Yarrow

Also known as Nosebleed, Milfoil, Old Man's Pepper, Yarroway, Bloodwort, Staunchweed, Thousand Leaf, Woundwort, Carpernter's Weed, Devils Nettle, Soldier's Woundwort and Noble Yarrow.

From the family Asteraceae.

Yarrow is found all over the world, it is common throughout Europe, Asia and North America. The name 'Achillea' may stem from the battle of Troy, when Achilles healed many of his warriors with yarrow leaves. During medieval tournaments and battles, and in the American Civil War, yarrow was used as a surgical dressing to stem the flow of blood. The ancient Chinese threw yarrow stalks when consulting I Ching, their book of divination. There is an old superstition, which apparently still lingers in remote of Britain and the US, that if a young girl tickles her nostrils with sprays of yarrow and her nose starts to bleed, it proves her lovers fidelity: Yarrow away, yarrow away, bear a white blow? If my lover loves me, my nose will bleed now'. Yarrow is one of natures survivors; it is the plant doctor of the garden, its root secretions activate the disease resistance of nearby plants. It was used in Sweden as a substitute for hops, called 'Field Hope'; and it was suppose to make the beer more intoxicating.

Cut the leaves and flowers for drying as the plant comes into flower in late summer. Dried flowers hold their colour well.

The slightly bitter, peppery young leaves can be finely chopped into salads and dips.

Flower heads may be dried for winter decoration. One small leaf will speed decomposition of a bucket of raw compost. Infuse to make a copper fertilizer to preven fungi and cure downy mildew. Can be used to make a yellow to olive dye. Use as a astringent for cleansing the skin.