What is a Monograph?

A monograph is an exploration of a plant using pictures and drawings and lots of  information to enable you to identify it a little more easily.

Amongst this information you will also give the botanical name, its common name and which family the plant is from.  So this monograph would be entitled

Agrimonia eupatoria 

- Agrimony

                                       

1. Common name: Agrimony 

2. Botanical name: Agrimonia eupatoria 

3. Family: Rosaceae 

The monograph will then go on to provide alternative names known as Synonyms that the plant has been known as throughout history.  This may include its name as known by different cultures, by different regions or countries so that you can recognise what old and new text books may be referring to wherever you may live.

4. Synonyms: Agrimonia, Church Steeples, Cocklebur

You will also find a description of the plant, including its characteristics also known as botany of the plant.  Alongside this information will be where the plant can be found known as a habitat and how to cultivate which is the type of soil in which it prefers to grow.  Wild Crafting may also be mentioned to enable you to be aware of whether this plant may be harvested in the wild or whether it is on the at danger list from over harvesting.  All of this information enables you to decide whether or not it may be suited to your own home or whether you may need to provide a specific type of growing environment in which it may then thrive.  Also this information enables you to consider whether it is ethical to use this plant if it is only wild crafted.

5. Description and habitat:  

A hardy perennial which grows 30-60 cm. Leaves are alternate1, pinnate 2and toothed with a velvety underside. The flowers consist of 5 golden yellow and  

are arranged on a terminal spike (Tobyn et al., 2011).  Native to Europe and around 15 species growing in northern temperate regions. Commonly found in grassland and  verges (Bruton-Seal & Seal 2008). 

6. Cultivation or wild-crafting:  

Likes full sun and well-drained soil. Grow from seeds sown in spring. 

Sometimes knowledge will be expanded on through the use of footnotes about specific points for example as those in the above description relate to:

 1 Alternate = of an arrange of leaves which arise singly on a stem, each one on the other side of the stem from  the leaf below or above it.  

2 Pinnate = of a compound leaf with a central axis and leaflets – pinnae – on either side of it. 

Once you have grown a plant it is important to know how to use it.   Therefore the monograph will list which parts of the plant may be used, how and when to harvest, dry and store it.

7. Parts used:  

Aerial parts. 

8. Harvest, drying and storing: 

Gather from June when the flowering yellow spikes appear. 

Medical herbalists need to have a good understanding of a plants chemical make up, which is why Active Constituents will be listed as these tell us how the plant may interact with the body. There will also be a list of actions which are based on the plants constituents.

9. Active constituents:  

Agrimony contains a moderate quantity of tannins, which are drying and astringent, a little volatile oil, and a bitter principle. 

• 3-11% consisting of proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins) and a small  proportion of ellagitannins 

• Flavonoids: principally hyperoside. Also contains rutin, apigenin, quercetin,  quercitrin, luteolin, luteolin-7-glucoside, kaempferol and glycosides 

• Acids: palmitic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid and silicic acid 

• Phenolic aids: including chlorogenic, caffeic and ellagic acids 

(Barnes et al, 2002; Bradley, 2006; EMA, 2015) 

10. Actions: 

• Mild astringent 

• Diuretic 

• Bitter tonic 

• Vulnerary 

• Cholagogue 

Agrimony combines bitter digestive tonic effects and a mild astringent action, toning and  healing the mucous membranes of the gut. It helps to regulate the liver and gallbladder, and  it has been used in Germany to treat gallstones and cirrhosis. 

Next we learn how the plant may be used and the conditions for which it may be beneficial this is known as:

11. Applications and clinical indications: 

Helpful for diarrhoea, or mild gastrointestinal infections, especially in children,  Agrimony is also one of the herbs of choice for an irritable bowel and colicky pains,  especially if often accompanied by loose motions. An infusion is effective and soothing  as a gargle for sore throats, or a mouthwash for sore gums and mouth ulcers. Dr Bach flower essences useful for people who soldier on.

• Mild diarrhoea particularly in children 

• Irritable bowel 

• Urinary incontinence, cystitis

• Externally: as a gargle for mouth, gum and throat problems, in bath for sprains and strains    

(Bruton-Seal & Seal 2008)

These uses are historical, but may also include conditions that the Medical Herbalist has also found the plant useful for even if its traditional use hasn’t always been for such conditions, as plants can also work on psychological and along astrological lines.  These areas may be specialities of some herbalists and we can point you in the right direction should these be areas in which you too are interested in.

How do we know the plant is safe to use?  Well again this is historical, but also with many plants is also scientifically supported by modern studies.  Therefore Medical Herbalists understand a plant in terms of:

12. Contraindications, toxicity and safety considerations:  

May effect efficacy of prescribed medications (Pursell 2015)

We will also consider whether or not the plant would be used alongside your current prescription medications and how past medications may also have impacted on your current symptoms and medical history.

Many Medical Herbalists will make their own herbal medicines and the types of preparations a plant can be made in to will also be listed on the monograph along with dosage depending on what form it is given to a client in.

13. Preparations: 

• Infusion 

• Liquid extract 

14. Dosage and duration of use: 

Infusion: 1-2 teaspoonfuls of dried Agrimony per cup of boiling water (Bruton-Seal & Seal 2008) 

Woven into plant history is a cultures folklore and traditional uses of the plant. Some of these uses may have gone out of fashion as other plants may be thought to be more beneficial in modern times.  However this can also be influenced by psychological and astrological opinions.

15. Folklore and traditional use:  

According to Cook ‘The herb (leaves, flowers, and branches) are a mild stimulating  astringent; not at all irritating; strengthening to the mucous structures; and acting  somewhat on the skin and kidneys.

Historically, Agrimony was greatly valued in wound formulae, for instance with  Mugwort and vinegar in the ‘egrimoyne of Chaucer’s time. It was an ingredient of the  famous arquebusade water (used to treat gunshot wounds). Chinese research has  proved its effectiveness as a blood clotting agent.  

Monographs will always end in a brief overview of the plants actions and uses and won’t be everyones opinion, but usually those favoured by the Medical Herbalist who wrote it.  Following these will be references and further reading to encourage your own learning should you wish to explore and learn more.

16. Summary: A bitter digestive tonic and gentle astringent for the digestive tract that tones and  heals the mucous membranes of the gut. Its gentle action makes it suitable for  diarrhea in children. 

NOTE: The information in this factsheet regarding pharmacological actions, indications and  dosage is based on clinical experience and a range of herbal texts typically used by  practitioners. It is intended as a starting point for your own learning.  

17. References and further reading: 

Bartram, T. (2013). Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. London: Constable  and Robinson Ltd. 

Bruton-Seal J & Seal M (2008) Hedgerow Medicine Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies, Shropshire:Merlin Unwin Books Ltd

European Medicines Agency [EMA] (2015). Assessment report on Agrimonia eupatoria  L., herba. [online]. Available at: Agrimoniae herba - herbal medicinal product | European Medicines Agency (EMA) (europa.eu) [Accessed 18  October 2024] 

Purcell JJ (2015) The Herbal Apothecary 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them, Oregon:Timber Press

Sugden, A. (1984). Longman botany handbook. Essex: Longman Group UK Limited. 

Tobyn, G. Denham, A., & Whitelegg, M. (2016). The Western herbal tradition. London:  Singing Dragon. 

Should you wish to learn more please contact us as we are happy to discuss your own journey in more detail and how you want to explore the world of nature.  We also have a reference library which we are happy for you to browse during our opening hours.