Zone: Inner Walkway (The Kitchen Pharmacy)

Season of Interest: Summer (June – September)

The Doctor’s Notes (Medicinal Use)

Dr. Woodward would have valued Yarrow as one of the most effective plants for managing blood and fever. Its nicknames "Staunchgrass" and "Bloodwort" tell you exactly what it was used for:

• Wound Care: The leaves were crushed and applied to stop heavy bleeding from cuts and battle wounds—a practice that dates back to the Trojan War.

• Fever Breaker: A hot tea made from Yarrow was a standard 19th-century treatment to break a persistent fever by inducing profuse sweating.

• Digestive Tonic: It was also used as a bitter tonic to stimulate appetite and improve slow digestion.

The Household Assistant (Homestead Use)

In the 19th-century Woodward household, Yarrow was a versatile tool for both the home and the livestock:

• The "Lawn" Herb: Yarrow is extremely hardy; it was often allowed to grow in the grassed areas of the farm because it stays green even in the worst droughts.

• Poultry Health: 19th-century farmers often chopped up Yarrow and mixed it into chicken feed to keep the flock healthy and prevent disease.

• Drying for Winter: Its flat-topped flower clusters dry exceptionally well, making it a favorite for everlasting floral arrangements in the museum parlor during the winter months.

Botanist’s Corner

• Form: A hardy perennial with an upright habit, growing from 1 to 3 feet tall.

• Foliage: Features beautiful, feathery, fern-like leaves that have a slightly spicy, sage-like scent when crushed.

• Flowers: Dense, flat-topped clusters of tiny white flowers (though modern garden varieties come in many colors). These flat surfaces serve as "landing pads" for beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.

Fun Fact:The species name millefolium means "thousand leaves," referring to the incredibly fine, divided texture of its foliage!