Post by Creator on Jul 23, 2006 13:51:02 GMT -5
Agrimony - Agrimonia parviflora
Other Names:
Church steeples, Cocklebur, Sticklewort, Philanthropos
Habitat
Agrimony can be found growing extensively throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. A hardy perennial, its natural habitat is woods and fields, but it takes to cultivation easily. Its one to two foot branchy stems are covered with a fine, silky down and terminate in spikes of yellow flowers. Both the flowers and the notched leaves give off a faint characteristic lemony scent when crushed. After the flowers fade they give place to tiny clinging "burrs" which will quickly adhere to your clothing if you brush by the plant in a hedgerow. For garden growing, give the herb sun or partial sun and regular watering, an plant from seed or propagate by root division in spring or fall. Gather the herb in summer while the flowers are in bloom.
Properties
Agrimony contains tannin and a volatile essential oil. Like most samples, the uses to which it is put are remarkably varied. The English use it to make a delicious "spring" or "diet" drink for purifying the blood. It is considered especially useful as a tonic for aiding recovery from winter colds and fevers. As agrimony also posses an astringent action, it is frequently used in alternative medicine as an herbal mouthwash and gargle ingredient, and is applied externally in the form of a lotion to minor sores and ulcers. It has also been recommended, as a strong decoction, to cure sores, blemishes, and pimples.
Folklore:
Agrimony was said to cause a deep sleep. When placed beneath a mans head this sleep would last until it was removed.
Other Names:
Church steeples, Cocklebur, Sticklewort, Philanthropos
Habitat
Agrimony can be found growing extensively throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. A hardy perennial, its natural habitat is woods and fields, but it takes to cultivation easily. Its one to two foot branchy stems are covered with a fine, silky down and terminate in spikes of yellow flowers. Both the flowers and the notched leaves give off a faint characteristic lemony scent when crushed. After the flowers fade they give place to tiny clinging "burrs" which will quickly adhere to your clothing if you brush by the plant in a hedgerow. For garden growing, give the herb sun or partial sun and regular watering, an plant from seed or propagate by root division in spring or fall. Gather the herb in summer while the flowers are in bloom.
Properties
Agrimony contains tannin and a volatile essential oil. Like most samples, the uses to which it is put are remarkably varied. The English use it to make a delicious "spring" or "diet" drink for purifying the blood. It is considered especially useful as a tonic for aiding recovery from winter colds and fevers. As agrimony also posses an astringent action, it is frequently used in alternative medicine as an herbal mouthwash and gargle ingredient, and is applied externally in the form of a lotion to minor sores and ulcers. It has also been recommended, as a strong decoction, to cure sores, blemishes, and pimples.
Folklore:
Agrimony was said to cause a deep sleep. When placed beneath a mans head this sleep would last until it was removed.
