Agrimonia eupatoria
| Common agrimony | |
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| Agrimonia eupatoria | |
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| Species: | A. eupatoria
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| Binomial name | |
| Agrimonia eupatoria L., 1753
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Agrimonia eupatoria is a species of agrimony that is often referred to as common agrimony, church steeples or sticklewort. The whole plant is dark green with numerous soft hairs. The soft hairs aid in the plant's seed pods sticking to any animal or person coming in contact with the plant. The flower spikes have a spicy odor like apricots.
Identification
- Refer to the monograph of 4th edition of the European Pharmacopoeia [1587].
In folklore
Agrimony has been stated to have medical and magical properties since the time of Pliny the elder. It is ruled astrologically by Cancer, according to Nicholas Culpeper. Common folklore held that it could cure musket wounds, and ward off witchcraft.
In herbal medicine
Bald's Leechbook advised the use of Agrimony as a cure for male impotence - saying it should be boiled in milk, and that it could excite a man who was "insufficiently virile;" it also states that when boiled in Welsh beer it would have the opposite effect.[1]
In traditional herbal medicine it was recommended as a cure for insomnia, often being incorporated in herbal pillows. It was also believed to be able to draw out splinters.
Modern herbalists prescribe it for disorders of the kidneys, liver and bladder, and for irritable bowel syndrome. It is a mild astringent.
References and external link
- ^ Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger August:The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium Little, Brown, 2000 ISBN 0316511579
- Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk remedies (Century, 1987, pp 96–97)
- Agrimony, Agrimonia eupatoria - Information on seed germination, medicinal uses of plant, common names of the plant
- "Agrimonia eupatoria" at the Encyclopedia of Life
