Parts Most Frequently Used: Flower, Stem, Leaf, Essential Oil

Flavors/Temps: Bitter, Astringent, Neutral

Caution: Considered safe in normal doses. High doses can cause nausea. Agrimony might lower blood sugar. Medications used to treat diabetes by helping to lower your blood sugar at the same time as using agrimony may cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low.

Key Constituents: Catechin, Thiamin, Quercitrin, Tannin, Palmitic acid, Silicic acid, Ursolic acid, Flavonoids (Including Apigenin, Glycosides, Kaempferol, Quercetin) Vitamin C and K, Triterpenes (Including Alpha-amyrin, Euscapic acid), Volatile oils

History/Folklore: The dried flowers are used in the spring to make a tonic that purifies the blood. This beverage is often served at tableside in France as a refreshing drink. The herb’s tannins help support healthy digestion. The herb’s blood-purifying properties help treat jaundice and liver ailments, as the herb helps flush out toxins from the body that can overburden the liver and kidneys.

A cup of weak tea is recommended 6x a day for diarrhea until the condition clears. A stronger tea is used as a gargle to treat sore throats and soothe coughs.

The Anglo-Saxons used the leaves of agrimony to stop bleeding and heal wounds, especially on the battlefield. In the Middle Ages, the herb was frequently used as a sleep aid. Native Americans have used the herb to treat various skin conditions, including coughs, sore throats, and diarrhea.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the herb is used to treat menstrual difficulties. It is also commonly used to treat sunstroke, headaches, sore throats, and stomach aches in China and Nepal. In Korea, it is mainly used to treat eczema and boils. Because the herb is considered neutral in temperature it can treat either hot or cold conditions.

A suppository made from agrimony is used in China for treating chronic diarrhea and a topical wash is used to treat trichomonas vaginitis. A cotton ball soaked in a wash of the herb can also be inserted in the vagina and left overnight. Agrimony Clears Liver Heat similarly to bupleurum. The leaves are used to treat sores and ringworms. It has a long history in China as a strong astringent and hemostatic agent with cardio effects.

It is considered magical in Traditional Chinese Medicine for being especially able to ease problems associated with labor (working with one’s hands, or a boss, or one’s calling, or spiritual work). It is said that keeping the herb around can change a person’s environment turning a dysfunctional environment into an effective place released of frustration, anger, and tension.

The herb helps treat bowel issues and helps to tone mucous membranes. Germany’s Commission E has approved agrimony tea for controlling diarrhea and as a gargle to treat inflamed and swollen throat pain.

The herb helps shed excess water weight by flushing the kidneys and bladder, even helping to rid the body of kidney stones. It can be combined with corn silk to help alleviate the symptoms of cystitis and urinary incontinence, and it is good for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Agrimony is useful topically for treating rheumatism, skin eruptions from pimples, acne, eczema, and even scrofulous sores. It can also help heal wounds, stop bleeding, and treat snake bites. Its high silica content makes it very useful for healing cuts and abrasions. A poultice can be made by boiling the herb in water on low heat for 10-20 minutes, letting the mixture reduce to about a 10% water extract.

Agrimony is high in tannin content 4-21%. This high tannin content contributes to the herb’s many key healing properties. It also contains the constituents catechin (a water-soluble polyphenol and antioxidant), and thiamin (a water-soluble B vitamin).  Both have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The palmitic acid in agrimony is a common saturated fatty acid in animals and plants. New studies indicate it may help fight skin cancer.

Studies indicate that agrimony helps slow down the growth of tumor cells and induces natural cell death in tumor tissues. A study out of Bulgaria indicates that the extract made from the seeds of the herb can scavenge free radicals. Of 21 plants commonly used, agrimony reported the 4th highest levels of total phenols.

The ancient Greeks used it to treat ailments of the eye. This is where the plant’s botanical name, Agrimony derives from the Greek word “Argemone” meaning plant that heals eyes. The Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, said that agrimony was “an herb of princely authorite.”

Agrimony is one of Bach’s Flowers’ original remedies. Besides treating wounds, colds, sore throats, and menstrual symptoms it is also used to soothe people who are agitated, anxious, or overly and inappropriately exuberant. The focus is on people who smile on the outside but suffer on the inside. These are the kinds of people who never complain and avoid arguments at all costs. The herb is excellent for treating the type of emotional tension where a lot is going on inside, with little breathing through pain or emotional upsets, and even a tendency to turn towards drugs, intoxicants, or other forms of adrenaline-rushing activities to mask inner pain. Agrimony causes the release of endorphins.

Agrimony has a long history of warding off spells and hexes. If placed in a sachet in your home, it was said to protect against goblins, evil spirits, and poisoning. It is used to repel jinxes and block curses. Not only does the herb block curses but it is said that it will send the curse back to its perpetrator. A popular practice is to place a few leaves in your pillowcase to help promote a good night’s sleep.

In the time of the English writer Chaucer, it was called Egrimoyne and blended with mugwort and vinegar to treat a “bad back” and “alle woundes”

Good quality has purple-red stems and well-shaped leaves.

The long flowering spikes are why the plant is sometimes called church steeples.

Agrimony is used as a natural food flavoring agent.

Harvested in September, its roots make a lovely pale yellow dye. If harvested later in the year the color will be darker and can be used to dye wool. The high tannin content in agrimony has also made it useful for tanning leather.

In the language of flowers, agrimony is a symbol of gratitude.

Sheep and goats will eat agrimony, but cattle, horses, and pigs will not touch it.