Rarely cultivated, this plant grows wild in damp, cold areas. One of its common names, Gravel Root, underlines its diuretic properties in the sense of provoking urine to flush small stones from the kidney and gall bladder.

Also a laxative, hemp agrimony’s purgative qualities are useful for clearing toxins from the system in arthritic and chronic skin disorders. It also stimulates bile flow thus strengthening the liver.

Recent studies suggest it may be anti-biotic and immune-stimulating and may even treat tumours. A major homeopathic remedy for colds and ‘flu when the body aches all over as if the bones are broken, this reflects its other common name of ‘Boneset’.

In the Middle Ages, poultices of hemp agrimony were a popular wound remedy and the leaves were used to wrap bread to prevent it going mouldy.

This information is purely for the interest of the reader and should not be taken as medical advice. If you wish to utilise herbal remedies, please consult a qualified herbalist before doing so.