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Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium)
pronounced ak-il-EE-a
mille = 1000; folium = leaves
This species of yarrow (of
which there are about 500) has leaves parted
into thousands of fine divisions they look like floppy green feathers.
Not a native plant...naturalized from Europe.
Early History:
Yarrow has a great story behind its botanical Family name, Achillea .
In Greek mythology the soldiers under Achilles carried yarrow with them when they stormed the walls of Troy. Achilles had been a pupil of the centaur Chiron, who was famed for his medical knowlrdge. Chiron taught that yarrow leaves could slow or stop the flow of blood from arrow and spear wounds.
Real Roman soldiers actually used yarrow to staunch blood and sterilize wounds. Invading "barbarian" soldiers from the north grabbed some yarrow and took it home with them. In fact, they are the ones that coined the word "yarrow" (actually, the ancient Anglo-Saxon word they used sort of sounded like yarrow and over a thousand years became yarrow). One thousand years ago the Anglo-Saxons listed yarrow in books of important plants (hand written books because the printing press was not yet invented).
The following information is so silly I don't believe it...but, here goes: Early English botanists called it "nose-bleed" because if you stuffed it up your nose it would cause it to bleed! I should think so!!! My guess is the story got confused somewhere along the line. Given all the other reported uses, it sounds more likely that it would help staunch a nose bleed. What do you think?
In the Middle Ages every castle and monastery had yarrow growing in the herb garden. Leaves were still used to press on wounds. Teas were made from the leaves to control melancholy. The Scots in the Highlands thought it helped control baldness! And Gerard, a famous writer of an ancient herb book that was printed, thought it worked for toothache if you chewed the leaves.
How it got here, there and everywhere:
If you guessed the early Colonists, you are right. They used it like the ancients to control bleeding. They also used it to clarify (get rid of cloudiness) and flavor their beer (this was before the importation of hops which is the usual plant for that purpose).
The Native Americans saw the usefulness of yarrow and began to grow it too. They used it to reduce swellings, as well as the staunching of blood.
The Shakers, a religious groups known for, among other things, their good sense in designing furniture and farming, packaged the seeds and sold them for many years. Pioneers took it west with them and planted it in their gardens. Now it grows in almost every state, a "wild" plant!
In our gardens we usually grow improved varieties, ones that plant breeders have developed for brighter colors and bigger blooms.
We will have to remember to dry some of the yarrow and make an arrangement for the library this winter.
Study Pointers:
- Smell some bruised leaves of the yarrow. The smell is not unpleasant. It is distinctive and will help you remember the plant. Look at the plant closely as you sniff the leaf.
(Sounds silly? Well, it has been scientifically proven that memories connected with smells can be brought back more easily! Try smelling a lemon or mint while you study for a test; rub the lemon on your hand before taking the test to help bring back the information!)
- Research the religious group the Shakers. They had a thriving seed business in the late 1800s. They invented the circular saw, you know. Visit one of their settlements (now a museum) in Hancock Massachusetts. You will see blacksmiths, and herbs used for food and for dyeing yarn. They sponsor a summer, week-long workshop if you want to learn to be a blacksmith.
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