Agrimony: Recipes

You can make a poultice of the leaves and apply to the head during migraines, or use the tisane to treat athlete’s foot or use freshly crushed fresh leaves. If you have conjunctivitis or other eye problems then 10 gr of the herb to 500 ml of water should be boiled together and left to cool then used as an eyewash.

Native Americans have used agrimony effectively for fevers, and the tisane is a mild diuretic.

You can use it in potpourris with dried flowers such as rose petals, lavender, and violets. You can use the fragrant dried leaves for this purpose too. It is said that if you carry agrimony, along with rue, Maidenhair fern, broom, and ground ivy, you will be able to recognize witches. If one happens to cast a spell on you then the agrimony will mirror it back and the evil will befall the one who cast the spell.

AGRIMONY TISANE

Ingredients

1 handful of dried agrimony (whole herb)

1 pint of boiling water

honey to taste

Method

Pour the boiling water over the dried herb and leave to steep for 15 minutes. Strain and drink a tea cup of it 3 or 4 times a day for all the ailments mentioned above.

This rhyme was found in an old English manuscript: –

“If it be leyd under mann’s heed.

He shal sleepyn as he were deed;

He shall never drede ne wakyn

Till fro his heed it is taken.”

In other words, it induces profound sleep and if it is under your pillow, you won’t wake up unless it is removed. Today mugwort and agrimony are used in Dream pillows.

Agrimony should be gathered when it is in full bloom and spread out to dry on a wire rack in a very sunny spot. Turn the parts of the plant at regular intervals until it can be crumbled to a powder. It can be stored for future use in airtight jars. Dry all parts of the upper plant, i.e. flowers, leaves, and stem. You can use them in the tisane recipe given above, which is effective against diarrhea and blood loss in the urine or stools. It can also be used as a gargle for sore throats and mouth ulcers. It has been used in traditional medicine for liver complaints including jaundice and will aid digestion. It is said to be good for the blood and skin and a strong decoction of the crown of the root system and leaves boiled in water and mixed with honey was especially used for skin problems. If you use this, you need to drink 2 or 3 small cupfuls every day for several months to clear the skin.