Western Herbalism
Hemp agrimony
Eupatorium cannabinum
Also known as water hemp, holy rope, Dutch agrimony, raspberries and cream, water maudlin.
Hemp agrimony is a tall, pink-flowered perennial of riverbanks, ditches and damp woodland margins across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, named for its palmate leaves that resemble hemp. The flowering aerial parts, and historically the root, were used as a bitter, cooling remedy for fevers, liver congestion and constipation, and it was a classic cottage remedy for influenza in continental Europe. It is the European cousin of boneset and gravel root, and shares their unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which now restrict its internal use.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Influenza and feverish colds (historical internal use, now restricted)
- Sluggish liver and biliary congestion (historical)
- Constipation with a sluggish liver (historical)
- Fluid retention (historical)
- Rheumatic aches with fever (historical)
- Slow-healing wounds and ulcers (topical)
- Skin eruptions and boils (topical wash)
- Scabby scalp conditions (topical)
Specific indications
A feverish, heavy-limbed influenza with a coated tongue and sluggish bowels, where the old herbalists reached for hemp agrimony as a bitter diaphoretic; today this picture is better met with boneset, elder and yarrow because of the alkaloid risk
Chronic, indolent skin ulcers or scabbed eruptions that respond to a bitter, antiseptic wash applied externally
Safety
Recognised toxicity. This plant carries a toxicity flag in the record; it is for trained practitioners only.
Low dose botanical. Used in drop doses in the classical practice; not a plant to dose freely.
Pregnancy: Contraindicated: unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids cross the placenta and are hepatotoxic and genotoxic, so internal use is not acceptable at any dose.
Breastfeeding: Not for use while breastfeeding
The record lists 9 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
In practice
This is a plant to know rather than one to dispense freely. Internally it was given as a bitter diaphoretic and cholagogue for feverish colds, influenza, a sluggish liver, constipation and dropsy, in small doses because the fresh plant is emetic and purgative in quantity.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Infusion (short course only, restricted) | 1-2 g dried aerial parts per cup up to twice daily for no more than 5 days | 1000-2000 mg |
| Tincture (1:5, 25%), historical, not recommended | 1-2 mL up to three times daily for no more than 5 days | 1-2 mL |
| Topical wash or poultice | 10-20 g dried herb per 500 mL water applied two to three times daily | 10000-20000 mg |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Overview. Hemp agrimony is a tall, pink-flowered perennial of riverbanks, ditches and damp woodland margins across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, named for its palmate leaves that resemble hemp. The flowering aerial parts, and historically the root, were used as a bitter, cooling remedy for fevers, liver congestion and constipation, and it was a classic cottage remedy for influenza in continental Europe. It is the European cousin of boneset and gravel root, and shares their unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which now restrict its internal use.
Clinical Notes. This is a plant to know rather than one to dispense freely. Internally it was given as a bitter diaphoretic and cholagogue for feverish colds, influenza, a sluggish liver, constipation and dropsy, in small doses because the fresh plant is emetic and purgative in quantity.
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