I am in love with Blue Yarrow. I didn't always love it. Growing up it was a weed. A stinky weed. Now, however, it is a beautiful botanical to work with and amazing for skincare, healing, and aging. And, its essential oils smell divine!!
I've created several products utilizing this beautiful ingredient. There's our amazing Cleansing Balm, the Bomb! Balm, Boreal Intense Facial Serum, our new Blue Yarrow Micellar Water (coming soon - I'm waiting for an ingredient shipment to arrive), and a very promising facial lotion that is in stress testing right now and should be ready for summer. I'm sure I'll think of other things to make with this stunning ingredient. However, this is a good start if you're interested in any of Yarrow's benefits.
To the ancients, Yarrow was known as Herba Militaris, the military herb. Linnæus named Yarrow Achillea millefolium in 1753 after the famed Greek warrior Achilles, who used Yarrow to staunch the wounds of his soldiers on the battlefield. Its species name, millefolium, literally means “thousand leaved” and represents the foliage of Yarrow which is so feathery that it may just have a thousand leaves after all. Its leaves look serrated, almost like a knife, showing us its doctrine of signatures of being appropriate for injuries that “cut to the bone” – this tells us much about its healing properties as a wound herb as well.
“Yarrow is not so much a warrior as an activist, a fighter for justice, a lawyer or campaigner who uses her head and heart. Yarrow has a cool intellect, a wry humour, but is also implacable. She focuses the mind, ends chatter, uses her briefcase and intelligence as armor. She has a no-nonsense energy and a honeyed tongue that offers protection via the intellect or speech. Yarrow uses patriarchy’s own laws to fight it with humor and grace, but she is implacable, a warrior of the mind, laughing at their stupidity, incompetence, tying them in knots, honey on the razor’s edge.”
— ELISABETH BROOKE
Aromatherapists consider blue yarrow important for damaged or inflamed skin, bruising, dermatitis, dry and itchy skin, as well as sunburn.
The main constituents found in blue yarrow that benefit the skin are; chamazulene (a superb anti-oxidant) and a-bisabolol. These are known for their anti-histaminic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-microbial properties.
Blue Yarrow has numerous skin benefits, including:
Anti-allergenic properties
This is where blue yarrow shines, is with reactive skin. Blue yarrow is one of the best essential oils for bringing peace to troubled complexions. Blue yarrow helps neutralize and stop histamine production, to reduce your skins reaction to allergens that can cause rashes.
Anti-microbial
Blue yarrow has both anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. If you have suffered from a minor cut, burn, abrasion, or insect bite, apply a few drops of diluted blue tansy to the affected area, as it will stop the growth of bacteria, and alleviate the pain. As an anti-fungal, it helps to treat fungi which could lead to skin infections, such as athlete's foot and ringworm.
Helps with dermatitis
This skin condition causes you to have irritated, red, dry, flaky skin that itches. Blue yarrow’s anti-inflammatory properties will help to fight this inflammatory skin condition and help to relieve the redness and itchiness. It can also help to prevent flare-ups.
Helps acne
With this skin condition, there is an excess production of sebum, which clogs the pores of your skin. Eventually they become infected by bacteria, which leads to the formation of pimples. To help speed up healing, apply blue yarrow to the area, leave on a few minutes and then rinse off.
Dry and itchy skin rescue
Add a few drops to your bathwater to soothe your skin if it is dry and itchy. Moisturizes and soothes dry, irritated, and flaky skin and improves your skin’s overall appearance.
Skin irritation
The nourishing compounds in blue yarrow will give your skin the essential nutrients that it needs to support healthy normal skin. Blue yarrow is cooling to hot and irritated skin conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis.
Blue Yarrow Emotional Effects
Blue yarrow also induces relaxation and can help ease nervous tension and stress.
Ease nervous tension and anger.
Soothes everyday mental fatigue.
Sweet, fresh scent.
Can help to curb impulsive behavior.
Can help one to “go with the flow”.
Helps to relieve stress that can cause skin breakouts.
Helps to promote sleep, which your body needs to give you glowing healthy radiant skin.
Precautions
Although considered safe to use while pregnant you should still first check with your physician.
It could interfere with certain medication like antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and antipsychotics if taken internally
It should not be used by anyone with Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy because of its high camphor content.
It can potentially stain your skin and clothes due to its thick ink-like viscosity and strong blue color. (We've experienced this straight from the bottle at 100% strength but not from our finished products.)
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