Yarrow essential oil is derived by steam distillation of flowers and leaves of the yarrow plant which is used for various therapeutic applications. Botanically, the Yarrow plant is called Achillea Millefolium, which is a perennial plant that is widely found in Europe. It is used to provide relief from various ailments and diseases with significant importance for European culture. This essential oil possesses vital components such as Borneol Acetate, Alpha Pinene, Beta Pinene, Borneol, Cineole, Camphene, Chamazulene, Isoartemisia Ketone, Gamma Terpinene, Tricyclene, Sabinene, and Limonene. It possesses therapeutic properties such as antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, hemostatic, astringent, and cicatrizant activity that assists the healing of wounds. It is used for maintaining skin health and treats or soothes inflammation. Its aroma helps to lower stress and is helpful for insomnia problems. It reduces hay fever symptoms and allergy.

Yarrow essential oil facts

History

It is inherent to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, North America, and Europe. It is also introduced in New Zealand as well as Australia.

Health Benefits of Yarrow essential oil

This essential oil helps to treat the conditions such as fever caused due to cold, indigestion, inflammation, and heartburn. It possesses antiseptic, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, carminative, astringent, decongestant, cicatrisant, digestive, diaphoretic, emollient, emenagogue, febrifuge, expectorant, hemostatic, stomachic, hypotensive, tranquilizer, tonic, and vulnerary properties.

1. Lower inflammation

Yarrow essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that help to lower inflammation associated with respiratory tracts or nasal that is caused due to common cold, overeating of spicy food, toxins, or inflammation of the circulatory system.

2. Assist circulation

It is helpful for arthritic and rheumatic patients. It enhances circulation and prevents the chances of accumulation of uric acid in muscles and joints. It is a cure for arthritis and rheumatism. It has diaphoretic properties that help to eliminate toxins through perspiration from the human body.

3. Prevent infections

It possesses antiseptic properties that protect the wounds from becoming septic and prevents fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. It assists in the activation of blood platelets and leucocytes on the affected areas. Additionally, it has fungicidal and bacterial properties that eliminate germs.

4. Relaxing property

Spasm might be harmful and could result in serious problems. It could cause uninterrupted coughs that could result in cramps of the nervous system. The cause spasm in the intestines could cause abdominal pain and increase painful cramps in muscles. It has anti-spasmodic and relaxation effects on nerves, muscles, respiratory tracts, and intestines.

5. Overall health

It possesses astringent properties that assist in the contraction of tissues, muscles, and blood vessels. It secures the teeth by the contraction of the gums. It also eliminates hair loss and strengthens the hair follicles. Moreover, it improves saggy muscles and skin which are associated with aging, and provides younger skin. It could lower hemorrhage and bleeding by assisting in the contraction of blood vessels.

6. Digestive ailments

It provides relief from heaviness in the chest, indigestion, loss of appetite, chest pain, flatulence, and stomach aches. It eliminates gas from the intestines and prevents buildup.

7. Skin health

This essential oil has cicatrisant properties that provide an anti-scar and anti-mark activity. It is far better than petroleum gels that help to cure scars and eliminate marks caused by acne, wounds, boils, and pimples.

8. Relieve fever

Yarrow essential oil helps to increase perspiration and eliminates extra salt, toxins, and water from the body. It cools the body and provides relief from the fever that also assists in losing weight because urination reduces fat by approximately 4 percent.

9. Supports digestion

Yarrow essential oil helps to promote digestion. It enhances the digestive juice secretion and restores the health of digestive organs and liver health.

10. Clears congestion

It has expectorant properties that clear away the congestion in the bronchi, chest, and nose by providing relief from phlegm. It treats cures and controls coughs.

11. Regular menstruation

It is helpful for people with obstructed menses by making it more regular. Additionally, it provides relief from the problems related to the periods such as a headache, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pains. It also prevents the chances of early menopause.

12. Moisturize skin

Yarrow essential oil helps to hold in moisture by providing younger and smoother skin. It prevents the skin from cracking, dryness, infections, and marks.

13. Prevents bile

It is effective to treat stomachic by maintaining the proper flow of digestive juices. It balances the bile and acid. It also cures the wounds in the stomach and provides relief from inflammation.

14. Tones body

Yarrow essential oil helps to tone the body. It assists in nutrient absorption by toning the stomach, liver, and intestines. Moreover, it assists in excretion and regulates endocrinal secretions of enzymes and hormones. It enhances the immune system by preventing the chances of infections.

15. Solves insomnia problem

This essential oil has the ability to cure insomnia, stress and assist relaxation. It relaxes the brain, nerves, and muscles and lowers blood pressure, and provides sound and uninterrupted sleep. It is far better in comparison to sleeping pills, narcotics, and alcohol that provide various side effects.

16. Reduce fever

Yarrow oil has febrifuge properties that lower the body temperature by promoting perspiration and preventing the infection caused by fever. It lowers the inflammation caused by fever.

17. Prevent hemorrhage

Yarrow essential oil lowers hemorrhaging due to the presence of hemostatic properties. It stops hemorrhage by bringing out the contraction in hemorrhaging blood vessels.

18. Lowers blood pressure

It is helpful for patients with hypertension, brain hemorrhage, and heart attack to lower blood pressure and maintain it. It should not be used for long periods of time.

   19. Possibly Expectorant

Being an expectorant, it may clear congestion in the chest, bronchi, and nose, while relieving them of phlegm. It also helps cure colds and is particularly beneficial in controlling coughs.

    20. Can Act As Emenagogue

The obstructed menses can be turned on with the help of this essential oil and can be made regular. Furthermore, the other problems associated with periods, such as fatigue, headache, abdominal pains, or nausea can also be tackled with the help of this oil. This essential oil can also help avoid early or untimely menopause from occurring.

   21. Possibly Emollient

The essential oil of Yarrow may hold the secret to smoother and younger skin with a balanced amount of moisture in it. It keeps skin free from dryness, cracks, infections and visible, unsightly marks.

   22. Can Act as Stomachic

A stomachic keeps your stomach in good condition by maintaining the proper flow of digestive juices into it. This is done by maintaining the right balance between the acid and bile (so that excess acid are neutralized) and by curing the wounds, if any, in the stomach. It soothes the stomach and gives relief from inflammation.

   23. May Act As A Tonic

This property of Yarrow essential oil may tone up the whole body. It can optimize the metabolic functions like decomposition of food and the absorption of nutrients by toning up the liver, stomach, and intestines, and helps you grow stronger and healthier. Furthermore, it takes care of proper excretion, may help regulate the endocrinal secretions of hormones and enzymes, and tones up the nervous system, thus making you more alert and active, while finally, it boosts the immune system, protecting you from infections.

    24. Possibly Vulnerary

If a diluted solution of this oil is applied on wounds, or blended with a skin cream and applied, it can help your wounds heal faster and keep them protected from infections. This oil is equally beneficial in healing internal wounds, cuts, and ulcers.

   25. Possibly Tranquilizing

This property of Yarrow essential oil can be a blessing for those who suffer from insomnia and excessive stress and starve for a bit of relaxation and sound sleep. This can cause relaxation in the nerves, brain, and muscles; reduce blood pressure, and brings about sound, refreshing sleep. This is far better than using alcohol, narcotics, and sleeping pills packed with potentially harmful substances which can ruin your health in the long run.

   26. Febrifuge Property

The febrifuge property of Yarrow oil helps to bring down body temperature by promoting perspiration (being diaphoretic in nature) as well as by fighting the infections which cause fever. It may also give relief from inflammation that results from fever.

   27. Possibly A Hemostatic

This oil can efficiently bring down and even stop hemorrhaging due to its possible hemostatic properties. Again, this property comes from its astringent property, which brings about contractions in the hemorrhaging blood vessels, thus stopping the hemorrhage.

Traditional uses

• It provides relief from headaches, pain, and hot flashes.
• It lowers muscle spasms and swelling.
• It treats indigestion, bowel syndrome, and gas.
• It prevents the chances of flu and cold.
• It helps to lower fever.
• It provides relief from stress and speeds up the healing process of wounds.
• Massage with the mixture of Jojoba oil, sesame oil, almond oil, and 2-3 drops of Yarrow essential oil by providing relief from digestive problems.
• Massage with 5 ml of base oil and 5 drops of essential oil. It provides relief from varicose veins.
• Put a few drops of Yarrow essential oil in a poultice that helps to soothe both external and internal hemorrhoids.
• Massage with the mixture of 2 tbsp. of base oil and 5 to 8 drops of yarrow essential oil that provides relief from painful joints.
• To provide relief from nasal congestion, rub the mixture of 5 drops each of thyme, eucalyptus, peppermint, and yarrow oil on the back, throat, and chest.
• To provide relief from tooth pain, put 3-4 drops of yarrow essential oil to the tooth by putting in a cotton ball.
• Oily hair and scalp could be treated by adding 4 to 5 drops of Yarrow essential oil to the herbal shampoo.
• Add 15 to 20 drops of Yarrow essential oil to the sitz bath that helps to promote regular menstruation and relieves urinary tract infections.
• Diffuse 4 to 5 drops in aromatherapy.

Typical Use

Yarrow Powder

Yarrow Powder can be added to smoothies, encapsulated or mixed with a little water or juice. It can be also be used topically on minor wounds and made into a healing salve.

Yarrow Tincture

Traditional Use: 2-3ml taken 2-3 times per day, or as directed by a Herbal Practitioner.

Yarrow Herb Tea

Use 1-2 teaspoons per cup of boiling water and steep for 5 -10 minutes depending on taste.

Yarrow Essential Oil

Yarrow essential oil can be used in the bath or vaporized in an oil burner. It can be added to massage oil or cream. Use 6-8 drops per bath and 10 -18 drops per 30ml of carrier oil.
Blends well with; valerian, oakmoss, vetivert, ylang-ylang, cedar, lavender, and german chamomile essential oils. It enhances the aroma of black pepper, bergamot, and grapefruit essential oils.

Directions

For digestive upset using a 1-3% dilution with your favorite Plant Therapy carrier oil massage onto the abdomen in a clockwise motion. When rough, reddened skin ails you, combine a drop of Organic Blue Yarrow and German Chamomile with 2 teaspoons of your favorite Plant Therapy carrier oil and apply topically to the affected areas.

Possible Side Effects

While a “natural” product, keep in mind that even natural substances can have side effects and drug interactions and you should treat these products as you would pharmaceutical drugs. Yarrow is generally considered safe to use medicinally but possible side effects may include:

• Drowsiness
• Increased urination
• Skin irritation when used topically (such as for wound healing)

However, some groups of people may face additional risks from taking yarrow supplements.

Slowed Blood Clotting

Theoretically, yarrow could slow blood clotting. It’s recommended that you stop taking yarrow at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery. If you need emergency surgery, make sure the medical staff knows of this potential risk.

Similarly, people with known bleeding disorders should avoid the use of yarrow without first speaking to a healthcare provider, as it could increase the risk of bleeding.

Allergies

If you’re allergic to plants that are members of the Asteraceae/Compositae family, you may also be allergic to yarrow. Other plants in the family include:

• Chrysanthemums
• Daisies
• Marigolds
• Ragweed

If you have plant allergies but don’t know for sure about this particular group of plants, talk to your healthcare provider before taking yarrow.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Yarrow is not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. When taken orally, yarrow is believed to be able to stimulate a woman’s menstrual cycle. That means it could put you at risk for miscarriage if you take it while you’ll pregnant.

So far, we don’t know enough about the risk of yarrow during breastfeeding, so it’s safest to avoid using it until after your baby is weaned.

Drug Interactions

Yarrow is believed to have a negative interaction with the following medications.

• Lithium: Yarrow may cause this drug to stay in your system longer.
• Anti-inflammatories, anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs: These can also slow blood clotting.
• Sedatives: Yarrow may act as a sedative as well.
• Antacids and other medications that decrease stomach acid such as H2-blockers and proton pump inhibitors: Yarrow may increase stomach acid, and therefore, decrease the effectiveness of antacids.

Avoid yarrow if you’re taking any of these and be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before adding it to your treatment regimen.

Selection, Preparation, and Storage

There’s no established standard dosing for yarrow, although daily dosing of 250 mg to 500 mg has been used safely for up to a year in some studies. The amount that’s needed to be effective may vary from person to person depending on several factors as well as what the yarrow is being taken for.

Yarrow supplements are available as capsules, tablets, essential oils, and tinctures.

Always follow instructions on product labels and include your healthcare provider and pharmacist in your decisions. Look for yarrow supplementation that is certified by a third party if purchasing it in a store. Otherwise, you can plant your own yarrow. It thrives in dry and warm climates and is typically grown during springtime.

Precautions                                                                                                 

• Pregnant women should avoid it.
• It should not be used undiluted.
• Don’t use it on eyes and mucous membranes.
• It is not for internal use.
• Always perform a patch test before use.
• It has neurotoxic properties that could result in skin irritation and headaches if used for a prolonged period of time.

References

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