Use of Agrimony
Use of Agrimony
Scientific name: Agrimonia eupatoria L.
Family: Rosaceae
Common name: agrimony
Dialect name: arimonia, erva annonia
It is a perennial herbaceous plant very common in abandoned crops, along the edges of roads, at the edge of the woods and in pastures. It prefers open and sunny places, its distribution goes up to 1,200 meters of altitude; it blooms from June to July. The single stem, generally 60 cm, is cylindrical with the presence of hairs, the leaves are imparipinnate of a glossy green color, with an oblanceolate outline; the lower page is lighter than the upper, the stem ends with a spiriform raceme with pedunculated, yellow flowers. The fruits are achenes.
Active principles –
The active ingredients are contained in the bitter leaves and rich in tannin, resins and above all salicylic acid.
The leaves are harvested before flowering, or during flowering and dried in the shade at temperatures no higher than 40 °.
Properties –
Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic, antihemorrhagic, antipruritic, astringent, tonic, diuretic, improves liver and biliary functions.
Internal use –
For kidney diseases, colitis, dyspepsia, diarrhea, gallstones, cystitis and rheumatism.
Infusion: pour 150 grams of boiling water over half a tablespoon of dried, chopped agrimony.
Leave to rest for 10-15 minutes and filter. Drink a cup 2 to 4 times a day against kidney disease, colitis.
External use –
Skin rashes, against itching, to heal small lesions, inflammation of the oral cavity and tonsillitis, conjunctivitis and hemorrhoids.
Pack: prepare a decoction with 10 g of agrimony and 100 g of water, let it cool, dip a cloth in it and place it on the painful parts several times a day. The same pack with 100 g of agrimony leaves is useful for the treatment of acne.
Decoction: pour a tablespoon of agrimony in 100 g of water, boil for 5 minutes; filter and leave to cool. To be used for gargling, against throat inflammation.
Maria Canzoneri