Agrimony: properties, remedies and precautions

From the end of spring and during the summer it is easy to find this slender plant, the agrimony (liverwort liverwort). Get your name from argemonewhich is the word used by the ancient Greeks to designate herbs that could heal the eyes, while “deep-house” alludes to King Eupator, who was said to have great knowledge of herbal medicine.

The Agrimonia is a plant up to one meter high, covered with patent hairiness, with leaves divided into jagged segments and yellow flowers, gathered in thin spikes. For medicinal purposes, the flowers and leaves are harvested.

Agrimony medicinal properties

Like other plants in its family, the Rosaceae, it stands out for the abundance of tannins it contains, which explains its quality as an astringent plant. It also contains an essential oil, ursolic and ascorbic acids, and alkaloids.

Due to its astringent effectits main use is as a natural remedy to mediate diarrheaproduced by a change of water, food poisoning or a bacterial infection, but also to alleviate hepatobiliary disorders such as jaundice and the liver inflammation.As an anti-inflammatory and astringent planthas been shown to be very useful for reducing inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes in conditions as frequent as tonsillitisthe pharyngitis and the laryngitis.It is also effective in case of spring allergy with rhinitis and conjunctivitisin flu processes and bronchial asthma.externally applies to treat the Irritated eyesinflammation around the eyes and eyelids, on dermatitis, minor injuries, mouth sores and skin ulcers.

Natural remedies with agrimony

Infusion for diarrhea. Agrimony is combined with two other plants that are very suitable for this purpose: loosestrife and wild rose (the fruits or rose hips). How to prepare it: Four tablespoons of the mixture are arranged in equal parts per one liter of water. Let it boil for about two minutes, keep it at rest for another ten and strain. It is about drinking the infusion every two or three hours until it is seen that the diarrhea has subsided.

Rinse for throat irritation. You can try a rinse made from agrimony, walnut leaves and mint. It is applied in gargles up to five times a day. You can add a pinch of baking soda.

Infusion improve hoarseness or loss of voice. Experts propose a formula that combines agrimony with hedgehog –also known as singers’ grass–, plantain and marshmallow, in equal parts. Four tablespoons of the mixture per liter of water. How to prepare the infusion: The formula is boiled for about five minutes and allowed to rest for another ten. Strain and drink the infusion during the day, reheating it if it has cooled down.

How is it used

Dried plant for infusion, tincture, liquid extract and nebulized extract. There is also a decoction to apply topically in washes, eye drops, mouthwashes, to soak compresses or inhalations.

Precautions and contraindications

Adverse reactions have been described in the form of skin irritation from contact with the fresh plant after there has been a Sun exposureespecially if the skin was wet.

Jordi Cebrian. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist at “El Manantial de Salud”