is obtained by steam distillation. The quality of yarrow is defined as follows in the European Pharmacopoeia : It requires a minimum content of essential oil (0.2%) and the medicinally effective proazulene (0.02%), calculated as chamazulene. In high-quality drugs, the azulene content is 25% of the essential oil. Azulene-free yarrow does not produce an official medicinal drug. ^2,3,9,17

Azulene is a medicinal ingredient responsible for the anti-inflammatory (antiphlogistic) and antispasmodic (spasmolytic) properties of yarrow. The same applies to chamomile. However, in high-quality yarrow, the azulene content can be higher than in chamomile. In addition, yarrow - unlike chamomile - contains bitter substances that promote bile flow (choleretic) and stimulate the appetite. ^10,19

Azulenes and their derivatives are important for the development of new drugs. A clinical study investigated the effectiveness of modified azulene in the treatment of oral mucositis (inflammation of the mucous membrane). Researchers identified fluorinated pyrimidine cancer drugs used in chemotherapy as the trigger for oral mucositis. The results show that the sodium azulene sulfonate L-glutamine studied protects against inflammation of the oral mucosa and alleviates predominant symptoms. ²⁹

The flavonoids kaempferol, luteolin and apigenin are also behind the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (antiphlogistic) effects of yarrow. They prevent or reduce the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart attacks and epilepsy. ²² Luteolin also promotes bile flow, apigenin and luteolin relieve cramps and balance estrogen activity. ²⁰

Cancer research studies focus on the flavonoid kaempferol. Kaempferol is the most common flavonoid in vegetables, fruit and herbs. According to in vitro and in vivo studies, kaempferol works against breast cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation (cell growth and proliferation), preventing cell migration (spread of cancer cells in the body) and triggering apoptosis (cell death). The preventive and healing effect is counteracted by the low oral bioavailability of kaempferol. Scientists are currently looking for solutions to improve the absorption of kaempferol in the body and intensify its effect. ²³ Yarrow contains other secondary plant substances such as linalool, apigenin and p-cymene, which have anti-tumor, i.e. anti-cancer, effects. ¹⁸

Yarrow has a blood pressure-lowering and antimicrobial effect against bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica and against fungi such as Aspergillus niger (black watering can mold) and Candida albicans . The above-mentioned effects have been proven in studies using extracts, essential oils and components of yarrow. ^3,18,20 Yarrow is also used against bacteria that cause tooth decay and plaque. ¹¹

A study with 140 women giving birth for the first time shows the potential of yarrow in wound healing after episiotomy (episectomy). Women who received treatment with yarrow ointment had significantly less pain on the 7th, 10th and 14th day after birth compared to the control group. The skin showed less redness, edema and bleeding. The scientists involved attribute the wound-healing and antimicrobial effect of the ointment to the phenolic acids and flavonoids it contains. ²⁶

Does yarrow help with menstrual pain? A clinical study examined the effect of yarrow tea on women with primary dysmenorrhea over three days each in two menstrual cycles. The intensity of the abdominal pain decreased significantly more in the group that took yarrow tea than in the placebo group. ²⁴

In addition to its analgesic effects, yarrow is also known as an antidiabetic. ¹⁸

Is yarrow good for the liver? Researchers tested the potential liver protection provided by yarrow extracts in an in vivo study (in mice). The research project used a chemical compound that is toxic to the liver: carbon tetrachloride (CCT4). The yarrow extract alleviated the hepatotoxic effect of CCL4 both preventively and as a remedy. The liver-protecting (hepatoprotective) result of yarrow is probably due to the bioactive substances, including flavonoids. ¹³ Other studies assume that the monoterpene linalool has liver-protective (antihepatotoxic) effects. ¹⁸

Dangers - Intolerances - Side effects

So far, there are no known cases of yarrow overdose. Rare side effects include contact allergies and hypersensitivity reactions of the skin. ¹² These manifest as itchy and inflammatory skin changes with blisters (meadow or yarrow dermatitis). People who react sensitively can drip some of the plant juice onto their skin before using yarrow to see if irritation occurs.

Contraindications for the internal or external use of yarrow are hypersensitivity - on the one hand to the active ingredient, on the other hand to other plants from the daisy family (Asteraceae). ¹² Gallstones are another contraindication for treatment with yarrow. ¹⁰ Interactions with other medicines are not known. ¹²

Can yarrow cause allergies? In strains without proazulene, α-peroxyachifolide (a guaianoid) can be present and can be a potential trigger for allergies. Since there is a wide range of yarrow strains, the likelihood of being exposed to this risk is low. ²⁵

There is currently no data on the safety of yarrow use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, or for children under 12 years of age. Therefore, yarrow is not recommended for these target groups. ¹²

Risk of confusion

Is common yarrow poisonous? Yarrow itself ( Achillea millefolium L. sl) is not poisonous, but can easily be confused with the poisonous spotted hemlock ( Conium maculatum ). Especially as a young plant, spotted hemlock is similar in height to yarrow, but when fully grown it can reach a much greater height of up to two meters. The inflorescences look very similar, but if you look closely you can see that spotted hemlock is an umbel flower: all the flower-bearing side axes are attached together at the tip of the stem axis. The inflorescence of yarrow is a composite flower (like dandelions, for example) that is not immediately recognizable, which is why yarrow flowers are also called false umbels.

The stem of the spotted hemlock is smooth, usually reddish spotted or tinged with red. The yarrow has an angular stem, is hairy in the upper part and has no spots. Another distinguishing feature is the pungent smell of the highly poisonous plant. The mere contact of the oral mucous membranes with the spotted hemlock causes a burning sensation in the mouth and increased salivation - up to difficulty swallowing and paralysis of the tongue. Within a short time, consumption can lead to nerve paralysis and respiratory arrest. ⁶

Another very poisonous lookalike of yarrow is giant hogweed ( Heracleum mantegazzianum ). Although the plant is significantly larger than yarrow, the stems are thicker and have red spots, the white umbel flowers can cause uncertainty - primarily in children. Skin contact with hogweed or giant hogweed causes burns that last for weeks and can become worse when exposed to sunlight. ⁶

The inflorescence of ground elder ( Aegopodium podagraria ; an umbelliferous plant) is also similar to that of yarrow; however, like yarrow, ground elder is a non-toxic wild plant and tastes delicious raw.

The characteristic shape of the leaves is useful for clearly identifying yarrow.

Use as a recognized medicinal plant

The Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products ( HMPC ) classified yarrow as a traditional medicine ("traditional use"). Yarrow can be used internally for temporary loss of appetite, for the symptomatic treatment of mild, cramp-like complaints in the gastrointestinal tract (flatulence), for mild cramp-like menstrual complaints and externally for the treatment of small, superficial wounds. These treatments are based on many years of experience. ^3,12

In the case of loss of appetite and gastrointestinal complaints, adolescents, adults and seniors can take the following preparations (internally): three to four times a day between meals, a herbal tea (2-4 g herbal substance per 250 ml water) or a fresh plant juice (5-10 ml, two to ten times a day) or a liquid extract (2-4 ml three times a day) or a tincture (ethanol, 45%, 2-4 ml three times a day) or a weaker tincture (31.5%, 4.3 ml four times a day). In the case of loss of appetite, take the preparation 30 minutes before meals. If the symptoms persist for more than two weeks, you should consult a specialist. ¹²

For mild cramp-like menstrual pain, you can drink yarrow tea (1-2 g of herbal substance per 250 ml of water) two to three times a day. For external skin application, boil a yarrow decoction (3.5 g of herbal substance per 250 ml of water) and use it to impregnate a bandage and apply it to the affected area two to three times a day. If the symptoms do not subside after a week, you should consult a specialist. ¹² The HMPC recommends that you always seek medical advice if you notice any signs of a skin infection.

The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy ( ESCOP ) recommends external use in the form of sitz baths for painful cramps in the female pelvis (pelvipathia vegetativa). According to ESCOP, yarrow can also be used externally for superficial wounds, insect bites and for the treatment of mild skin and mucous membrane inflammations. ^2,3

Folk medicine - natural medicine

The use of yarrow in folk medicine has a long tradition and is present in many cultures around the world. In China, yarrow has been used as a medicinal plant for 4000 years, for example for snake bites and wounds. ⁷ In tradition, yarrow is considered a love plant and was used as a love oracle. ⁵ In European folk medicine, it is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual problems and skin inflammations, among other things. In India, yarrow is traditionally used for fever, in Peru for diabetes and gastritis. ²⁰

Yarrow is considered a special medicinal herb for women and is used for typical women's ailments such as menstrual cramps, hemorrhoids, liver problems, vaginal inflammation (vulvitis, colpitis), excessive sweating and congestion in the venous system. ^3,9,10 A tea mixture for menstrual cramps can consist of yarrow, chamomile, fennel and marjoram . To stimulate the liver and gall bladder, you can use a mixture of yarrow, dandelion leaves and roots, chicory roots, fumitory and agrimony. ¹⁰

Other indications for internal use in traditional medicine include feverish infections, catarrh, digestive disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, prevention of thrombosis after stroke and heart attack, ¹⁴ stomach and intestinal problems, kidney diseases, circulatory disorders of the heart, nerve pain, headaches and toothache as well as chronic liver diseases. ⁷

Externally, common yarrow is used in folk medicine for wounds, nosebleeds, ulcers, eye inflammations, ¹⁴ joint inflammations, impure skin and to stop bleeding. ⁷

Ecological footprint - animal welfare

The CO ₂ footprint of a food depends on numerous factors. Along the value chain, there is information on the emission of climate-damaging gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are expressed in CO ₂ equivalents depending on the climate warming potential of the gases. Depending on the calculation, emissions from agriculture, transport, processing, packaging, storage and consumption are included.

Herbs grown and sold fresh in Europe have a _carbon footprint of 0.17 kg CO ₂ eq/kg. The emissions mentioned are due to agriculture; transport to the point of sale and packaging are not included in this calculation. ³⁰ Despite extensive research, we were unable to find any precise figures on the ecological footprint of yarrow. Dried yarrow may be comparable to dried basil, which has a _carbon footprint of 7.34 kg CO ₂ eq/kg. 52% of this is due to processing and drying, 37% to packaging, and 9% to agriculture. ³¹

Since processing and packaging contribute significantly to climate-damaging emissions, collecting wild herbs or buying fresh, organic produce is recommended from an ecological point of view.

We also do not have any figures on the water footprint .

For detailed explanations of various sustainability indicators (such as ecological footprint, _CO2 footprint, water footprint), see our article: What does the ecological footprint mean?

Animal protection - species protection

Due to the short corolla tubes, the flowers of the yarrow are valued by many insect groups. The flowering period is from June to September (summer and early autumn forage). Forage is the general term for the food that the bees bring in, i.e. nectar, pollen and honeydew. The nectar value of the yarrow is medium and the pollen value low (nectar value and pollen value scale: none, low, medium, high, very high). ¹⁵

Worldwide occurrence - cultivation

The wild food plant is native to the subtropical and temperate zones of Eurasia. Some species of yarrow are found in North Africa and America. Yarrow can be found throughout Europe up to the Arctic Circle and in the Alps. It is a neophyte in South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. ⁴

Yarrow for trade comes from wild stocks and cultures. The main supplier countries are southeastern and eastern European countries, partly also Germany. ³

Cultivation - Harvest

Yarrow is easy to grow yourself; it is suitable for dry areas in the wild plant garden. The plant is very proliferating, which is why cultivation in pots is recommended. ¹⁴

The ideal location is full sun and well-drained. In dry heat, the plants are susceptible to mildew. The flowers attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies, ladybirds and parasitic wasps, which decimate aphids and other pests. ¹⁴

Many gardening suppliers now offer varieties with bright flower colors, such as red, orange or purple yarrow.

Further information

The common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) is a plant species from the daisy family (Asteraceae) and the eponymous species for the species aggregate Achillea millefolium agg. ⁵ In the genus of yarrow ( Achillea ) there are about 200 species. ¹⁶ As mentioned, science summarizes this large number under Achillea millefolium L. sl. ²⁵

Alternative names

There are numerous alternative names for this medicinal plant, which has been popular for thousands of years. Important names in the German-speaking world are Achilleskraut, Blutstillkraut, Gänsezungen, Grützblume, Kachel, Zangeblume, Feldgarbenkraut, Bauchwehkraut, Schafrippenkraut, Garbenkraut, Grundheil and Jungfrauenkraut. ⁵ The name Grundheil is common, but very unspecific, as it has been used for numerous widely used medicinal herbs throughout history, beyond the genus Achillea (e.g. also for the true speedwell = Veronica officinalis ).

The genus name Achillea is a tribute to Achilles: Pliny the Elder associates the plant with this Greek hero, who is said to have used yarrow to heal wounds. On the other hand, the species name millefolium (= thousand leaf) ⁵ alludes to the finely feathered leaves. The German name is probably related to the fact that sheep like to eat the herb. ⁴

In English, yarrow is called yarrow or common yarrow. Other English names include bloodwort, woundwort, yarroway, carpenter's weed or bad man's plaything or devil's plaything.