The History and Floral Symbolism of Yarrow Essential Oil

Historical records of yarrow essential oil and its development over time

Yarrow is a medicinal plant native to Europe, named after the Greek warrior Achilles. It is also known by the alias "knight's yarrow" because of its remarkable blood-stopping effect, making it an essential herb for knights going into battle. It has a history of more than 1000 years of use in Europe. Legend has it that in Greek mythology, Achilles used the juice of this flower to treat a foot wound, which is why this flower is also called Achilles. Some also call it the herb of wounded soldiers or the herb of knights, and therefore the floral symbolism of yarrow is "healing." Anyone born under the blessing of this flower has a "nurse" nature of caring for others.

Yarrow floral symbolism

October 16 birthday flower: yarrow

  The flower of Saint Carus, the 7th-century Irish monastery

  Since ancient times, Christianity has had a custom of linking saints with specific flowers, following the practice of the church decorating the altar with blooming flowers when commemorating saints! In medieval Catholic monasteries, all kinds of flowers were grown almost like at a gardening center, and over time the church paired the 366 days' saints with different flowers, forming the so-called floral calendar. At that time most monasteries were located in Southern Europe, and Southern Europe has a Mediterranean climate, extremely suitable for growing flowers and plants. Yarrow, which belongs to the Asteraceae family, was dedicated to Saint Carus, a 7th-century Irish monk who spread Christianity in Switzerland. It is a perennial plant, growing wild throughout the Mediterranean, the Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and all of North America.

  October 16 birthday flower - yarrow floral symbolism: carelessness

  Legend has it that Achilles, the greatest hero in Greek mythology, was invulnerable all over his body except for his heel tendon. Once, very unfortunately, Achilles happened to be wounded on his heel tendon, and fortunately Achilles used yarrow to treat the wound, saving his life. Because this flower healed the wound of a hero who had been injured due to carelessness, its floral symbolism is "carelessness." People born on this day often make careless oversights and offend friends, or have someone steal their love because of it.