Remedies Using Agrimony Herb

The top part of the agrimony herb or the agrimonia eupatoria plant contains plant tannins. Tannin is an astringent. It has the ability to bind tissues or draw them together. Tannins are also able to reduce inflammations.

Even though the Anglo-Saxons didn't know the properties of agrimony, they used the herb to heal wounds and call it the wound herb. And it the mid 1700s, agrimony was used to treat serpent bites, skin eruptions and liver disorders. The Greeks used it to heal the eyes.

In the present day, agrimony is used as an herbal remedy for internal and external inflammations such as sore throat, diarrhea, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis and other gastrointestinal disorders. Because of its astringent activities, church steeples or sticklewort, which are other names for agrimony, are used as herbal treatment for skin irritations caused by bites, stings and fungal infections. This church steeples herb is also used externally to provide hemorrhoid relief.

Besides tannins, agrimony herb contains agrimophol which has the ability to expel internal worms and intestinal parasites. It is also able to eliminate bacteria that cause dysentery and typhoid fever.

Agrimony also contains coumarins, flavonoids, malic acid, phytosterols, polysaccharides, silica vitamin B, vitamin K and iron. The constituents in agrimony make the herb a natural diuretic and an antioxidant agent.

As a diuretic herb, it helps increase the flow of urine and is used as a remedy for bladder infections such as adult incontinence, bed wetting and cystitis. Its antioxidant activities boost the immune system and help fight against infections. It is also used to treat liver and kidney problems.

The vitamin K present in agrimony helps stop bleeding and this is the possible reason it is used to treat wounds because vitamin K assist in clotting blood.

Agrimony is sold as dried herb, agrimony tea, liquid extract, tincture, in capsules and also used in agrimony flower essence. To make agrimony from the dried herbs, steep 1 teaspoon of the herb in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes.

To take it as a supplement, follow the dosage stated on the label. Agrimony tea can be used as an eye wash for tired eyes and conjunctivitis or pink eyes. You can also use agrimony tea as skin wash or compress to treat skin eruptions and inflammations. For internal problems, drink agrimony tea or add several drops of the liquid extract to a glass of juice.

Use it as a poultice by making a paste of agrimony powder and water for skin problems. To treat sore throat and bleeding gums, gargle the tea. Add the liquid extract in the sitz bath to treat hemorrhoid or use agrimony tea as a compress.

The side effect of taking agrimony internally is it can aggravate constipation. It is not recommended to take agrimony herb together with psyllium husks and prunes.

Herbs, The Natural Alternative - Alternative Ways to Heal and Prevent Disease