Agrimony - Treatment and Medical Uses of Agrimony Herb

Latin description: Agrimonia eupatoria

Common Name: Cocklebur, Sticklewort, Church Steeples

Parts Used: Dried leaves, flowers, roots ; also fresh leaves for poultice.

Medcinal Uses and Benefits of Agrimony

• Primary herb for appendicitis (usually used with Calendula).
  Secondarily used for childhood indigestion, chronic appendicitis,and colitis.
• Used by Native Americans for fever.
• Used to tone the entire body when debility is present.
  Warm decoction was once used before a seizure to allay its severity.
• Useful in cases of renal infection, nephritis and bloody urine.
  Used for scrofulous sores, a wineglassful of strong decoction taken 2 to 3 times daily for several months (also for ulcers)
• Used for bleeding in any part of the body.
• Used for diarrhea, blood disorders, fevers, gout, hepatitis, colic, pimples, sore throats, worms.
• Used to control diarrhea in infants, but it is the breastfeeding mother who drinks the tea. The action of the herb is passed along in her milk to the baby.
• Useful in cases of anemia.
• Used in suppository form with cocoa butter for hemorrhoids, children's diarrhea and historically for tapeworm.
• Also used for diseases of kidney, liver, spleen and lungs.
  Eyes: a weak tea used as eyewash for burning, itchy eyes, conjunctivitis and blepharitis (1 Tbsp chopped leaves in 1 pint boiling water, steeped for 10 minutes, then cooled; strain and place in eyedropper using 5 drops for relief).
  Hives: a decoction is used as a spray (2 Tbsp chopped leaves in 1 pt boiling water, then cooled and strained).
  Extract of agrimony is used against certain viruses and tuberculosis bacterium.
• Leaves used as a wound healer.
• Used both as decoction and infusion for coughs, diarrhea, dystentary, and as a post-op tonic.
• A tea from the immature cockleburrs drunk to sooth coughs and sore throat.
• Decoction or infusion taken cool for bowel looseness; also useful for blood in stool.
• Used for jaundice and liver complaints. (A Dr. Hill published several medical texts from 1751-1771 and recommended an infusion of 6 oz. of the crown of the root in 1 quart of boiling water, with honey - 1 cup to be taken 3 times daily for jaundice.)
• As a wound healer - Chinese research shows 40-50% increase in coagulation of blood by increasing the number of platelets concerned with clotting.
• Once used for treating tuberculosis.
• Used for fever.
• Good for phlegm or mucous conditions, bronchitis and heavy menses.
• A digestive system tonic especially suited for the elderly.
  Used for colitis and inflammatory conditions of the intestines. Usually combined with other carminatives for digestive problems.
• Also has a history of use as a spring tonic to purify the blood.
• Used for irritations and infections of the intestinal tract (good for children).
• Considered useful in all diseases of the blood as well as pimples, and other skin blemishes. For blackheads apply a hot compress for 20 minutes.
• Used as a mouthwash to remove tartar from teeth.
  Used for blood cleansing, liver complaints, internal bleeding, diarrhea, intermittent menses, abnormal uterine bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge (as a douche), kidney disease, ulcerated conditions, as well as irritations and infections of the digestive system.
• Used for childhood diarrhea and incontinence.
• Used for cystitis, urinary colic, bloody urine, urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence.
• Used as a gargle for sore throat, sore mouth, mucous membrane inflammations and laryngitis.
• Used for sprains, bruises, stomach acidity, diseases of the lungs.
• Used as an ointment for wounds and bruises. Also to check bleeding from wounds, and uterine bleeding not associated with menses.
• Used for gall bladder disease associated with hyperacidity and stomach acidity.
• Once used for pulmonary tuberculosis.
• Tea useful for diabetes to control involuntary urine. The roots and whole plant are boiled in milk to be used for diabetes and any attendant incontinence problems.
  Used for conjunctivitis.
• Used as a wash externally for scrofulous and ulcerated sores, and skin discharges.
• For splinters and thorns: soak the area in a cup or bowl of hot infusion for 30 minutes. Should press out easily. Also, applying the tincture works for splinters.
• For sciatica, muscle stiffness, rheumatism: combine agrimony and mugwort in vinegar and use as a liniment.
  A poultice of the leaves used for migraines.
  External: Infusion used as a wash for eczema with broken skin, and varicose ulcers. Also: poultice from fresh leaves for sores.
• Culpepper (1652) recommended it in the form of ointment or oil to be used externally for gout and as a decoction to heal sores.