Agrimony has been used a drug for sunstroke in TCM

What is agrimony(Xian He Cao)? Medicinally it refers to the aerial part of Agrimonia pilosa. Ledeb., which is a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family. Agrimony grass is normally harvested during summer and autumn when the stems and leaves are lush. And then it should be dried after the impurities are removed.

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.

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.

Modern pharmacological actions of agrimony
1. 500 micrograms of agrimony extract are injected into 1ml nutrient solution of cancer cells and normal cells respectively per day. After 6 straight days, the cancer cells are completely destroyed while the normal cells continue to reproduce;

2. Its crude concrete can promote animal blood clotting. After injected intravenously with agrimonine, the rabbits are found with shorter clotting time, increased platelets, and increased blood calcium. And in the experimental femoral artery bleeding in dog, topical application of agrimony powder, in combination with compression, can provide some certain topical hemostasis;

3. Agrimonine can adjust the heart rate, excite the fatigue skeletal muscle, increase cell resistance, and lower blood sugar on mice, rats, and rabbits;

4. Agrimonolide can reduce the contraction amplitude and tension of isolated rabbit intestine. In addition, in vivo it can also inhibit the intestinal peristalsis in mice;