Stack Genius ingredient guide
Yarrow
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial flowering herb with feathery leaves and flat-topped white or pink flower clusters, native to temperate regions across the Northern Hemisphere.
Overview
Yarrow is that unassuming meadow herb with feathery leaves and small white flower clusters that has been used in Western herbal traditions since ancient times. Its botanical name honors the mythological Greek hero Achilles, who was said to have used the plant on battlefield wounds. Yarrow contains a mix of volatile oils (including azulene compounds that give some preparations a blue color), flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids.
In modern supplements, yarrow shows up in digestive bitters and appetite-support formulas, women's health preparations focused on menstrual comfort, seasonal wellness blends, and topical wellness products. It is sold as loose dried herb for tea, tinctures, capsules, and as an ingredient in traditional multi-herb formulas.
Yarrow is a genuinely traditional Western herbal ingredient rather than a modern supplement invention, and its documented uses are well aligned with its chemistry. That said, it is not a passive ingredient: the aromatic compounds have real physiological activity, and there are considerations for pregnancy, allergies to related plants, and certain medications.
Key takeaways
- Yarrow is a traditional Western herbal ingredient with centuries of documented use.
- It appears in bitters, digestive, women's health, and seasonal wellness formulas.
- It is contraindicated in pregnancy and in people with ragweed family allergies.
Practical guidance
What to know before adding Yarrow
Evidence snapshot
Yarrow has strong ethnobotanical documentation and traditional Western herbal use, and laboratory studies support anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity from its essential oil compounds. Human clinical trial data is limited, so most modern supplement claims rest on tradition plus mechanism rather than large trials. NCCIH frames traditional Western herbs with modest evidence bases as areas for measured expectations.
What to look for on the label
Look for the botanical name Achillea millefolium, aerial parts as the plant part used, and any standardization to essential oil content or azulene. Tinctures should list alcohol percentage. Capsules should provide extract ratios or plain milligram amounts. Wild-harvested or organic sourcing is common in this category.
What makes a better product
Better yarrow products use flowering tops and leaves harvested at peak potency, use gentle drying to preserve volatile oils, and specify the country of origin. Tinctures should use appropriate alcohol strength to extract both water- and oil-soluble constituents. Third-party testing for pesticides matters because yarrow is often wild-harvested from roadside or agricultural margins.
Watch-outs
Yarrow is a poor fit during pregnancy because of traditional uterine-effect concerns. People with ragweed/daisy-family allergies may react to it. Blood thinners, antiplatelet drugs, bleeding disorders, surgery planning, and photosensitivity-prone skin are the main safety contexts to flag.
Dosing & Timing
Traditional tea preparations use 1 to 2 grams of dried herb per cup, up to three cups daily. Tincture doses are typically 2 to 4 mL, three times daily. Capsule products commonly deliver 300 mg to 600 mg per serving. Timing with meals is common for digestive-support uses. Not intended for long-term continuous use.
Safety and interaction context
Contraindicated in pregnancy. Cross-reactivity in people with ragweed, daisy, or chrysanthemum allergies. May interact with anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, blood pressure medications, and sedatives. Discontinue before scheduled surgery. Some individuals develop skin sensitization with topical use. Not for extended daily use in nursing without professional guidance.
Sources
- NCCIH Herbs at a GlanceHerbal ingredient reference
- MedlinePlus Dietary SupplementsConsumer safety context
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