Merry Meet!
I’ve been learning more about this wonderful herb and would love to share a bit about its uses for fellow Green Witches. Also, as I just ordered a whopping 200g bag of it, I’m putting a call for new ways in which a witch might put it to good use! 
Yarrow is a very common herb that some gardeners might classify as a weed- but this simple-looking plant is loaded with medicinal and magickal benefits!
Yarrow Medicinal Uses
Medicinally, yarrow gets its name from the legend that it was used by the Greek warrior Achilles to treat battlefield injuries by helping to stop blood loss. Modern gardeners sometimes keep a yarrow plant in the yard for quick treatment of normal cuts, bruises, and scratches that happen during garden work 
The second part of yarrow’s latin name (millefolium) comes from the “millions” of cute, feathery branches of yarrow’s leaves. It is a particularly cute and fuzzy plant that is soft to the touch, especially when young!
Gardener’s Aid: Yarrow for Small Cuts
To quickly stop bleeding from a cut, cut a leaf from yarrow (cleaning it if possible). Chew the leaf to break it apart and mix it slightly with saliva. Apply the yarrow mixture onto a cut and cover it with a bandaid. It should cause bleeding to stop quickly. Later, follow up with proper cleaning of the closed wound.
In some traditions, Yarrow is believed to be anti-inflammatory and can taken internally as an aid for digestion. It can be included in teas and tinctures for digestive aids where it is used to treat constipation and relieve flatulence 
Yarrow is also considered to be a women’s herb and has been used to help treat menstrual cramps among other ailments during “that time of the month”- including helping to prevent heavy bleeding (source). For treatment of menstrual issues, yarrow can be taken internally as a tea or applied externally to the abdomen.
Yarrow Tea for Menstrual Cramps
To make a yarrow infusion, pour a cup of boiling water over one tablespoon of dried yarrow. Allow it to steep for 15 minutes. (recipe from Dary Podlasia)
Add one spoonful of honey- which also has anti-inflammatory properties.
Drink once or twice a day, two to three days before your period is expected to begin. Continue to drink when cramps begin. Stop drinking when cramps have eased.
Yarrow Magickal Uses
While the traditional herbalist uses for yarrow are abundant, I’m having a harder time tracking down clear information about the magickal uses of this plant (so for those who have correspondences for yarrow- I would be super grateful if you could share them below! Thank you! 
)
I did find some magickal properties of yarrow listed on Wicca Now:
Yarrow is great if you want to set magickal boundaries. It can help you regulate creative energies so that you have a steady flow of inspiration. Use this magickal herb if you want a little steadiness and calm in your life as it’s a herb which improves intentional restraint and precision. Yarrow is an excellent healer of emotional wounds.
Place yarrow over doorways to protect from negative energies. For powerful protection, pick yarrow flowers and charge them in the sun. Once charged, take the flowers and sprinkle them outside all the way around your home. This will keep any negative influences and energies away from your home. Yarrow can be used very effectively to banish bad habits in this way as well.
From Wicca Now: The Incredible Magickal Properties of Yarrow
Safety notes
Note that there are approximately 80 different varieties of yarrow around the world- this discussion is only talking about Achillea millefolium aka “Common Yarrow”. In the wild, Yarrow may appear similar to dangerous plants such as poison hemlock- for safety reasons, only use plants that you are 100% sure about their identity.
Herbs can be very potent- it is always a good idea to check with your medical professional and/or a certified herbalist to make sure a new herb is right for you. Always use caution when consuming new herbs and plants.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and the information here is shared simply in the name of discussion, it is not intended to be a medical diagnosis, treatment, or cure.
Sources & Additional Reading
- WebMD : Yarrow: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, and More
- Dary Podlasia : Krwawnik (Achillea millefolium)
- Natural Fertility : Yarrow
- MOA : Yarrow A Magical Herb and Gardner’s Friend
Have you used Yarrow in your practice?
- Yes! I have used yarrow medicinally
- Yes! I have used yarrow magickally
- No, I haven’t- but I’d like to try
- No, yarrow doesn’t look like an herb for me
If you’ve interacted with yarrow before (medically, magically, or in the garden)- please feel free to share any tips, spells, or ways to put it to good use in the comments below!
Blessed be! 
We are relocating again in a month and this is definitely not going to work in the suitcase- please feel free to suggest ways (especially magickal!) for how to use yarrow!
Toward the bottom of the wiki page for yarrow is a section on culture that has a lot of different cultural uses.
From now on I’m not ordering anything bigger than 100g at once lol. Lesson learned! 
I found 
And hahaha no kidding, with this bag there should be plenty to experiment, make gifts, and still have some left over 
