Agrimonia eupatoria
Scientific Name: Agrimony
Other Names: Ackerkraut, Agrimonia, Church Steeples, Cocklebur, Funffing, Herbe de Saint-Guillaume, Liverwort, Stickwort
Should I take it?
Agrimony grows as a perennial weed in swampy areas and along roadsides in most of North America and Europe. During the summer, the small yellow flowers that appear on long spikes have a spicy-fruity scent. Alternating pairs of large and small leaves surround fuzzy stems that may grow up to 4 feet tall, although the plants most common in North America are generally shorter. The seeds of agrimony are topped by small spines--forming "cockleburs", which stick to clothing or animal fur. While agrimony is flowering, the entire plant is cut off above the roots, then dried and chopped to be used in medicine.
The use of agrimony in medicine can be traced to the ancient Greeks, who used it to treat eye conditions. In traditional Chinese medicine, agrimony has been used to eliminate tape worms and to treat other digestive conditions. Historically, it has also been used for a number of serious conditions, such as gallbladder disease and tuberculosis, but no scientific studies support these uses. Commercially, agrimony is grown for medical use as well as for a flavoring agent and for a bright yellow dye. Sometimes, the flowers are used to give specialty beers a fruity taste.
Dosage and Administration
Oral doses for agrimony range from 2000 mg (2 grams) to 6000 mg (6 grams) per day. Commercially, oral agrimony is most commonly available as liquid dose forms such as extracts and tinctures. Extracts are concentrated liquid preparations usually made by soaking chopped or mashed plant parts in a liquid such as alcohol, and then straining out the solid parts. Tinctures are less concentrated than extracts, but they are prepared in similar ways.
Agrimony tea may be made by placing about one teaspoonful of dried agrimony into a cup and covering it with 8 ounces of boiling water. After soaking for 5 minutes to 15 minutes, the solid particles should be strained out. Agrimony tea may be consumed three times a day to relieve stomach upset or diarrhea. Because it has a pleasant, tangy flavor, agrimony tea is often used as a beverage.
Agrimony tea can also be used as a mouthwash or a skin wash as often as needed. It may also be made into a poultice, which is usually a soft cloth that has been soaked in a medication, possibly heated, and applied to an irritated area of skin surface.
Summary
Today, agrimony is taken orally to help relieve diarrhea and upset stomach. Topically, it soothes minor skin irritation. It may also be gargled or rinsed in the mouth to relieve sore throat and mouth irritation, or used as a vaginal douche or wash for hemorrhoids.
Risks
Due to a slight possibility of kidney and/or liver damage from high doses of tannins taken for long periods of time, individuals with kidney or liver conditions should not take agrimony. Pregnant and breast-feeding women and individuals who tend to have constipation should also avoid it.
Side Effects
Taking or applying agrimony has increased sensitivity to natural and artificial sunlight for some individuals. Others have experienced an allergic skin rash from touching it.
Interactions
A small chance exists that taking agrimony in large doses or for long times could interfere with the effects of drugs or herbals that make the blood less likely to clot, insulin, drugs or herbals that lower blood sugar, and drugs or herbals that lower blood pressure.
Last Revised September 25, 2007
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Should I take it? 
