An herb that is closely related to chamomile and chrysanthemums, yarrow has been widely used since ancient times by a wide range of cultures and civilizations. It has long been used to reduce inflammation of the digestive tract but can also be applied topically onto wounds and cuts or to help alleviate bleeding.
Believe it or not, yarrow was once used as widely as spinach as a vegetable, however, these days it is hardly regarded as a food source at all in many countries. Instead of being eaten as a vegetable, which it could be, yarrow is looked upon more like a natural remedy.
Some of the healing properties of yarrow are far more impressive than others, but when you look at them all for their own merit, it’s easy to see why so many people swear by yarrow as a natural remedy for treating a wide range of problems.
1. Helps Skin Wounds
A natural antiseptic, it is not hard to see why yarrow has long been a popular choice for indigenous people when it comes to treating wounds. The topical application of yarrow is highly effective in preparing a wound to ward off infection and so it is most often prepared as a key ingredient in ointments and creams to do just that.
Perhaps most impressively of all, yarrow has even been found to be effective when it comes to treating wounds caused by napalm. The fact that such a devastating injury as a napalm wound can be aided and eased with a humble plant is a testament to the power of nature and how it is all the more mighty than even the harshest weapon man can make.
War wounds, where people may have suffered napalm injuries can be effectively treated in the field with yarrow-infused agents, and this is perhaps how it gained its classical name of ‘herbal militaris’. Impressive stuff.