Yarrow

Astringent Yarrow is an incredible herb and while it has many other uses, I like to use it primarily as a wound care agent. Undiluted tincture of yarrow used to clean and compress, and the Yarrow will not only stem any bleeding by sealing the bleeding vessels but will also cause the edges of the wound to knit back together before your very eyes. I can personally attest to this phenomenon! It is really quite incredible. Yarrow is also very antiseptic and is excellent for cleaning any kind of wound, broken skin or not. Bathe wounds using the yarrow and dress with calendula and plantain balm, or if the wound is actively bleeding, soak gauze or such in the tincture and compress on the wound. Repeat regularly over the next several days and the wound will heal rapidly and cleanly. Apply to blood blisters or trapped, old blood and bruises to promote blood circulation and speed healing.
Most of the yarrow I use is harvested from the community garden once again, and from my own garden too. This year I needed so much herb I enlisted the help of generous friend who had an abundant crop growing. Im working on having more growing in my own yard ready for next year. Yarrow is truly an amazing herb that is so easy to grow and can be used fresh on cuts and bites and wounds or infused into oil to make a healing salve. Greek mythology says that when Achillies was born, he was held from his heel by his mother and dipped into a vat of yarrow tea, thus coating him and making him invincible, no weapon could pierce his skin. The only weak spot he had was his heel, hence the term Achilles heel. Imagine that Yarrow provides the same level of protection for your skin. Indeed, it was a herb that was taken onto battlefields right up until the last war. A valuable member of the plant world.