An Introduction to the Benefits and Uses of Yizhihao and Key Growing and Care Tips

Yizhihao is a perennial herb in the genus Achillea of the Asteraceae family, commonly known among the public as yarrow (Achillea), though the names used and the plants referred to vary slightly from region to region. It is fairly common in the mountains, grasslands and roadside edges of northern and northwestern China. Its leaves are deeply pinnately lobed, resembling centipede legs, and in summer and autumn it produces tiny dense flower heads that look quite wild when grown in masses.

This plant is cold- and drought-tolerant and has low soil requirements, but it grows best in sunny, well-drained sandy loam. Propagation is mainly by seed sowing and division, and either can be done in spring or autumn. Routine care consists mainly of cultivating and weeding plus moderate watering, and it is generally low-maintenance, making it suitable for cultivation on idle plots such as field edges and courtyards.

In traditional Chinese medicine and folk remedies, yizhihao is mostly used as the whole herb, generally harvested during the flowering period in summer and autumn, then dried in the shade or in the sun for storage. It is often used to relieve cold and fever, headache and stomachache, bruises and swelling, and insect or snake bites, and is considered to have heat-clearing, detoxifying, swelling-reducing and pain-relieving effects.

It should be noted that yizhihao is mildly toxic, so oral use should follow a doctor's advice, and the dose should not be increased at will or taken long term. When cultivating it, choose a sunny plot and avoid waterlogging to prevent root rot; leaving some stubble when harvesting helps it sprout again the following year. In addition, wild yizhihao is easily confused with some similar-looking Asteraceae plants, so it must be carefully identified when gathering to ensure safe use.