Witchy Ways To Use Yarrow

This is an incredibly powerful little weed

I had a request that the Behind The Scenes for Dream Lord Wars Chapter 5 be something witchy! I was going to talk about grounding, but then Ms. Bubbly invited us over to her place to harvest yarrow, and Ms. Marvelous didn’t know what to do with it.

Frankly, neither did I. Have I done stuff with it? Yes. Have I used it to its full extent? No. Have I done anything with this for the past decade and a half?

Hahahahaahahahahahaahaha!

*gasps for air and then sobers up*

No.

The only thing I really remembered before I got started was that we’d gather leaves, chew them, and put them on wounds when we were out and about, and didn’t want to go home. So, to freshen my memory and to help my dear, dear friend out, here’s the research I re-gathered along with some very helpful articles!

Yarrow Is Healthy!

I’m not a health professional, so don’t hold me to that. But there are a lot of benefits to this little weed! Well, it’s not too little. It actually goes up to my waist. But whatever. It’s important to remember that a lot of this stuff hasn’t been scientifically studied well. In order to gain solid results, you need blind tests and control studies, along with people who are going to follow the rules lined out in the study. That just doesn’t happen when we’re talking about weeds. Tests are expensive and the companies who run these typically want to invest in things that will pay for themselves and at least two yachts.

Medicine men and women have been running their own experiments for hundreds of years, and that should count for something.

Due to the nature of the plant and what it has within it (the types of oils and tannins, resin, and alkaloids, and such) we have a fairly decent understanding of what the plant is capable of. Here are a few:

• anti-fungal

• anti-inflammatory

• antibacterial

• circulatory stimulant

• digestant

Those are the ones I’m familiar with. Depending on which site you go to, there are more things it can potentially do. I recommend checking out Witchy Gypsy Momma. She’s a lovely wealth of knowledge.

Growing up, we typically used it on wounds as an antibacterial and a healing helper (I’ve been formatting all day, so words are hard right now. *mutters under breath* “Healing helper.” Well, that’s what it does. OMG). However, I’ve since learned you could use it to:

• warm up cold feet (because it stimulates your circulatory system)

• acute stages of colds, influenza, and chest colds

• hay fever

• hemorrhoids

• burns

• inflammations of the skin

• circulation issues

Uses

Growing up, we used to make a poultice. We didn’t do much, either. We just took the leaves, chewed them, and put them right on the wound until we could get into the house, which, you know, sometimes would take all day.

I put yarrow in the broom over the main door as it magickly represents:

• Healing

• Protection

• Love

• Clarity

• Courage

• Removes energetic blocks

Just keep in mind that it will shed as it dries. You might have to do a little extra dusting through Christmas, but then you’ll be good until you can replace the yarrow the following summer.

Use yarrow to aid you in your boundary work. It gives off a nice smell that physically reminds you that you wanted to create those boundaries, and it gives you the clarity of mind to realize the courage you bring every day to enforce them.

Yarrow can be used to keep negative energies out of your home or business. Everyone talks about sage, but this little weed grows everywhere and it’s super effective. If you want to give it an extra boost, let it soak in the sun a while before using in the home.

Cosmetic Recipes

Thanks to Jane who shared a fantastic story about her uncle who was a bit of a herbalist and medicine man, I now know you can use yarrow for hair loss. But after doing some research, nettles is another key ingredient! And guess what grows right next to yarrow? Nettles.

Hair Loss Tea

Take a handful of yarrow and nettle leaves

Crush them in a mortar

Add 8 oz boiling water

Let steep

Strain leaves out

Apply this tea to your shampooed hair and scalp

The nettles have anti inflammatory agents as well, and the two together ensure your scalp is healthy and reduces the amount of lost hair.

Conclusion

There are a few other things you can do with yarrow. I can’t wait for the Gal Pals to gather and do some yarrow magick-ness, though, we’d better hurry. We’re about to miss the harvest window. Ms. Bubbly is the real witch. I feel like I’m just talking the talk next to her. She actually makes time to gather and use these.

I’ll get there. I will.

But for now, I do have some yarrow hanging up to dry in my plant room and my broom yarrow has been replaced. I’m not a complete chair-potato witch.