Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony)

Question 1

How do you recognise Agrimony?

Answer 1

A herbaceous perennial plant. Grows in grassland, native to Europe & parts of Asia and Africa. Two species in UK, other species around the world. UK species Agrimonia eupatoria likes to grow on limestone or grassland.

Question 2

What are Agrimony’s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
**Tannins including agrimoniin. **
Flavonoids – including hyperoside, luteolin, apigenin, kaempferol & quercitin.
Phenolic acids.
Ursolic acid (hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory)
Essential oil (containing Cedrol, -pinene, linalool, -terpineol, bornyl acetate & eucalyptol)

The tannins explain the astringent action and the other constituents this plant’s anti-inflammatory action.

Question 3

What family is Agrimony in?

Answer 3

Family: Rosaceae.

Question 4

What is Agrimony good for?

Answer 4

Summary: A good herb for gastoenteritis due to tannin content, and gut issues such as IBD as its astringent and anti-diarrhoeal. Has a ‘sunshiney’ nature says Bendle.

Actions:
* Astringent
* Anti-diarrhoeal
* Diuretic.
* Anti-viral.
* Anti-bacterial.
* Hepatic tonic.
* Anti-inflammatory

Applications:
Gastroenteritis - invective, gut issues, also normalises gut function
Diarrhoea
IBS and Inflammatory bowel disease including bloody stools.
Urinary incontinence - but also as a diuretic.
Cystitis
Sore throats (gargle)
Wounds (astringent)
Chronic cholecystopathy (Weiss).

Applied more widely in the past especially for liver problems, inflammatory skin conditions and for kidney problems and ‘grumbling appendix’ the latter of which is likely IBS or IBD.

Question 5

What is Agrimony’s Latin name?

Answer 5

Agrimonia eupatoria

Question 6

What parts of Agrimony do you use?

Answer 6

Part used: aerial parts.

Question 7

What safety issues might Agrimony have?

Answer 7

As 1:3 tincture 20 – 30ml/week. A safe herb – most authors suggest this is a gentle plant and that it can be safely used for children.

Question 8

What useful research does Agrimony have?

Answer 8

External Links:

There is little in the way of relevant research on this plant, but…

An abstract from the Journal of Medicinal Food re positive effects on liver.

A review of the therapeutic effects of Agrimonia

Warning: this quotes some nasty experiments on animals and some parts seem based on conjecture rather than science.”