🌼 Yarrow

🔍 Identify it without mistakes

Aromatic plant with leaves finely dissected into multiple thread-like segments (hence 'millefolium' or thousand-leaf), giving it a feathery appearance that is easily recognizable both to touch and sight. Erect, hairy stem, topped with a large flat corymb of tiny white to pinkish flower heads, grouped in a broad composite umbel.

1. leaves finely dissected into thread-like segments, feathery look
2. flat corymb of tiny white to pinkish flower heads at the top of the stem
3. erect, angular, hairy stem
4. characteristic aromatic scent when crushing the leaves
5. tufted colonies in untreated meadows

🍽️ Eating it

Preparation : young raw leaves in very small quantities in salads (strong, bitter-aromatic taste) or as seasoning like an herb; dried flowers as herbal tea

💊 Healing with it

traditionally used for mild digestive disorders (spasms, bloating), superficial wounds (hemostatic and wound-healing properties recognized since antiquity), and feverish states

Level of evidence : tradition (recognized by EMA/HMPC for traditional digestive use and small wounds) — EMA/HMPC, community monograph Millefolii herba

⚠️ possible allergy in people sensitive to Asteraceae (ragweed family); not recommended during pregnancy (traditional emmenagogue effect); rare skin photosensitization reported at high doses

🪓 Other bushcraft uses

• used since antiquity to stop wound bleeding in battle — its botanical name 'Achillea' is said to come from the Greek hero Achilles, who allegedly used it to treat his soldiers' wounds during the Trojan War
• traditional brewing ingredient in certain beers before the widespread use of hops