QA

What To Do With Yarrow

Yarrow is an herb. The above ground parts are used to make medicine. Yarrow is used for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating. Some people chew the fresh leaves to relieve toothache.

What can I do with fresh yarrow?

Yarrow can also be taken as a tea to help fight colds and fevers, and to help detoxify the body. It can be chewed fresh or dry to relieve toothache and can be infused in oil or extracted in alcohol to make solutions that can be rubbed on the body to relieve bruises, burns, rashes and bug bites.

What part of yarrow is edible?

Yarrow has a strong licorice-like scent and a mildly sweet flavor that’s similar to tarragon. This entire plant is edible, but its leaves and flowers are especially popular to use in recipes. They can be dried and used as a spice. But, fresh flowers and leaves are also great for salads, soups, and stews.

How do you eat yarrow?

The root is used for pain including toothaches and is best harvested in fall. Dry yarrow in baskets or paper bags. Dosage: Tea: 1 tablespoon of chopped flowers or leaves per cup of boiled water, steep 10-15 minutes, and drink up to 3 cups a day. Drink hot to break a fever.

Is yarrow toxic to humans?

When taken by mouth: Yarrow is commonly consumed in foods. But yarrow products that contain a chemical called thujone might not be safe. Thujone is poisonous in large doses. In some people, yarrow might cause skin irritation.

How do you cook with yarrow?

To use yarrow for cooking, cut or break leaves from the stems, or cut the whole plant and keep it fresh in a glass of water, taking the leaves off the plant as you need them. The yarrow will stay fresh 2 to 3 days at room temperature, and up to a week in the refrigerator.

Can you eat yarrow raw?

Although the leaves are bitter, they can be eaten raw or cooked; young leaves mixed in with a salad are recommended. Although in general yarrow is a very nutritious and beneficial plant to add to the diet, it is recommended not to eat a lot of it on a regular basis. An aromatic tea is made from the flowers and leaves.

Is yarrow good for the garden?

1. Yarrow may accumulate nutrients. According to this USDA database, yarrow’s deep roots mine the subsoil for potassium, calcium, and magnesium. And according to sources like Gaia’s Garden and Edible Forest Gardens, yarrow may also mine for phosphorus and copper, making it a potentially nutrient-rich mulch.

How do you dry yarrow for tea?

You can dry yarrow in a dehydrator on a low heat setting, or just spread out the herbs on a cookie sheet and dry in a very slow oven. Set the oven as low as it will go so you don’t burn or cook the herbs, and check often. The herbs are “done” when the pieces snap easily and cleanly.

How do you make tea with yarrow?

For yarrow tea, simply put a 1-2 teaspoons of dried yarrow flowers in a tea pot, let it sit for 20 minutes, strain into a cup and enjoy a healthy tea. If you want to treat yourself to a box of freshly dried yarrow you can get it in our Wild Store today.

What does yarrow taste like?

Description/Taste Yarrow is a soft herb, like tarragon. The herb has a strong licorice-like aroma with a sweet flavor and a somewhat bitter and astringent finish. The strong aroma remains even when Yarrow is dried.

How can you tell yarrow from Hemlock?

The biggest difference that yarrow has from poison hemlock is its distinctive frilly, feather-like leaves. You can see pictures of the leaves in my post about foraging yarrow. The flowers also look a bit different, as yarrow is not in the Apiaceae family so does not have a true umbel flower.

Are yarrow leaves edible?

Yarrow has also been used in food and beverages for centuries. Its scent and flavor can be described as similar to anise and tarragon. Yarrow leaves and flowers can be dried and ground into a spice. The leaves and flowers can also be used fresh in salads, soups, stews, and other dishes as a leafy vegetable or garnish.

Is yarrow good for lungs?

Through thinning the blood and increasing circulation, it may also help people with lung congestion to breathe better. The aromatics in yarrow open respiratory passages.

Is yarrow toxic to dogs?

Yarrow can be found in North America, Asia, and Europe. As a perennial herb, it has healing properties that people find beneficial. However, for canines who like to graze on and eat plants, the effects can be toxic. Ingestion of the plant can cause your pet to become quite ill.

How do you use yarrow tincture?

Tinctures are best taken under the tongue where they directly enter the blood stream. They are very strong and may be taken diluted in water, juice or tea. Avoid liquids for 10-15 minutes afterwards. Check with your doctor to be sure the herbs do not interfere with your medications.