Achillea millefolium
Achilles' herb, hemostatic and female cycle regulator.
Yarrow gets its name from the Greek hero Achilles who reportedly used it to heal his soldiers. This perennial plant with white or pink flowers is renowned for its hemostatic properties and regulatory action on the menstrual cycle.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is presented here as an educational aromatic culinary herb profile: what people traditionally use it for, how it is commonly prepared, and where the safety boundaries are.
Yarrow gets its name from the Greek hero Achilles who reportedly used it to heal his soldiers. The important nuance is that the form matters: tea, powder, tincture, capsule and essential oil can produce different exposure levels and different risks.
Use this page as a practical starting point for cycle and hormonal balance support, not as a diagnosis or treatment plan. The safest approach is to compare the expected benefit, the preparation, the dose context and your personal health situation before deciding whether the plant belongs in your routine.
polyphenols and flavonoids, bitter or carminative compounds
The evidence picture for Yarrow depends heavily on the plant part, preparation and dose. Traditional use is a useful signal, but it is not the same as proof for every modern health claim.
The strongest claims on this page are kept practical and cautious: Hemostatic, Cycle regulator, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Healing. They should be read as areas of traditional or researched interest, not guaranteed outcomes.
If you use medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a chronic condition, or plan to use a concentrated extract, review the precautions first and ask a qualified professional.
As infusion, tincture, poultice or sitz bath.
Infuse 1-2 teaspoons of dried flowering tops in 250ml boiling water for 10 minutes. 2-3 cups per day.
| Decision point | What to check |
|---|---|
| Common forms | As infusion, tincture, poultice or sitz bath. |
| Preparation baseline | Infuse 1-2 teaspoons of dried flowering tops in 250ml boiling water for 10 minutes. 2-3 cups per day. |
| Best-fit context | cycle and hormonal balance support; cycle comfort and inflammation-aware routines; comfort during occasional pain or inflammatory tension |
| When to pause | Contraindicated during pregnancy. |
| Quality marker | Dried herbs should smell vivid, not dusty; replace old kitchen herbs when aroma has faded. |
Compare Yarrow with plants that share the same goal, then choose based on preparation, safety profile and your context. A gentle tea, a standardized extract and an essential oil should never be treated as the same intervention.