About
It has an old reputation as a popular, domestic medicinal herb. Agrimony is often used as a dye, yielding a yellow hue. The shade depends on when the plant is harvested, ranging from dark to pale yellow. The tannins in agrimony have traditionally made it useful for processing leathers as well.
The Anglo-Saxons, who called it Garclive, taught that it would heal wounds, snake bites, warts, etc.
It was used with Mugwort and vinegar for 'a bad back' and 'alle woundes': and one of these old writers recommends it to be taken with a mixture of pounded frogs and human blood, as a remedy for all internal hemorrhages.
It formed an ingredient of the famous arquebusade water as prepared against wounds inflicted by an arquebus, or hand-gun, and was mentioned by Philip de Comines, in his account of the battle of Morat in 1476.
It was at one time included in the London Materia Medica as a vulnerary herb, but modern official medicine does not recognize its virtues, though it is still fully appreciated in herbal practice as a mild astringent and tonic, useful in coughs, diarrhea and relaxed bowels.
It was at one time included in the London Materia Medica as a vulnerary herb, but modern official medicine does not recognize its virtues, though it is still fully appreciated in herbal practice as a mild astringent and tonic, useful in coughs, diarrhea and relaxed bowels.
Plant at a glance
Other Names:
Common Agrimony, Church Steeples, Cockeburr, Sticklewort, Philanthropos
Habitat:
The plant is found abundantly throughout England, on hedge-banks and the sides of fields, in dry thickets and on all waste places.
Constituents:
Agrimony contains a particular volatile oil, which may be obtained from the plant by distillation and also a bitter principle. It yields in addition 5 per cent of tannin, so that its use in cottage medicine for gargles and as an astringent applicant to indolent ulcers and wounds is well justified.
Parts Used:
Aerial parts
Actions:
Anti-inflammatory, astringent, tonic, bitter, diuretic, vulnerary, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, carminative, hepatic, cholagogue.
Medical Uses:
Urinary bleeding and diarrhea, incontinence, relieve emotional tension.
Healing
Helps stop urinary bleeding and diarrhea.
Helps with incontinence or those who have cloudy, smelly urine.
Used as a urinary tract remedy and used for urinary tract infections.
Is said to have ‘an energetic action on the nervous system and help to relieve emotional tension.’
Relaxes blood flow to the liver which can help with relaxation.
‘By pouring a pint of boiling water on a handful of the dried herb - stem, leaves and flowers - an excellent gargle may be made for a relaxed throat, and a teacupful of the same infusion is recommended, taken cold three or four times in the day for looseness in the bowels, also for passive losses of blood.’
Also contributes a tonic action through bitter stimulation of digestive and liver secretions.
May be used to help with indigestion.
As a gargle it can help relieve sore throats and laryngitis.
Use as an ointment to aid in healing of wounds and bruises.
Agrimony infusion was successfully used to treat cutaneous porphyria in a group of 20 patients.
A preparation containing agrimony was used to treat 35 patients suffering from chronic gastroduodenitis … 75% of the patients were free of pain, 95% from dyspeptic symptoms, and 76% from palpitation pains.
Warnings
Cautions:
No information available
Possible Drug Interactions:
No information available
Preparations & Dosages
Tincture
Fresh leaf (1:2, 95% alcohol); dried leaf (1:5, 50%; 5 drops to 3ml (0.6 tsp.) 3 times daily
Infusion
4-8 ounces 1-4 times daily (Infusion time = 10-15 mins)
Glycerite
Dried leaf (1:6), 14 to 1 tsp. 3 times daily
Essential Oil
Extracted from all parts of the plant, agrimony oil is meant for topical use. Its astringent, antibacterial properties help healing wounds and reduce bleeding, however we've never used Agrimony in essential oil form.
Topical Use
For skin rashes, apply the salve or ointment, or prepare a compress from a strong infusion, or a decoction and apply several times daily.
disclaimer:
The information on this website is intended for general information purposes and is for educational purposes only, and to inform the reader about traditional remedies and approaches in Herbal Medicine. Individuals should always see their health care provider before administering any suggestions made on this website as it is not a replacement for professional medical advice or treatment.
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