Hello! Welcome to our first blog post!
Something that we have always wanted to create, finally coming to fruition. We still encourage subscription to our newsletters for up to date info on the happenings at Flipp, as this blog’s purpose is a monthly conversation on specific topics regarding Herbs, Beauty Ritual, Hair, Skin, Music, Art, and the History and the Lore surrounding those topics. So, without further adieu, I would like to delve into this month’s topics, which revolve around the Herb we have chosen of the month, which is Yarrow.
I have a lot of Yarrow growing around my home, and there are many varieties and colors. It starts to come up in late Spring, continues through Summer and sometimes into early Fall. The type used for its therapeutic qualities has white flowers.
Meet the Master
The Latin botanical name for Yarrow is Achillea Millefolium. It is considered diaphoretic (promotes sweating, which in turn cools the body and eliminates toxin) astringent, tonic (supporting tone to tissue states through astringency), stimulant ( an action that quickens and enlivens the physiological activity of the body in some way, not necessarily through the central nervous system), styptic ( stops a minor wound from bleeding), vulnerary ( supports the healing of wounds), and mild aromatic ( containing a high amount of essential oil). The stems, leaves and flowers are used in a multiple of ways such as tea (tisana), tincture (concentrated extract), distilled, rendering both a floral water (hydrosol) and separately, it’s essential oil, which can be used in the making of a wide variety of topical treatments.
Folklore
Achillea is said to have gained its name from the Greek hero Achilles, who would use it to treat the wounds of his soldiers during the Trojan War, as it is astringent and styptic. It is said that Achilles learned this from the centaur Chiron, in which Achille was Chiron’s disciple. Chiron is often referred to as “the wounded healer”, so the use of Yarrow flower essence regarding this Archetype is a treasure for those of us with a wounded soul. The flower essence can also be used in the practice of creating healthy boundaries for empaths and folks who tend to absorb the hardships around them, to provide courage and strength.
Millefolium means “a thousand leaves”, and in fact it is an accurate description of the leaf pattern in Yarrow, with its many, many small feathery leaves, which give the appearance of being serrated. Here, through the ancient practice of the Doctrine of Signatures, it would be suggested and indicated to be used for wounds.
Yarrow has a long reputation regarding myth, and magic in every part of the world and every culture through history. It has been referenced as the Witch’s herb, and used for divination, identifying one’s true love, and also for fending off anything evil. This would be a subject on it’s own to discuss at some point, as women who worked with herbs (herbalists and healers), and who practiced energy healing (no different than reiki or meditation with intention, or manifestation practices) were wrongfully accused and associated with devil worship, or black magic, when in fact they were valuable healers to their townspeople. Can you imagine being persecuted for practicing energy healing, and knowing your herbs? Crazy, right?! Thankfully, we evolve physically, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically.
Glamor Ritual
There are many benefits of yarrow on the skin and scalp. It is wonderful for soothing sensitive skin that is prone to irritations. The extract is deeply nourishing and restorative, and because of its pain relieving traits and antimicrobial properties, its excellent in healing salves, liniments, and massage oils.
We have used Yarrow in a couple of products formulated in our Apothecary at Flipp. It’s an ingredient in our whipped Healing Butter, among other powerful vulnerary herbs such as Calendula and St.John’s Wort (which gives the butter it’s pink color). This product is amazing on bruises, sore muscles, and scars.
You can also find it in the Volumizing Spray from Oway Organics, which we have been using and carrying at the salon for about 5 years. It’s one of the best volumizing mists we have used, blended with some gorgeous botanicals, the smell is amazing! The Volumizing Hair Bath by Oway contains Yarrow extract as well, which you can purchase online with our affiliate code here:
https://bit.ly/2ZiP5rs
(Copy and paste the above link, it will automatically apply the discount code HHT1260 ) which you can verify at checkout.
I hope you enjoyed this first post, many others to come! I hope to see you at our next Teatime gathering, even if they will be virtual for the time being!
Eternally grateful for your support, and eager to support in exchange <3.
Jo-Anna
@flippster1 (Instagram)
@flippsalon
@botanicprovidence
The information in this blog is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.
Volumizing Root Spray
Volumizing Hair Bat