Witnessed by: TCM
Xian he cao (Agrimonia pilosa), of the Rosaceae family. Hairy erect perennial with pinnate leaves and slender spikes of small yellow flowers; native range: woodland margins and grassy slopes throughout China. Globally recognized as xian he cao (仙鹤草) in Chinese, and hairy agrimony, crane's herb in English. The part used is aerial parts. Soft-hairy stem and leaf, faintly astringent and bitter, drying to the tongue.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
AGRIMONY
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- xian he cao
- Scientific name
- Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.
- Family
- Rosaceae
Form
- Part used
- aerial parts
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · astringent
Temperature
- TCM
- neutral
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Lung · Spleen
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- restrains bleeding, stops diarrhea and dysentery, kills parasites, relieves depletion and fatigue
Cautions
- Contraindications
- not for use where bleeding arises from stasis without depletion; caution in acute dysentery from damp-heat clumping
- Toxicity
- well tolerated within dose
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