Agrimony

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Agrimone, Agrimonia, Agrimonia eupatoria, Aigremoine, Aigremoine Eupatoire, Church Steeples, Churchsteeples, Cockeburr, Cocklebur, Common Agrimony, Da Hua Long Ya Cao, Eupatoire-des-Anciens, Fragrant Agrimony, Francormier, Herba Agrimoniae, Herbe-de-Saint-Guillaume, Herbe de Sainte Madeleine, Philanthropos, Soubeirette, Sticklewort, Thé des Bois, Thé du Nord, Toute-Bonne.

Overview

Agrimony is an herb. People dry the parts of the herb that grow above the ground to make medicine.

Agrimony is used for sore throat, upset stomach, mild diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetes, gallbladder disorders, fluid retention, cancer, tuberculosis, bleeding, corns, and warts; and as a gargle, heart tonic, sedative, and antihistamine.

Agrimony is applied directly to the skin as a mild drying agent (astringent) and for mild skin redness and swelling (inflammation). Some chemicals taken from agrimony are used to fight viruses.

How does it work?

Agrimony contains chemicals called tannins, which are thought to help conditions such as diarrhea.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • A skin condition called cutaneous porphyria. People with cutaneous porphyria accumulate a chemical called porphyrin in their skin. Porphyrin makes the skin especially sensitive to sunlight. Early research suggests that taking a crushed agrimony solution by mouth 3-4 times daily reduces the formation of sores on skin exposed to sunlight in people with cutaneous porphyria.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Sore throat.
  • Upset stomach.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of agrimony for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Agrimony is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when used short-term. But large amounts of agrimony are POSSIBLY UNSAFE because agrimony contains chemicals called tannins.

Agrimony can make some people's skin extra sensitive to sunlight and more likely to burn.

SLIDESHOW

Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See Slideshow

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Agrimony is POSSIBLY UNSAFE during pregnancy because it might affect the menstrual cycle.

There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking agrimony if you are breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Agrimony might lower blood sugar levels. People with diabetes should monitor their blood glucose levels closely. If you have diabetes, it's best to check with your healthcare provider before starting agrimony.

Surgery: Agrimony might affect blood sugar levels, so there is a concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using agrimony at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions


Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Agrimony might lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking agrimony along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.


Medications taken by mouth (oral drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Agrimony contains chemicals called tannins. Tannins absorb substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking agrimony along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much of the medicine your body absorbs and decrease the effectiveness of your medicine. To prevent this interaction, take agrimony at least 1 hour after medications you take by mouth.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of agrimony depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for agrimony. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

FDA Logo

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

Chakarski I. Clinical study of a herb combination consisting of Agrimonia eupatoria, Hipericum perforatum, Plantago major, Mentha piperita, Matricaria chamomila for the treatment of patients with chronic gastroduodenitis. Probl Vatr Med 1982;10:78-84.

Gao K, Zhou L, Chen J. Experimental study on decoctum Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells in vitro. Zhong Yao Cai 2000;23(9):561-562.

Ivanova D, Gerova D, Chervenkov T. Polyphenols and antioxidant capacity of Bulgarian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;96(1-2):145-150.

Lev, E. [Some evidence for the use of doctrine of signatures in the land of Israel and its environs during the Middle Ages]. Harefuah 2002;141(7):651-5, 664. View abstract.

Li Y, Ooi LS, Wang H, et al. Antiviral activities of medicinal herbs traditionally used in southern mainland China. Phytother Res 2004;18(9):718-722. View abstract.

Miyamoto K, Kishi N, Koshiura R. Antitumor effect of agrimoniin, a tannin of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., on transplantable rodent tumors. Jpn J Pharmacol 1987;43(2):187-195. View abstract.

Park EJ, Oh H, Kang TH, et al. An isocoumarin with hepatoprotective activity in Hep G2 and primary hepatocytes from Agrimonia pilosa. Arch Pharm Res 2004;27(9):944-946. View abstract.

Patrascu V, Chebac PI. [Favorable therapeutic results in cutaneous porphyria obtained with Agrimonia eupatoria]. Revista De Medicina Interna Neurologie Psihiatrie Neurochirurgie Dermato Venerologie Serie Dermato Venerologia 1984;29(2):153-157.

Petkov, V. Plants and hypotensive, antiatheromatous and coronarodilatating action. Am J Chin Med 1979;7(3):197-236. View abstract.

PETROVSKII GA, ZAPADNIUK VI, PASECHNIK IK, et al. [Cholagogue effect of Bupleurum exaltatum, Agrimonia asiatica, Leontopodium ochroleucum, and Veronica virginica.]. Farmakol Toksikol 1957;20(1):75-77. View abstract.

Willhite, L. A. and O'Connell, M. B. Urogenital atrophy: prevention and treatment. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21(4):464-480. View abstract.

Copland A, Nahar L, Tomlinson CT, et al. Antibacterial and free radical scavenging activity of the seeds of Agrimonia eupatoria. Fitoterapia 2003;74:133-5. View abstract.

Granica S, Krupa K, Klebowska A, Kiss A. Development and validation of HPLC-DAD-CAD-MS(3) method for qualitative and quantitative standardization of polyphenols in Agrimoniae eupatoriae herba. J Pharmaceut Biomed Anal 2013;86:112-22. View abstract.

Gray AM, Flatt PR. Actions of the traditional anti-diabetic plant, Agrimony eupatoria (agrimony): effects on hyperglycaemia, cellular glucose metabolism and insulin secretion. Br J Nutr 1998;80:109-14. View abstract.

Swanston-Flatt SK, Day C, Bailey CJ, Flatt PR. Traditional plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetologia 1990;33:462-4. View abstract.

Venskutonis PR, Skemaite M, Ragazinskiene O. Radical scavenging capacity of Agrimonia eupatoria and Agrimonia procera. Fitoterapia 2007;78:166-8. View abstract.