Yarrow: A Powerful Partner for Healing Wounds

How to use yarrow for integumentary impairments.

May 01, 2025

Let’s talk about an herb that is a rock star when it comes to wound healing AND is easy to cultivate. It grows happily in my garden, and although we are highlighting its integumentary benefits, just know it offers much more.

That being said, I think yarrow should be in every medicinal garden.

I’ve been fascinated with yarrow ever since I discovered her in the wild, and since I specialized in wound care for many years, I especially love yarrow’s affinity for the skin.

Thus, this post focuses entirely on the topical healing properties of yarrow. Besides, if we were to discuss all the medicinal uses, it would be a very long post!

Yarrow is just one example of many herbs that are awesome for wounds, and I’m sure you have your favorite. But hopefully after reading this you will have a new appreciation for this plant.

Before you use yarrow (or any herbs topically), check for potential allergens. Err on the side of caution because you don’t want to worsen the skin issue inadvertently.

You can also listen to the podcast version here.

Yarrow - The Ancient Wound Ally

Yarrow has served as a wound healer for centuries and can be found growing wild worldwide. It’s an easy herb to cultivate, loves the sun, and is drought-tolerant. A total win-win herb all around.

Its scientific name is Achillea millefolium. The genus name Achillea is derived from Achilles, the renowned warrior of Greek mythology, who is said to have carried plant extracts to heal wounds during battle.

The species name millefolium means “a thousand leaves” because of its feather-like leaves.

Identification

Yarrow grows much larger when cultivated compared to the wild yarrow, and once you know what it looks like, it’s easy to identify. It has a distinctive smell that is difficult to describe, but it is similar to camphor.

It can grow up to 3 feet tall and wide with feathery leaves arranged alternately along the stiff, almost woody stem. Each plant can have more than one stem arising from the dissected basal leaves.

The blooms are composed of numerous small white blossoms with yellow centers, arranged in flat-topped clusters. Flowers are first seen in early June and will continue to bloom into the fall.

The native pollinators are crazy for these flowers, and you will see all sorts of insects enjoying the abundance of blooms.

Note: Some cultivars of yarrow have pink or orange flowers, but wild yarrow will showcase only white flowers.

All parts of the plant are medicinal, though the leaves are the most commonly used in medicinal remedies.

Some sources name Queen Anne’s Lace and Poison Hemlock as possible lookalikes, but in my opinion, they are easy to distinguish from one another.

That goes to say, before harvesting yarrow, be 100% sure of the identification.

Medicinal Properties for Wound Healing

Styptic
Yarrow is well-known for its ability as a styptic. This means it helps stop external bleeding by constricting the vessels and promoting the blood to form a clot.
A wound cannot begin healing if there is too much bleeding. Hemostasis is the first stage of wound healing, and the process will not progress until blood flow is reduced.
Precautions: Do not use if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Yarrow is considered a harmonizer, meaning it can either staunch blood flow or promote it, depending on the situation and its intended use.
Anti-inflammatory
The second stage of wound healing is inflammation. Although you want some inflammatory response to activate the white blood cells, excessive inflammation can impede the healing cascade.
That’s where yarrow can be helpful: not only for open wounds but also for inflammation from an insect bite or other trauma to the skin.
Antimicrobial
The last thing you need when a wound is healing is an infection.
Wound infections are caused by unwanted microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and yeast. However, the most common organisms that cause problems are those cheeky fellows, bacteria. 🦠
Fortunately, yarrow is an antimicrobial, and working with it from the beginning will help inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
Given the rampant rise of antibiotic resistance, using topical antimicrobials (when appropriate) is a wise first step.
Itty bitty yarrow growing in the greenhouse

Yarrow Preparations for Wounds

There are many preparation options for yarrow in wound care. It’s nice to have a remedy on hand and to know how to use it directly from the garden or along the trail for those times you don’t have access to a pre-made remedy.

Always use common sense when deciding if a wound should be treated at a medical facility—we are talking about everyday cuts, scrapes, and superficial wounds here.

➡️ Powder

Grind dried yarrow leaves into a fine powder. To use: apply a small amount directly to the wound and cover with a dressing.

For a nosebleed, dab a small amount in the affected nostril with a Q-tip or your finger, and then apply pressure to the nares until the bleeding stops.

➡️ Infused oil

Fill a jar loosely with roughly chopped fresh or dried yarrow leaves. Then cover with an oil of your choice, such as olive or jojoba oil. Allow to sit in a cool spot for 4-6 weeks, shaking occasionally. Strain and store in a cool, dark place until ready to use.

To use: Apply to minor cuts and scrapes to stop bleeding. Additionally, apply a small amount inside the nostril to help with nosebleeds. It can also be used on bug bites, stings, and rashes.

Don’t forget to save some of the oil to make a salve. 😉

➡️ Salve

A salve is made with oil and beeswax. Basically, use 1 oz of beeswax to 8 oz of oil (depending on how firm you like your salve). I won't go into full detail on how to make a salve in this article, but paid subscribers will receive a video on salve making soon!

I love salves because they are easy to carry and to use. I use it on wounds just like an antibiotic ointment, and apply it directly to bug bites to relieve itching.

➡️ Compress

This is a great way to utilize yarrow in the field for first aid, particularly when camping or backpacking. To make a compress, brew a very strong tea using yarrow leaves and allow it to infuse for as long as possible.

Once the infusion is ready, take a washcloth or another piece of cloth and soak it in the infusion. Squeeze the excess liquid from the fabric and apply it to the affected area.

One time in the backcountry, the mosquitoes were terrible, and the bites were quite annoying. So I made a yarrow infusion and we dabbed it on the bites to relieve the swelling and itching. It worked splendidly!

➡️ Poultice

A poultice is similar to a compress, with the difference being that you apply moistened plant material directly to the affected area.

Take fresh or dried yarrow leaves and roughly chop them into pieces. Place the pieces in a mortar and add a small amount of water. Mash them using the pestle until a paste forms.

Apply the paste directly to the affected area, or place the paste between a piece of cheesecloth and set that on the skin. Change when the herbs are dry.

Quick tip 🙌 If you don’t have water or are short on time, chew up some leaves and then place the “spit poultice” on the wound.

➡️ Wash

A fresh wound wash made from yarrow is a lovely thing indeed! Like the compress, brew a robust yarrow tea infusion. Allow it to cool, then use the liquid to wash a wound.

You can store the wash in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Other Integumentary Benefits

Apply any of the yarrow remedies to bruises, blood blisters, and any areas with swelling resulting from trauma (such as sprains and strains). Yarrow is also known to help reduce pain wherever it is applied.

I have not used it for this purpose, but it has been suggested that yarrow can aid in the healing of eczema and psoriasis.

Have you used yarrow topically to treat wounds or other skin conditions?

Let us know in the comments, inquiring minds want to know! 🤔