Agrimony

(Agrimonia eupatoria L., Rosaceae)

Also Called: Cocklebur, Stickwort.

Description: Perennial herb with simple or occasionally branched erect, downy stems 50-100cm (20-40in) high.
Leaves up to 20cm (8in) long, imparipinnate, densely hairy.
Flowers about 1cm (0.4in) diameter, yellow, in terminal spikes, the flowers opening one after the other from base to apex of the inflorescence.
Flowering: June-autumn.

Part Used: Dried flowering plant.

Habitat and Collection: On roadsides, waste places and poor pastures throughout much of Europe; common in Britain except northern Scotland.
Collected when in flower, if possible before mid-August, and dried in the shade below 40 C (104 F).

Constituents and Action: Tannin, a little volatile oil, resin.
Is astringent, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic.
Its actions on biliary secretion, against calculi and as a diuretic are doubtful.

Usage: Internally as a tisane (1 litre (1.75pt) of cold water on a handful of drug, raise to the boil and allow to stand) for diarrhoea, biliary retention and inflammation of the kidneys and bladder; recommended also for calculi (uncertain).
Externally its infusion is used as a lotion for inflamed mucosa of mouth and throat and as an application to wounds.