NAME :  AGRIMONY

GAELIC NAME : 

LATIN NAME : Agrimonia eupatoria

FOLK / COMMON NAMES : Church Steeples, Cocklebur, Garclive, Philanthropos, Sticklewort, Stickwort.

HABITAT: Fields, waste places and woods.

DESCRIPTION:  Agrimony is a perennial plant.   Its red creeping rootstock produces a hairy stem from 1 to 5 feet high.   (30 cm to 1.5m).

The alternate pinnate leaves are far apart on the stem and consist 5 to 9 lanceolate or oblanceolate, crenateserrate leaflets which are resinous beneath and hairy along the veins.

FLOWERING PERIOD:  The small yellow flowers grow in a long raceme at the top of the stem during July and August.  The fruiting flower tubes sport hooked bristles that cling to whatever brushes against them.

MEDICINAL PART:  The Plant

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES:  Astringent Vulnerary

MEDICINAL USES:  Agrimony makes a good gargle for inflammations of the mouth and throat.  Taken internally a tea made from the leaves is useful for kidney, liver, and spleen problems and for gallstones.

It is sometimes recommended for chronic gall-bladder problems, accompanied by excess acidity in the stomach.  The root can be soaked to make a drink that relieves constipation and strengthens the liver.

Externally the tea or a poultice of fresh leaves can be used to help heal wounds and as a treatment for varicose veins.  It can also be made into a salve with unsalted butter for external use.

For aches and pains due to over-exertion try a footbath containing Agrimony.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES

GENDER : Masculine.

PLANET : Jupiter.

ELEMENT : Air.

ASSOCIATED CELTIC GODS : Lugh Manannan Mac Lir 

ASSOCIATED CELTIC GODDESS : Danu

POWERS : Protection Sleep.

RITUAL USES

For Protection use while calling upon Danu, Lugh or Manannan Mac Lir. For sleep Lugh was known to have given sleep herbs to Cúchulainn. Click here for story.

MAGICAL USES

Use in all protection sachets and spells, also to remove negative energies and spirits. Agrimony has also long been used to reverse spells sent against the magician ; i.e. it not only breaks hexes, it also sends them back to the hexer. 

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Last Updated - August 3, 2023

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