Botanical: Agrimonia Eupatoria (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Rosaceae
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Names : Cockle Burr, Stickwort, Church Steeples
Habitat-The plant is found abundantly throughout
England, on hedge-banks and the sides of fields, in dry thickets and
on all waste places. In Scotland it is much more local and does not
penetrate very far northward.
| Nutrient : | Vitamins B and K, iron |
How It Is Used
Actions : Astringent, tonic,
bitter, diuretic, vulnerary, anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic,
carminative, Hepatic, cholagogue.
Indications : The combination of astringency and
bitter tonic properties makes Agrimony a valuable remedy. This
especially true when an astringent action on the digestive system is
needed, as it will also contribute a tonic action due to the bitter
stimulation of digestive and liver secretions. It is a specific in
childhood diarrhea. Its properties give it a role in the treatment
of mucous colitis.
Agrimony is the herb of choice in appendicitis. It may be used in indigestion. There is a long tradition of its use as a spring tonic. It may be used in urinary incontinence and cystitis.
Use :Agrimony is not commonly used today, but has its place in traditional herbal medicine. This herb is safe for use for minor ailments in most healthy people. Like most herb simples, the uses to which it is put are remarkably varied. The English use it to make a delicious "spring" or "diet" drink for purifying the blood. It is considered especially useful as a tonic for aiding recovery from winter colds, fevers, and diarrhea. Agrimony contains tannin and a volatile essential oil.
As Agrimony also possesses an astringent action, it is frequently used in alternative medicine as an herbal mouthwash and gargle ingredient, and is applied externally in the form of a lotion to minor sores and ulcers. Agrimony has also been recommended, as a strong decoction, to cure sores, blemishes, and pimples
As a gargle it is beneficial in the relief of sore throats and laryngitis.
As an ointment it will aid the healing of wounds
and bruises. The infusion has been used clinically with some
success.
Preparations
It is often used with carminatives and hepatics for digestive problems.
Preparations & Dosage : Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto
l-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse for l0-l5
minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take l-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.
Harvesting Information
Agrimony is usually common enough to harvest freely in the wild, as long as you take only a small portion from any given area. Tie in small bundles and hang in a dark, dry place for a few days to a week depending on temperature. Or place small amounts in large paper bags. Dry herbs in well ventilated areas away from smoke, pets, and rodents. Harvest Agrimony seeds in late summer or early fall, and plant right away or store in freezer.
Herbal Tea Recipe
Agrimony Herb Tea: Infuse 1 teaspoon dried Agrimony root, leaves, or flowers in 1 cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain and flavor with honey and a little licorice root if desired. Take up to 1 cup per day. Said to be a good blood purifier.
History and Folklore
Witches used it in spells to dispel negative energies, and to ward off hexes. Agrimony was said to cause a deep sleep. When placed beneath a mans head this sleep would last until it was removed. This passage is from an old English medical manuscript:
If
it be leyd under mann's heed,
He shal sleepyn as he were deed;
He shal never drede ne wakyn
Till fro under his heed it be takyn.'
Author Jessica Houdret says The Anglo Saxons included Agrimony in charms and dubious preparations of blood and pounded frogs.
Homeopathic Remedy for: "The jovial, cheerful, humorous people who love peace and are distressed by argument or quarrel, to avoid which they will agree to give up much. Though generally they have troubles and are tormented and restless and worried in mind or in body, they hide their cares behind their humour and jesting and are considered very good friends to know. They often take alcohol or drugs in excess, to stimulate themselves and help themselves bear their trials with cheerfulness."
Agrimony (Xianhecao)
Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Agrimoniae
Botanical Name: Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Nakai
Common Name: Agrimony
Source of Earliest Record: Diannan Bencao
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The entire plant
is gathered in summer or autumn. It is cleaned, dried in the sun and
cut into pieces.
Properties & Taste: Bitter, astringent and neutral
Meridians: Lung, liver and spleen
Functions: 1. To stop bleeding; 2. To relieve dysentery; 3. To kill
parasites
More Facts about Agrimony
The whole plant is deep green and covered with
soft hairs, and has a slightly aromatic scent; even the small root
is sweet scented, especially in spring. The spikes of flowers emit a
most refreshing and spicy odour like that of apricots. The leaves
when dry retain most of their fragrant odour, as well as the
flowers, and Agrimony was once much sought after as a substitute or
addition to tea, adding a peculiar delicacy and aroma to its flavour.
Agrimony is one of the plants from the dried leaves of which in some
country districts is brewed what is called 'a spring drink,' or
'diet drink,' a compound made by the infusion of several herbs and
drunk in spring time as a purifier of the blood. In France, where
herbal teas or tisanes are more employed than here, it is stated
that Agrimony tea, for its fragrancy, as well as for its virtues, is
often drunk as a beverage at table.
The plant is subject to a considerable amount of variation, some
specimens being far larger than others, much more clothed with hairs
and with other minor differences. It has, therefore, by some
botanists, been divided into two species, but the division is now
scarcely maintained. The larger variety, having also a greater
fragrance, was named Agrimonia odorata.
The long flower-spikes of Agrimony have caused the name of 'Church
Steeples' to be given the plant in some parts of the country. It
also bears the title of 'Cockeburr,' 'Sticklewort' or 'Stickwort,'
because its seed-vessels cling by the hooked ends of their stiff
hairs to any person or animal coming into contact with the plant. It
was, Gerard informs us, at one time called Philanthropos, according
to some old writers, on account of its beneficent and valuable
properties, others saying that the name arose from the circumstance
of the seeds clinging to the garments of passers-by, as if desirous
of accompanying them, and Gerard inclines to this latter
interpretation of the name.
The whole plant yields a yellow dye: when gathered in September, the
colour given is pale, much like that called nankeen; later in the
year the dye is of a darker hue and will dye wool of a deep yellow.
As it gives a good dye at all times and is a common plant, easily
cultivated, it seems to deserve the notice of dyers.
Sheep and goats will eat this plant, but cattle, horses and swine
leave it untouched.
---History---The name Agrimony is from Argemone, a word given by the
Greeks to
Habitat and Description
Agrimony can be found growing extensively throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. A hardy perennial, its natural habitat is woods and fields, but it takes to cultivation easily. Agrimonies have one to two foot branchy stems covered with a fine, silky down and terminate in spikes of yellow flowers. Both the flowers and the notched leaves give off a faint characteristic lemony scent when crushed. After the flowers fade they give place to tiny clinging "burrs" which will quickly adhere to your clothing if you brush by an it plant in a hedgerow.
How to grow Agrimony
For garden growing, give Agrimony sun or partial sun and regular watering, a plant from seed or propagate by root division in spring or fall. Gather the herb in summer while the flowers are in bloom.
Caution: This is an astringent herb, do not use if constipated. Do not use internally during pregnancy without discussing with your obstetrician.
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