Yarrow

I begin with the form of the living plant. The stem is is woody, although one senses a resinous quality in it: it is not quite sticky, but feels like it might be.

The leaves are small (both short and narrow) and doubly divided into many thin rays. From each leaf axil, a number of leaves develop - one primary leaf and a number of confused and underdeveloped leaves which range from shorter leaves to partial buds. Leaves appear on the stem even in the superior region, after it begins dividing to form the flowering head. In fact, a leaf appears at the root of each division, showing the continuity between the leafing and flowering processes.

The multiply divided umbellifer-like flowering head repeats the theme of division seen in the leaves. Flowers are small and generally white or white-ish, 5-petaled, attached to small, bulbous calyx.

It grows in direct sunlight and tolerates poor, sandy soil. I find it growing at the beach, often in very sandy soil, along with horsetail (the toughest of the tough) and, surprisingly, coltsfoot.

A few themes emerge from this plant form:

First is the principle of divisions. The leaves are multiply divided, as is the flowering head. Divisions indicate a strong rhythmic process, which is quite normal to find in plant leaves, but in this case extends into the flower. Divisions can also be seen to indicate that the plant has a light, airy nature.

Second, this plant does not make a firm distinction between the leaf and flower processes. Leaves are found surprisingly far upward into the flowering head, while at the same time, the flower begins to assert itself early on, with little undeveloped buds appearing quite far down the stem.

Third, the whole plant has a dry quality: woody stem, fine leaves, small flowers, growing in dry soil. This dryness seems to be of a specific kind that indicates an inner strength. Although the leaves are light and airy, there seems to be an inner force which is held back.

When taking a tincture of yarrow, I find two distinct tastes: a sweet taste and a bitter taste. Concentrating on the sweet flavor I experience an upward opening: I become especially aware of my upper body, head and chest, I wear a gentle smile, everything seems a little lighter and easier. At other times, I feel an expansion in my chest. Concentrating on the bitter flavor I have an experience of inner strength and determination, which is almost like a gathering of the zhi (will). I am reminded of the plant’s ability to grow in very poor soil. Also speaking of determination, Pelikan notes that the plant continues to flower into the winter. It is not clear that it corresponds to a particular taste, but I also find that my guts resettle after taking the tincture. In all this I find that yarrow does not have a significant warming action.

These perceived actions correspond very well with the themes of the plant form. The light, floating, expansive quality matches the light, airy leaves which easily transitions upward into the flower. This is an expansion both upward and outward. Increased blood-flow to the surface is found in the rhythmic property of the leaves moving into the flowering process. The dense strength is like dry, inner force of the plant which grows in difficult, sandy soil and persists into difficult weather. Because this plant allows expansion but also holds onto something for the winter, I would not be too worried about yarrow over-dispersing yang.

We can expand on these parallels between living form and medical function by considering some of the more specific functions for which yarrow is used.

Diaphoretic & peripheral vasodilator - this has been well covered above.

Anti-hemorrhagic - this is the counter pole, the determined holding back

General regulator of blood (“regulates flow of blood to and from the surface, in and out of capillaries, thins and thickens blood”) - this is suggested by the strong rhythmic signature in the plant form.

Digestive tonic - this corresponds to the plant’s ability to grow in poor soil, it is able to extract nutrients in tough conditions. I have not yet uprooted a yarrow plant to examine its root structure.

Anti-spasmodic  (mostly for digestive and gynecological conditions) - this is probably indicated through the rhythmic, airy nature of the plant. It is able to restore healthy rhythms and establish healthy function in relation to the gripping of air /wood-wind forces.

Harmonizing urination: promoting urination & controlling urinary incontinence - if we regard the bladder as part of the surface, then this is not surprising to us given the plant’s regulatory action on the surface.

Here are some more specific use suggestions from the historical record.

Culpeper records yarrow for “the bloody flux, ulcers and fistulas ... It helps the gonorrhea in men and the whites in women.” Cook calls yarrow a stimulant and astringent, moderately slow in action for chronic dysentery and diarrhea, weakness of digestion with weak appetite and feeble looseness of the bowels. He also uses it for leukorrhea and urinary incontinence, as well as spitting and vomiting of blood. Lloyd and Ellingwood state that it is specific for passive hemorrhage (hemorrhage d/t SP not controlling the blood?), however Matthew Wood states that it is specific for hemorrhages with bright red bleeding and contraindicated in passive, dark, coagulated flow. If anyone has further information on this point, please let us know. Lloyd and Ellingwood also use it for irritated mucosa and deficient kidney action, with evidence of poisoning, with or w/o edema. Santillo uses it for hemorrhoids and hemorrhage of the lungs. Mills and Bone list it as a spasmolytic (for dysmenorrhea) which can reduce excessive menstrual bleeding over time, and as an anti-hemorrhagic for menorrhagia. Holmes finds it a “gentle, universal regulator of menstruation” specifically stating that it removes venous congestion in the uterus, stimulates the uterus (relieving delayed periods), and is spasmolytic for spasmodic dysmenorrhea. He also records that it is traditional for neuralgic and rheumatic conditions, especially of the upper trunk. Jeremy Ross states that yarrow can clear retained pathogens and that it has some phlegm-busting ability for both lung hyper-secretion and hyperlipidemia.

Next I will be writing about which pulses that might call for yarrow and possible formulas to use it in.