Latin name: Agrimonia eupatoria
Family: Rosaceae
Common Name/s: Agrimony, church steeples
Primary plant part used: Leaves and stems, All aerial parts
Energetics: Cooling and Drying; Slightly bitter and a touch sweet with a sprinkle of saltiness
Agrimony, your old-timey panacea! Calm our minds and spirits while quelling digestive distress. This lovely herb that grows with bright yellow flowers in lush fields, prairies and marshlands is a wonderful ally to enliven the soul when feeling at a standstill from anxiety. Slightly astringent in quality, similar to many rose family plants, it can settle diarrhea and acts to tone digestive tissue.
While agrimony is an excellent ally for the nervous system, it also shines as antimicrobial. Gentle yet effective against various microbes, whether viral, fungal or bacterial. Including Agrimony in H. pylori formulas can be quite effective, especially when paired with meadowsweet and marshmallow. This is also an herb to consider when your blood sugar is high, potentially decreasing hyperglycemia (Pour et al, 2021).
Topically, agrimony can be infused in your favorite oil to prevent scar tissue or used as a poultice for wound care. Try using a compress of agrimony on the eyes for pinkeye, styes or other eye infections (especially when the infections are causing goop!). On the opposite end of the body for topical uses, try using foot baths of agrimony for heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, neuromas, neuropathy and general foot pain or tenderness.
Indications:
- Hot constitution with anxiety or excess stress
- Diarrhea, due to IBS or infection
- Heartburn due to pylori
- Foot pain due to nervous tissue disorder
Contraindications:
- This herb is generally considered nontoxic.
- If you are pregnant or nursing, please use another herb
- May interfere with antidiabetic pharmaceuticals by having an additive effect (Agrimony, 2021)
The medicinal properties listed above are not supported by the FDA. Please understand that the herbs and herbal remedies discussed are not intended to cure, diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or medical condition. Always be sure to contact a qualified health care practitioner if you suspect a health or medical condition. Furthermore, please always speak to your health care practitioner before trying any type of home remedy, whether using topically or internally. Anything written in these pages should not be considered medical or health advice.
-Laura Cascardi is the Director of the Equinox Center of Herbal Studies and has a clinical practice in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is a Certified Herbalist through the Rocky Mountain Center of Botanical Studies and has a BS in Botany from Colorado State University.
Works Cited
Agrimony. Natural medicines. (2021, May 19). https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=604.
Ghobadi Pour, M., Mirazi, N., Moradkhani, S., Rafieian-kopaei, M., & Rahimi-Madiseh, M. (2021). A comprehensive review ON PHYTOCHEMICAL, pharmacological and therapeutic properties OF AGRIMONIA EUPATORIA L. Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology, 10(1), 14–30. https://doi.org/10.34172/jhp.2021.02
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9178 (image)