Agrimony. Agrimonia eupatoria.

Synonyms—Cockle Burr, Stickwort.

CONSTITUENTS—

It contains a volatile oil and tannin.

PREPARATIONS—

Pulverized leaves. Dose, one dram.

Decoction. Dose, two ounces.

Tincture, from one fourth to one dram.

Specific agrimony, from one to forty minims

Specific Symptomatology—Deep soreness or tenderness over the kidneys. Tenderness that seems to be due to irritability in the structure of the kidney. Sharp cutting, deep-seated pain, with general distress in the lumbar region. Pain extending from the lumbar region through to the umbilicus. Inflammation of the kidneys, or bladder, with foul-smelling urine, containing a sediment when passed, accompanied with discoloration, and dirty appearance of the skin. Renal congestion, general irritation of the urinary organs. This agent should be given in that common and intractable condition, where there is dribbling of urine in elderly people, always present when coughing or sneezing. Bronchial or pulmonary cough, where there are thick and profuse secretions, is relieved by it.

Therapy—The older physicians spoke very highly of the action of this remedy within the limits of the above indications. It is valuable in the treatment of erysipelas and scrofulous affections. It inhibits excessive action of the mucous membranes, giving tone to the mucous, tissues. In chronic bronchitis and asthma, and in the earlier stage of consumption, it was especially advised. All authors agree, however, that its influence is most direct upon the kidneys, correcting imperfect elimination through these organs. It corrects chronic inflammatory conditions, and relieves general irritability. Excessive mucous discharges are promptly relieved by agrimony. The atonic and relaxed mucous membranes which secrete excessively, are restored to normal tone and normal functional activity by its use. Bronchorrhea and leucorrhea, chronic ulcerative gastric catarrh, as well as colitis, ileocolitis, proctitis and cystitis, all come within the range of its influence.

In ulcerative stomatitis, with foul smelling breath, it may be used alone or in conjunction with astringent alteratives, as quercus alba, alnus or geranium.

Agrimony is useful in a form of dysuria which affects women and girls, especially those who are suffering from some form of dysmenorrhea; or those in which there is difficulty in having a normal menstrual function established, this function being accompanied with much pain and general distressing symptoms.

With this there is often an irritable condition of the bladder. At the same time there may be hysterical symptoms, which result from uterine or ovarian congestion, which on its part, may be increased by the urinary irritation. This remedy seems to soothe the nervous system while it quiets the local irritation of the bladder. It was used by the older physicians for this purpose. Pain due to chronic renal or cystic inflammation is relieved by it through its direct influence upon the pathological processes. There must be more general observation of the action of this remedy, as it certainly possesses important properties.

We would be inclined to combine cimicifuga or gelsemium and pulsatilla with agrimony, but the old doctors believed the latter remedy would cover the entire group of symptoms. However, a combination of the above agents, properly adjusted, could not fail to be of service.

The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1919, was written by Finley Ellingwood, M.D.
It was scanned by Michael Moore for the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.