A lovely, lacey plant with finely cut, delicate dark green leaves and beautiful everlasting flowers. Yarrow is considered one of the most beneficial medicinal herbs, used to cleanse the skin, stop bleeding, expel toxins, reduce inflammation, and on and on. White yarrow is the most medicinally active variety. The everlasting blooms are excellent for drying and crafts. Achillea gets its name from Achilles, who used this plant to heal his soldiers’ wounds after the siege of Troy.
Herbal Uses: This is a classic herb for flu, especially the intestinal variety. Try a mixture of elderflower, peppermint, and yarrow to bring down a fever and induce perspiration. The tea benefits the kidneys. Yarrow is used in salves for hemorrhoids and in poultices to stop bleeding and heal wounds. Cramps and rheumatism are treated with the tea, as are intestinal gas, diarrhea, anorexia, and hyperacidity.
Homeopathic Uses: Homeopaths use Millefolium for hemorrhages with bright red blood, hernia, bad effects from falls or over-lifting, and continued high temperatures; it is a classic treatment for nosebleed, bloody urine, bleeding from the bowels, bloody coughs, and profuse menses with bright red blood.
Magickal Uses: A common herb in love spells, yellow yarrow is included in wedding decorations and hung over the bridal bed to ensure a love lasting at least seven years. Yarrow attracts friends and draws attention from those you wish to see. Make the flowers into a tea to improve psychic powers. Large patches of yarrow growing in a field indicate a very grounded energy spot. Sit there to center and relax. Yarrow is excellent for eliminating negativity from a person, place or thing.
Yellow Cedar - See Arboritae
Yellow Evening Primrose - (Oenothera biennis) Folk Names: War Poison
Magickal Uses: This herb was used by the Native American Indians to ensure a prosperous hunt and to protect from snake bites. They would rub it on their moccasins/feet and body.
Yerba Mate - (Ilex paraguariensis) Folk Names: Mate, Paraguay Tea, Yerba
Magickal Uses: Yerba mate is used to attract, keep or end a love relationship. It is worn to attract, the tea drank together to keep, or spilled on the ground to end the relationship.
Yerba Santa - (Eriodictyon californicum) Folk Names: Bear Weed, Consumptive’s Weed, Gum Bush, Holy Herb, Maountain Balm, Sacred Herb
Magickal Uses: A New World “good” herb. It is carried or added to the bath for improved beauty and health. When carried it is said to bring spiritual strength and protection and to improve psychic powers.
Yew - (Taxus baccata) Poison
Herbal Uses: Do not use this plant without professional supervision. The only harmless part is the red fleshy portion of the berry. However, the needles and branch tips have been used for lung and bladder problems, arthritis, gout, and pustular skin diseases under strict professional supervision (yew is a violent purgative). Recently a new cancer drug, Taxol, has been derived from its bark and needles. Caution: This plant is poisonous.
Homeopathic Uses: Homeopaths prepare an alcohol tincture of Taxus baccata for the conditions just described, especially when accompanied by bad smelling night sweats. The homeopathic solution is dilute and completely safe.
Magickal Uses: This plant is burned to contact the spirits of the dead. Because it grows to a great age, it became a symbol of stability in Celtic regions. It was used as the central “world tree” in ritual spaces and was often planted in graveyards. Yew sends up new trees from its roots, so it is a powerful symbol of death and reincarnation. Yew wood is appropriate for magickal tools such as wands and staves. In ancient times yew sticks were carved with the Ogham characters as tools of divination.
Yohimbe - (Pausinystalia yohimbe) Poison
Magickal Uses: An African herb traditionally used for inducing lust. Some tribes use it as part of the wedding ceremony. It is also known for its properties of enhancing mental ability and psychic powers. Consume in small amounts as it causes the circulatory system to expand the blood vessels.
Yucca - (Yucca spp.)
Magickal Uses: An herb of transmutation, protection and purification under the influence of Mars. According to Native American magick, the yucca is used to shape-shift (transform) into an animal form. This is done by either jumping through a hoop made of twisted yucca fibers or by wearing a wreath of the yucca fibers on your head. Yucca fibers twisted together and then crossed and placed on the mantle protects the home. A ritual purification bath may be taken using the suds from the yucca plant. The bath may be repeated after performing uncrossing spells.