Agrimony, the team player
Most herbs can play nicely with others. Knowing which ones work best together is part of the herbalist’s training and skill. But there are some herbs that seem to be particularly suited to combinations. They just have a social way about them.
Agrimony is one of them.
This may be a herb you haven’t heard much about. I’m aiming to change that because Agrimony is safe enough for any kitchen medicine collection, yet powerful enough as part of a formula to treat chronic digestive and urinary problems.
Agrimony—Agrimonia eupatoria
Agrimony is a member of the Rose family. A perennial plant native to Europe, it’s usually found in lowland areas on the edges of fields and hedgerows. It likes full sun to part shade and will grow in most soil types.
Agrimony is a handsome plant, growing up to a metre high and producing a large spike of bright yellow flowers. The whole plant yields a yellow dye.
Folk names include Church Steeples, Cocklebur and Sticklewort. The two latter names refer to the plant’s seeds, which catch on wool, fur and clothing.
Parts used medicinally
Leaves and flowers. Harvest in Summer when the flowers are in bloom.
History and folklore
The name Agrimonia comes from the Greek, meaning ‘good for the eyes’. Eupatoria was named for the Turkish king Mithridates Eupator, who was an expert in plant lore and poisons.
Agrimony is the first entry in Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, and English Physician. “It is under Jupiter and the sign Cancer, and strengthens those parts under that planet or sign, and removes diseases under them by sympathy…”
According to Josephine Addison, Agrimony means ‘gratitude’ in the language of the flowers. It was the egremoine of Chaucer who recommended it for “alle wounds and bad back”.
Bach Flower Remedy: “Mental torment behind a brave face. Appear carefree and humorous in order to mask anxieties.”
“A decoction of the leaves is good for them that have naughty livers.”
John Gerard, English herbalist (1545–1612)
Actions and energetics
Like all members of the Rose family, Agrimony is an astringent. It tightens and tones tissues and has an affinity for the body’s mucous membranes. As a bitter tonic, Agrimony supports the liver and gallbladder, so it is beneficial where there is sluggish digestion. It is a diuretic and has an affinity for the urinary tract. Agrimony also has a reputation as a vulnerary (wound-healing) herb.
Energetically, I find Agrimony to be cooling and drying.
Uses and indications
The following clinical herbalists have used Agrimony for a variety of conditions but there are some common threads among them:
- David Hoffman—indigestion and childhood diarrhoea, early stage appendicitis, mucous colitis, rheumatism and arthritis, sore throats (as a gargle).
- Thomas Bartram—weak and sluggish stomachs, liver and gallbladder debility, incontinence.
- Andrew Chevallier: wounds, diarrhoea, digestive tonic, sore throat.
- Richard Whelan—burning/itchy eyes, inflammatory skin eruptions, problems with liver, kidney or digestive health.
- Easley and Horne—UTIs and cystitis.
Science and research
There hasn’t been a huge amount of research into Agrimony but I found the studies below to be quite compelling:
Literature review of studies conducted into various effects, including antibacterial (especially against Staph and E.coli), anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory, antiviral, antioxidant, analgesic, hypotensive, diuretic, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, vulnerary, phytoestrogenic, antithrombotic, neuroprotective and anti-cancer (in vitro): Paluch, Z., Biriczová, L., Pallag, G., Carvalheiro Marques, E., Vargová, N., & Kmoníčková, E. (2020). The therapeutic effects of Agrimonia eupatoria L. Physiological research, 69(Suppl 4), S555–S571. https://doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.934641
Research into anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties: Huzio, N., Grytsyk, A., Raal, A., Grytsyk, L., & Koshovyi, O. (2022). Phytochemical and Pharmacological Research in Agrimonia eupatoria L. Herb Extract with Anti-Inflammatory and Hepatoprotective Properties. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 11(18), 2371. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182371
Safety
Agrimony is very safe and can be used with confidence on infants and the elderly. It’s quite a pleasant-tasting herb. It reminds me a little of nettles—another plant ally with a drying action.
The only caution I’ve found is around the herb’s ability to lower blood sugar levels, so if you’re taking medication to lower your blood glucose, monitor your levels if you take Agrimony.
This is a herb that you don’t need to take in vast quantities. If you do, the high tannin content in Agrimony may make you feel a little queasy. More usually doesn’t mean better!
Dosage
Tea: 1–2 tsp of dried herb per cup. Cover with boiling water and seal the container. Let it steep for 10 mins, then strain and pour. Add honey if preferred.
Tincture: 1–2 ml (1:5 @ 40%).
Other herbs Agrimony plays nicely with
- Cornsilk for cystitis and urinary incontinence (Chevallier)
- Lemon Balm, Raspberry leaves and Nettles for a Spring tonic (Bartram)
- It’s an ingredient in Richard Whelan’s Gut Healing Formula and Cleansing Tea
- I like it paired with Chamomile for gentle gut support.
Can Agrimony be grown in New Zealand?
Yes, you can grow Agrimony here. It doesn’t appear on either the New Zealand Weeds Database or DOC’s List of Environmental Weeds in New Zealand 2024, so it would seem it’s not invasive. Be careful with those prickly seeds, though. They’re probably very efficient hitchhikers!
Find this post interesting? If so, please share!
The world needs more knowledge about powerful, easy-to-source herbs 🙂
