Episode 34: Poor Man's Pepper & The Devil's Plaything- Yarrow
Hello and welcome back to another episode of Rooted! Before we dig into this week’s plan, I just wanted to take a second to thank you all for the love and support you’ve been giving the show recently! I can’t wait to see all of your beautiful faces with your new merch, and making even more content for you! With Spooky season coming up, I have lots of fun things brewing!
This week we’re talking about a plant that’s been used in everything from Beer to bath water- Yarrow!
Yarrow, or Achillea millefolium, is part of the aster family with relatives like sunflower, daisies and actually very closely related to chamomile.
It’s known for its distinct umbrella-like blooms filled with lots of adorable 5 petaled flowers with rounded centers- just like most of its famous family members! It’s also got feathery light green leaves that look almost fern-like. It typically has a 2/2 spread and gets about two to three feet tall.
It’s native to Europe and Asia, but has since been naturalized in North America, where it prefers drier, disturbed soil and can tolerate full sun to partial shade.
In Greek mythology, yarrow has made a name for itself as sort of an invincibility bath bomb…take that lush..
The story goes that when he was a wee lad, Achilles' mom Thetis took him for a quick dunk in the river Styx, which was said to be filled to the brim with yarrow’s healing properties. As Acheiles sat in the water, the yarrow soaked in to his stin- giving him it’s protective and healing properties and making him practically invincible…except for his heel, which was blocked by his mothers fingers….at first I questioned why she was just dunking her child head first into the river with reckless abandon, but I guess if you have to keep ahold of them, it makes more sense to hold them by the ankle than the wrist, since most of the time people aren’t going for the ankles in battle…
In another version of the story, it is actually the centaur chiron that gave Achilles the knowledge of yarrow, as the plant actually grew out of the rust on his staff.
Anyway, because yarrow is what gave achilles his powers, we gave it the botanical name Achillea millefolium, which roughly translates to the 1,000 leaves of achilles
Also how it got its botanical name, which roughly translates to achille’s 1,000 leaves
While the greek’s certainly relied heavily on yarrow- especially to heal wounded soldiers, they weren’t the only ones using it. In fact- they likely weren’t even the first- as yarrow was actually one of the many known herbal medicines found in the graves of neanderthals, along with chamomile and others!
Native Americans, norsemen, and many other cultures also relied on Yarrow as a vital part of medicine. It’s widely used to help heal wounds due to its ability to stop bleeding quickly. For this reason it’s very common to see its leaves used to pack wounds, or as a poultice to help cover and protect them.
Aside from wound care, Yarrow was and still is also used to fight inflammation, and it has known antimicrobial properties. It was also commonly used to soothe both the body and mind.
Of course, Yarrow wasn’t just used in medicinal practices, but also in spiritual practices and rituals across many different cultures- even earning itself one of my favorite nicknames of all time- the devil's plaything..
Now that we are done basking in the glory that is that name, let’s take a second to explore HOW we got here..
In witchcraft and spiritualism, yarrow is typically used as a protective and cleansing agent, commonly called for in energy cleansing, protection spells, and even some healing rituals to promote spiritual healing and aura cleansing. It is commonly associated with the 7th chakra- the crown chakra, which sits between the spine and start of the head. Its name also translates to “thousands” in Sanskrit, which is interesting given that Yarrow's botanical name also translates to that! This chakra is said to be tied to one’s supreme self, which is where we can connect to the energy of the universe. Yarrow is said to be able to help cleanse and open this chakra, helping us to connect with the wider word, divine energy, will of the wider world- or whatever higher power you may believe in.
Getting back to the plaything element, not only was yarrow SUPER commonly associated with witchcraft due to cleansing, but it has also always been an important plant in herbalism- something our christian friends weren’t too found of during the time of the witch trials, which is about when this nickname came to be..
But as f herbal medicine and spiritualism weren’t damning enough, Yarrow was also commonly used as a flavoring agent in beer across northern europe for centuries- before my favorite beverage law- the bavarian beer purity law of 1516, which dictated that beer could only contain water, barley, and hops, since people were getting…a little out of hand with the additives and lengths they were willing to go to make sure people enjoyed their beer,,, lots of hallucinogenic and plants with addictive properties getting tossed into the mix before this law, which you can actually learn more about in episode 1!
As far as yarrow in beer goes, it was mostly added because it added a distinct herbal flavor that’s been described as bitter, floral, and slightly peppery…but also because it has been said to increase the effects of alcohol AND add a slightly drying finish to the brew- making folks who drink it more apt to go for another pint. Diabolical indeed.
PLenty of homebrewers are still mixing yarrow into their own beers and meads today, with many reporting these same effects! One of the most intriguing recipes I saw uses a mix of yarrow, chamomile, and rose hips, which can be added directly in during the fermentation process, or first brewed into a tea! I saw this as a traditional beer, but I bet it would also make an amazing mead- though most users did report having a headache after due to the strengthened alcohol effects, so most are suggesting 1 part yarrow to two parts rosehip and chamomile!
As far as it’s general use in brewing, it seems like a little of this stuff goes a long way- especially if using the fresh flower heads vs the dried stuff, with many at-home brewers choosing to wild harvest yarrow vs grow it themselves or order online, since it grows so abundantly in most wild landscapes!
Aside from being used in alcohol, Yarrow also added to its devilishly daring street cred by being a popular herb to smoke for a stimulant effect. This is very unlike most herbal remedies smoked at the time, which tended to have sedative or depressant effects. However, much like in beer, when smoked, yarrow tends to make the user feel giddy, energetic, and even euphoric depending on the dosage. This is likely because both yarrow flowers (used in alcohol) and leaves (used in smoking) contain a chemical called thujone, which you might remember from our episode on Wormwood, as it is also the main active ingredient in absinthe. thujone is a monoterpene and ketone that works by essentially blocking the receptors in your brain that tells it to chill out a little, while also causing your neurons to fire just a little faster- giving you that literal rush of energy and focus!
While that sounds amazing, thujone cas also been shown to cause kidney issues and even seizures, which is why it’s important to use plants that contain it sparingly and in proper dosage.
Aside from being a sort of early-day party starter, Yarrowalso had some more practical uses in the kitchen! For starters, it was commonly used as a spice back when things like pepper and cardamom were reserved for only the upper echelons of society.
In those days, yarrow was commonly used where most of us would now turn to pepper, as its dried leaves and flowers have a slightly bitter and spicy flavor that lended itself well to the stews and other dishes that would have been popular amongst the working classes at those times.
Because it grows so abundantly, and has so many practical applications in the medicine cabinet and the kitchen, it’s easy to see why folks had so many ways to use the stuff!
While drying it and using it as a seasoning or tossing it into various medicines and brews was the most popular way to use yarrow back then, today people are also getting a little more creative with how they save and use it!
In my search I found all kinds of fun things people are doing with yarrow, from simple syrups for a unique latte, lemonade, or cocktail, to vinegars for salads, pastas, and even as a marinade (apparently even back in the middle ages it was a popular choice to pair with pork!)
And of course, it’s still a super popular ingredient for various teas, tinctures, and skin care products as it can help the body fight off infections and heal just a little faster!
While it’s not currently being used in any major modern pharmaceuticals, it remains to be a staple in many herbalists practices, and in plenty of medicine cabinets around the world, where it is still being used to support wound care, digestive health, and general healing from things like the cold and flu!
White there have been some early studies as to why yarrow is so effective at healing wounds, as far as I could tell we don’t have any conclusive chemical answers for what exactly is happening, just that SOMETHING in yarrow really does help wounds heal faster. However, because it was used so widely for the exact same purpose across continents and cultures, I think it is more than safe to assume our ancestors knew what they were talking about with this one (amd with most things, honestly…except for maybe their choices in dental care and reliance on blood letting…i'm really glad we left the hot wax fillings and leeches in the middle ages for the most part. )
While we may have left the horrors of early modern medicine in the past, we certainly didn't give yarrow that same treatment! Today it’s an extremely popular plant in landscaping, due to its colorful compact blooms, high drought tolerance, and ease to grow as a perennial ground cover! When I was working as a landscape designer here in the south west, yarrow was always one of my go-tos because it grows so quickly, and can quickly add a ton of color and texture without upping the water bill. Plus, bees LOVE yarrow, so it’s a great thing to add into the landscape to support your local pollinators and bring some biodiversity to your yard. They also make an amazing fresh or dried cut flower to add into bouquets, making them a perfect choice for really any of your garden goals! They are now widely available in about a million different colors, with some even having different colored centers, making them a super striking addition for any color scheme or garden style!
Whether you’re curious about traditional medicine, or looking to impress your friends with a unique brew at your next cookout, yarrow is a plant that truly has so much to offer, and one I think a lot of us take for granted because of how common they are across all landscapes.
It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to say this on the show, but the next time you see yarrow on a walk, I hope you stop to give it a little sniff and a gentle kiss on the head (being mindful of bee butts of course) while you think of the thousands of uses and tiny leaves these guys have!
That’s all I’ve got for this week, but I’ll be back next week with more tall tales and true facts to dig into! In the meantime, if you havent been, head on over to our instagram to learn more about not just this week’s plant, but all of the others we’ve talked about! We will also be posting more reels, recipes, and other fun stuff over there that you won't want to miss!
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