Agrimony, also known as Herba Agrimoniae (Xianhecao), is usually found in woods and grasslands in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Because it is rich in tannins, it has the properties of an astringent. Although it is usually considered an herb to stop bleeding, it is more than just a hemostatic since it works on the treatment of a few other illnesses like cancers. As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, it is called Xian He Cao, which can be translated as "crane grass." Interesting enough, many Chinese herbs named with "Xian" are considered to be herbs with magical uses, for example, Epimedium (Xian Ling Pi), Curculigo (Xian Mao), Smilax (Tu Fu Ling), and the like.

Agrimony plant is a perennial, up to 1 meter. The whole plant is with white long hair. Rhizome is short, often with 1 or several radical buds (overwintering buds). Erect stems are sparsely covered with pubescence and glandular hairs. Pinnately compound leaf is alternate; leaflets come in different sizes, interval orders, oval to obovate shapes, 2.5 to 7cm length, 1.5 to 3.5cm width, serrated edges, and pubescent sides; stipules is nearly ovoid. Racemes are acrogenous; calyx is obconic and five-lobed and lobe base has many persistent hooked bristles; yellow petals are 5; ovary is semi-inferior and with prominent style; when fruits are ripening, calyx tube thickens and sags. Calyx tube is with a circle of erect barbed hooks on top and deep longitudinal groove outside. Because it mimics the crane head, it is better known as "crane grass" in China. The blossom and fruit season is from May to December.

Main chemical constituents of agrimony are agrimophol, agrimonolide, luteoloside, agrimonin A, B, C, agrimol A to E, tannins, sterols, saponins, and volatile oil. Some of them have antidysenteric, antineoplastic, immunostimulating, and antifungal effect on living tissue. That’s the reason why is often used in the treatment of yeast infections, tumors, and dysentery.

Agrimony herb benefits
So, what is agrimony used for? In fact, this herb has long been used to treat different ailments in different countries. For example, in Korea it is mainly for Taeniasis, Eczema, and boils. But in China and Nepal, it is more used a drug for sunstroke, Headache, sore throat, and Stomachache.