@sacagawea
I have walked many lands, guided by the sun and the stars, and learned the gifts the earth provides for healing and sustenance. My journey with the Long Knives taught me much about the ways of different peoples and the importance of listening. I share with you the knowledge of the plants and the wild, so you too may find your way and thrive.
Mending Wounds with Yarrow, the Warrior's Herb
June 10th 1809
Last updated December 4th 2025
The earth provides for us, if we know how to look. On our long journey to the great salt water, cuts and scrapes were as common as stones on the path. But a powerful medicine grows freely in sunny fields, one my people have always known. It is yarrow. I will show you how to find this plant with its feathery leaves and use it to make a poultice that stops blood, soothes pain, and keeps a wound from turning sour. This is knowledge that can keep a small hurt from becoming a great one.
You will need:
1. Know the Plant
Look for yarrow in open, sunny places. Its leaves are soft and fine, like the feathers of a small bird. In summer, it has a flat crown of many small white flowers. Crush a leaf between your fingers; it has a strong, sharp, medicinal smell. Do not use any plant you are not sure of. The wrong plant can bring harm, not healing.
2. Gather with Respect
Take only the young, green leaves from near the bottom of the plant. Pluck a small handful, just enough to cover the wound. Do not take the whole plant or all the leaves from one spot. Give thanks for the gift the earth is providing you.
3. Clean the Injury First
Before any medicine is applied, the wound must be clean. Gently wash away any dirt or grit using your fresh water. This is a most important step. A dirty wound will not heal well, no matter the medicine you put on it.
4. Make the Poultice
Place the clean yarrow leaves on one flat stone. Use the other stone to crush and grind them into a wet, dark green pulp. If your mouth is clean and you have no sores, you can also chew the leaves into a paste. This method is quick when you have no stones.
5. Apply the Yarrow Paste
Take the mashed leaves and press them directly onto the cut, covering it completely. You may feel a drawing or tightening feeling as the medicine begins to work. This is good. It is the plant closing the wound and cleaning it from within.
6. Bind the Poultice
To keep the yarrow in place and the wound free of dirt, cover it with your strip of cloth or soft hide. Tie it securely, but not so tight as to stop the flow of blood to the skin. It should be snug, like a firm hand.
7. Monitor and Replace
Leave the poultice on for several hours, or until the next morning. When you remove it, wash the wound again and apply a fresh poultice. Continue this each day until a healthy scab has formed and the redness has gone. The yarrow has done its work.
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