From the Apothecary: Yarrow

Achillea millefolium — named after Achilles, who according to legend used it to staunch the wounds of his soldiers on the battlefield. Whether or not you believe the myth, yarrow has been one of the most consistently used herbs in the European apothecary for thousands of years. It grows wild in British meadows and roadsides, costs nothing to forage or grow, and is genuinely useful.

What It Is

A hardy perennial native to the UK, yarrow grows wild in meadows, roadsides, and grassland across the country. Its flat-topped clusters of tiny white or pink flowers appear from June to September and are beloved by pollinators. The finely divided, feathery leaves are intensely aromatic — crush a leaf between your fingers and you'll understand immediately why it's been valued for so long.

Yarrow for Skin

Yarrow is astringent and gently cleansing — properties that make it particularly well suited to oily, combination, or congested skin. It's one of the traditional herbs for skin that needs toning and balancing rather than heavy conditioning.

A yarrow facial toner is one of the simplest things you can make at home, and one of the most effective for skin that tends towards oiliness or enlarged pores.

Simple Yarrow Facial Toner

You'll need:

• 2 tbsp dried yarrow flowers and leaves
• 250ml boiling water
• A clean jar or bottle

Pour boiling water over the yarrow and leave to steep until completely cool (at least an hour). Strain through muslin and pour into a clean bottle. Apply to clean skin with a cotton pad morning and evening. Keep in the fridge and use within 5 days.

For a longer-lasting version: add a tablespoon of witch hazel to the strained infusion — it acts as a natural preservative and enhances the astringent effect.

Yarrow in the Bath

Add a large handful of dried yarrow to a muslin bag and drop into a warm bath. It makes a pleasantly aromatic, gently cleansing soak — particularly good after a long day outdoors or when skin feels congested.

Around the Home

Dried yarrow flowers are beautiful in pot pourri and dried arrangements — they hold their shape and colour exceptionally well. Use in herb sachets for a fresh, slightly wild fragrance. The flat flower heads also dry beautifully upright in a vase without any treatment.

In the Kitchen & Garden

Young yarrow leaves can be used sparingly in salads for a slightly bitter, aromatic flavour — a little goes a long way. Yarrow tea is a traditional herbal remedy, made by steeping a teaspoon of dried flowers in boiling water for 5 minutes.

As a garden plant, yarrow is one of the best companion herbs you can grow — it attracts beneficial insects, is said to improve the health of neighbouring plants, and will spread to fill gaps in a border without becoming invasive.

Fancy Growing Your Own?

Yarrow is one of the easiest herbs to establish — it tolerates poor, dry soil and full sun, spreads readily, and needs very little attention. Plant in a sunny spot and it will largely look after itself. Divide clumps every few years to keep it vigorous. It also grows wild across most of the UK, so if you have a meadow or rough grass area nearby, you may already have it.

Harvest flowers and leaves throughout summer. Dry by hanging in small bundles in a warm, airy spot. Both flowers and leaves dry beautifully and retain their fragrance well.

Yarrow is one of those herbs that has been quietly useful for so long that it's easy to overlook — it grows at the roadside, it costs nothing, and it doesn't need much fuss. But the apothecary has always known its worth. Sometimes the most useful things are the ones hiding in plain sight.