The benefits of yarrow as an extract are many. There are also several types of yarrow extract. In this article, we will look at two of the most popular types of yarrow extract and the benefits of them. Written by professional aromatherapist, herbalist, and gardener Sharon Falsetto.
Types of Yarrow Extracts
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is easy to grow in the garden. It also produces several types of extracts. Some of these botanical extracts include:
- Tea infusion
- Essential oil
- Hydrosol
- Tincture
- Infused oil.
Benefits of Yarrow as an Essential Oil
Aromatherapists are most familiar with yarrow (Achillea millefolium) as an essential oil. The flowers and leaves of the plant are either steam or water distilled to extract the essential oil. The essential oil is a beautiful dark blue, or sometimes green, color. It “has a sweet, green, herbaceous-camphoraceous aroma.”1
The benefits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) essential oil include:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic
- Astringent
- Digestive
- Expectorant.
Use for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, wounds, rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, indigestion, hemorrhoids, stress, and constipation.
Benefits of Yarrow as a Tea
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is one of my favorite herbs to use as a tea infusion. The tea can be made from fresh or dried leaves or flowers. Simply infuse the plant material in hot water for about twenty minutes, strain, and drink – although sometimes you might want to use the tea in a bath or a compress. If you have pain, adding yarrow (Achillea millefolium) tea to the bath, is a gentle way to alleviate symptoms. If attending to wounds, a yarrow (Achillea millefolium) compress might be beneficial.
You can learn more about yarrow (Achillea millefolium) tea on our YouTube channel.
Benefits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) tea include:
- Aids in relief of insomnia
- Use in a (tea) compress to stem the bleeding of a wound
- As an aid to indigestion
- Ease muscle aches and pains
- Ease stress
- Alleviate the symptoms of a cold.
Learn More About Yarrow with Sedona Aromatics
If you enjoyed reading this article, check out our Botanical Aromatherapy™ Membership School and our Language of Aromatics™ Course Programs for further information on herbs like yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
References:
- Falsetto, Sharon, 2016, Authentic Aromatherapy, US: Skyhorse Publishing Inc., pp.230-231.
About the Author:
The author of this article has been working in the health care industry since the 1990’s and in the aromatherapy industry since the 2000’s. She is UK-certified aromatherapist and a NAHA Certified Professional Aromatherapist®. She is both a published author and editor in aromatherapy, a consultant, custom blend formulator and, more recently, an herbalist, gardener, and botanical perfumer. She is the author of Authentic Aromatherapy and the current chief editor of the NAHA Aromatherapy Journal. Sharon has grown many herbs and plants in her own garden for the past seven years for study and medicinal purposes. She is currently on a year’s hiatus from gardening due to a recent move but is already planning her new herb and rose garden for next year.
