Yarrow
A flowering Asteraceae herb used in European traditional medicine for mild digestive complaints, menstrual cramps, and small wounds. Recognized by the EMA as a traditional herbal medicinal product. Clinical-trial evidence is limited but a small Iranian RCT supports use for primary dysmenorrhea.
Quick decision guide
May help most
Adults with mild digestive bloating, menstrual cramps, or small superficial wounds who want a traditional plant remedy.
Common dosing range
2–4 g dried herb as tea or infusion, 1–3 times daily; topical 5–10% extract for wound use.
When to expect effects
Days for digestive comfort; 1–2 menstrual cycles for dysmenorrhea.
Watch out for
Avoid in pregnancy — yarrow contains thujone (variable chemotypes) and has traditional emmenagogue use suggesting uterine stimulation.
Evidence snapshot
What is it
Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family, native across the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The aerial parts (flowering tops and leaves) are used in herbal preparations. Constituents include sesquiterpene lactones (achillin, leucodin), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, and their glycosides), phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic), and an essential oil that varies considerably in chemotype: the principal volatile compounds are commonly chamazulene (formed during distillation from matricine), camphor, 1,8-cineole, and beta-pinene. Yarrow has been used historically for wound-healing (its specific epithet honours Achilles), digestive complaints, fevers, and menstrual disorders, and remains an officially recognised herbal medicine in European pharmacopoeias.
Is it worth it for you?
Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.
Worth considering if…
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Evidence at a glance
| Goal | Effect | Best fit | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) Limited Evidence | Significant pain-score reduction vs placebo over 2 menstrual cycles in a small single-center trial | Adolescents and young adults with mild–moderate primary dysmenorrhea looking for a plant remedy | 1–2 menstrual cycles |
Functional dyspepsia (mild digestive complaints) Limited Evidence | Symptom relief based on traditional use; supportive mechanistic ex vivo data | Adults with mild bloating, gas, or sensation of incomplete digestion after meals | Days to 2 weeks |
Topical wound healing and skin inflammation Limited Evidence | Reduced edema and supported wound closure in animal and small clinical studies; effect on serious wounds unclear | Adults with minor cuts, scrapes, or postpartum perineal wounds looking for a traditional topical adjunct | Days to 2 weeks |
Cold, fever, and immune support (traditional) Mixed Evidence | Not established in clinical trials | People interested in traditional herbalism as a low-risk complement to standard cold self-care | Not established |
Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain)
- Effect
- Significant pain-score reduction vs placebo over 2 menstrual cycles in a small single-center trial
- Best fit
- Adolescents and young adults with mild–moderate primary dysmenorrhea looking for a plant remedy
- Time
- 1–2 menstrual cycles
Functional dyspepsia (mild digestive complaints)
- Effect
- Symptom relief based on traditional use; supportive mechanistic ex vivo data
- Best fit
- Adults with mild bloating, gas, or sensation of incomplete digestion after meals
- Time
- Days to 2 weeks
Topical wound healing and skin inflammation
- Effect
- Reduced edema and supported wound closure in animal and small clinical studies; effect on serious wounds unclear
- Best fit
- Adults with minor cuts, scrapes, or postpartum perineal wounds looking for a traditional topical adjunct
- Time
- Days to 2 weeks
Cold, fever, and immune support (traditional)
- Effect
- Not established in clinical trials
- Best fit
- People interested in traditional herbalism as a low-risk complement to standard cold self-care
- Time
- Not established
Evidence for 4 uses
AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.
Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain)
Supplement benefitA 2015 double-blind RCT in female university students with primary dysmenorrhea (Jenabi & Fereidoony) compared A. millefolium teabag taken for 3 days over 2 menstrual cycles vs placebo. Pain-score reduction was significantly greater in the yarrow group at 1 month (P=.001) and 2 months (P<.0001). Sample was small and from a single Iranian site; a 2022 systematic review of yarrow for dysmenorrhea concluded the evidence is promising but limited.
Bottom line: Reasonable to try if cramps are mild — evidence is one small RCT, so don't replace NSAIDs for moderate-to-severe cramps.
Functional dyspepsia (mild digestive complaints)
Supplement benefitEMA HMPC recognizes yarrow herb as a traditional herbal medicinal product for temporary loss of appetite, mild digestive problems (bloating, flatulence) and minor abdominal cramps. Mechanism is supported by ex vivo data (Borrelli 2012) showing yarrow extract has prokinetic activity on mouse and human gastric tissue, mediated by its choline content. Direct RCT data in humans with functional dyspepsia is sparse.
Bottom line: Reasonable as part of a digestive bitters routine before meals. See a clinician if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks.
Topical wound healing and skin inflammation
Supplement benefitEMA recognizes yarrow herb for treatment of small superficial wounds. A 2017 study (Tadić et al., PMID 28163113) showed yarrow oil extract reduced croton-oil–induced ear edema in mice with concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory activity. Small clinical trials have shown a yarrow ointment improved episiotomy-wound healing and reduced pain/swelling in postpartum women. Most data are preclinical or open-label; rigorous placebo-controlled trials are lacking.
Bottom line: Fine as a traditional adjunct for minor superficial skin care; not a substitute for proper wound care or antibiotics.
Cold, fever, and immune support (traditional)
Mechanism onlyTraditional European and Native American herbalism use yarrow as a diaphoretic for fevers and as a 'cold remedy.' No modern clinical trials support these uses. The EMA monograph does not include cold or fever as an approved indication.
Bottom line: Pure tradition; no clinical-trial backing. Don't replace evidence-based cold management.
How to take it
What to track
Bottom line: Use for short courses (1–2 weeks) for the traditional indications. Stop and consult a clinician if symptoms persist or if you develop a rash or unusual bleeding.
5 commercial forms
Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.
Dried herb / flowering tops (tea)
TraditionalThe EMA-approved traditional preparation. 1–2 tsp (~2–4 g) per cup, steeped 10 min. Used for digestive complaints, menstrual cramps, and small wounds (topically as a compress).
Standard traditional form.
Tincture / fluid extract
LiquidAlcohol-extracted concentrate. Doses range widely; follow the manufacturer's instructions on a registered traditional herbal medicinal product.
Concentrated; check labeled traditional-use directions.
Capsules / standardized extract
SupplementPowdered herb or dried extract in capsule form. Less traditional than tea; standardization to essential oil or specific markers varies by brand.
Variable; tea has stronger traditional support.
Topical ointment / cream
Skin useYarrow extract (typically 5–10%) in a cream or ointment base for application to small superficial wounds, bruises, or postpartum perineal care.
Topical only; not for ingestion.
Essential oil
AromaticSteam-distilled volatile oil rich in chamazulene, thujone, camphor and other terpenes. Used in aromatherapy and as a dilute topical. Not for internal use — high thujone content carries neurotoxicity risk.
External use only; never internally.
Safety
Know the common side effects, key cautions, and who should avoid it.
Common side effects
Serious risks
Allergic reactions including contact dermatitis, hives, and rare anaphylaxis can occur, especially in people allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums, or other Asteraceae family plants.
Yarrow contains thujone (variable amount by chemotype); high or prolonged internal use of essential-oil preparations is not advised due to potential neurotoxicity.
Traditional use as an emmenagogue and abortifacient — pregnant or trying-to-conceive people should avoid medicinal doses.
Who should avoid it
- Pregnant or breastfeeding people — avoid medicinal doses (tea, capsule, tincture, or essential oil); culinary garnish amounts are not specifically advised against but caution is reasonable.
- People allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, daisies, or other Asteraceae plants — cross-reactivity is common.
- Children under 12 years — EMA monograph restricts use to adults and adolescents 12+.
- People on warfarin or anticoagulants without medical supervision — yarrow's traditional 'styptic' / hemostatic uses suggest possible interaction with blood clotting.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Avoid medicinal doses of yarrow (tea, capsule, tincture, or essential oil) during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Yarrow has traditional emmenagogue and abortifacient uses, contains variable amounts of thujone, and the EMA monograph notes safety has not been established in these populations.
Bottom line: Well tolerated for short-term use in healthy adults. Avoid in pregnancy, Asteraceae allergy, and children under 12.
Interactions
Yarrow has both traditional 'styptic' (hemostatic) and 'blood-thinning' reports — direction of clinical effect is unclear. Discuss with your clinician before regular use if you take anticoagulants.
Yarrow may have mild diuretic activity that could theoretically reduce lithium clearance and raise serum lithium levels. Limited clinical data; monitor if combining.
Some traditional and preclinical reports suggest mild blood-pressure–lowering effects; theoretical additive effect with antihypertensives.
Yarrow has mild sedative properties in animal studies; theoretical additive effect with CNS depressants.
Tannin-rich teas including yarrow may modestly reduce non-heme iron absorption when consumed with iron-rich meals. Separate by 1–2 hours if iron status matters.
Choosing a product
What to look for on the label — and what to be skeptical of.
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References by claim
Functional dyspepsia (mild digestive complaints)
Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain)
Jenabi & Fereidoony, 2015 — Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (2015) link
Topical wound healing and skin inflammation
Tadić et al., 2017 — Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2017) link
Safety
Applequist & Moerman, 2008 — Pharmaceutical Biology (2008) link
Track Yarrow with Pilora
Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.
Coming to App StoreDisclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.