Getting to Know Herbs: Agrimony

in #gardening5 years ago (edited)

Agrimony was/is considered a magickal plant for protection and magick reversal. An ingredient in love potions, agrimony was used as a protection from evil eye and worrisome thoughts. Worn as an amulet, it was said to turn hexes and curses back on the person who cast them. COmbind with slippery elm bark it was said to break spells involving lies and slander and back-biting enemies who try to trouble your love life.


Photo by @krnel

Agrimony has several species, the most common being called common agrimony, church steeples or sticklewort goes by the scientific botanical name of Agrimonia eupatoria. Other names include Agrimone, Agrimonia, Agrimonia eupatoria, Aigremoine, Churchsteeples, Cockeburr, Cocklebur, Common Agrimony, Da Hua Long Ya Cao, Eupatoire-des-Anciens, Fragrant Agrimony, Francormier, Herba Agrimoniae, Herbe-de-Saint-Guillaume, Herbe de Sainte Madeleine, Philanthropos, Soubeirette, Sticklewort, Thé des Bois, Thé du Nord, Toute-Bonne.


flickr/Dluogs, CC BY-SA 2.0

Key Points

  • considered a magickal plant
  • ancient use to treat sore feet
  • popular use as tea in past
  • low edibility, but safe for survival needs

History

The name argimony likely comes from he Greek argemone meaning a plant used to treat cataracts.

In ancient times, angrimony was steeped in bathes to relieve sore or tired feet. The ancient Greeks used it to treat eye ailments, and brewed to treat diarrhea and disorders of the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys. Anglo-Saxons boiled it in milk for erectile performance.

British folklore stated a sprig of Agrimonia eupatoria put under a pillow would make someone sleep until it was removed. This traditional use is states in a traditional Old English rhyme:

If it be leyd under mann's heed,
He shal sleepyn as he were deed;
He shal never drede ne wakyn
Till fro under his heed it be takyn.

Where is it found?

Argimony is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, like Europe and North America. One species can be found in Africa.

It can be found in open areas, fields, stone walls, waste ground, roadside verges and hedgerows.

What's it used for?

It's not too edible, but can be used as a famine food when other options are bleak. A refreshing tea can be made from the fresh or dried leaves, flowers and stems, either drunk hot or cold. The seed can be dried and ground into a meal.

The above ground pats are dried for use as a medicinal herb. It's used to for sore throat, upset stomach, mild diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetes, gallbladder disorders, fluid retention, cancer, tuberculosis, bleeding, corns, and warts; and as a gargle, heart tonic, sedative, and antihistamine. Applies to the skin it acts as a drying agent (astringent) and can act on mild skin redness and swelling.

Are there any risks?

Large quantities could lead to digestive complaints and constipation due a chemical known as tannins in the plant. It may (or may not) affect the menstrual cycle, so pregnant women should probably avoid it. Those with diabetes should monitor blood sugar levels with agrimony use, as it might lower blood sugar levels. Those allegric to the Rosaceae family of plants will want to avoid.

Other than that, this plant has apparently been used for thousands of years and is very safe. You will only get mild stomach issues if you take too much.


References:


Previous posts on Getting to Know Herbs:
Tansy | Absinthe or Wormwood | Nettle | Peppermint | Dandelion | Feverfew | Lemon Balm | Hawthorn | Chickweed | Northern Bayberry | Lady's Mantle | Hyssop | Burdock | Catnip | Lavender | Yarrow | Marshmallow | Skullcap | Codonopsis (Poor Man's Ginseng) | Schisandra | Rhodiola | Canadian Goldenrod | German Chamomile | Blue Vervain | Blessed or Holy Thistle | Common Horehound | Cayenne | Ashwagandha | Gotu Kola | Common Verbana/Vervain | Holy Basil | Sweet Annie | Globe Artichoke | Butterfly Weed / Pleurisy Root | Joe-Pye Weed / Gravel Root | Valerian | Malva/Mallow | Boneset | Elecampane | Lungwort | Cramp Bark | Motherwort | Common Plantain | Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) | Black Cohosh | Common Bearberry | Mahonia Mountain Grape (Oregon Grape) | Blue Cohosh | Goldenseal


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Makes you wonder why they believed what they did about it. Would be curious to read what may have been written about it by the scholars of antiquity.

Many of them had beliefs in powers of plants that haven't been substantiated through the ages ;) Why they believed certain things for certain plants is interesting to ponder indeed.

It exists also in North African countries (or they import it maybe) ! I recognize it from the first picture.
I guess they use it to make hot tea, as you mentioned in the post.

Yup, one species is found in Africa. Maybe that one they import it ;)

I guess too much love can give you constipation...lol

Ok, missed the important key notes, but got my morning laugh. ;)

LOL, in some cases maybe :P

interesting about the magickal qualities. I wonder how those things gain momentum in belief. Thanks @krnel

Hehe, yeah belief is powerful...

Nice yellow flower if nothing else. :-)

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