Everlasting Gardener
Joanie Lapic
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This ferny, perennial (in temperate zones) plant has a toothed-leaf basal growth of about 7 inches high, until it sends up a wand of tiny bright yellow flowers in the summer, which can get up to 30 or so inches high. It is native to Europe where it enjoys growing in moist, open meadows. It contains the nutrients iron, vitamins B and K.
MEDICINAL~ Agrimony is mainly a medicinal herb, a bitter tonic stimulating liver and digestive juices. Another of its qualities, astringent, makes it very useful in childhood diarrhea and for staunching blood flow in wounds, encouraging clot formation. Agrimony is good for treating mucous colitis, indigestion, and appendicitis. It has a tradition of being used as a spring tonic. When gargled, it is effective in relieving sore throat and laryngitis. Made into an ointment, it helps heal wounds and bruises. Agrimony has also been used for kidney stones, sore throats, rheumatism and arthritis. Gather all of the above-ground parts when the flowers are just beginning to bloom. Dry in the shade at not more than 104 degrees, and then prepare as a tea, or make into a tincture.
(some information obtained from "Holistic Herbal" by David Hoffmann, and from “The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants” by Andrew Chevallier)
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