Bach Flower Remedies
Agrimony

Agrimonia eupatoria

Agrimony should be easy to find because the spike of yellow flowers (a raceme) stands out above the surrounding grasses. Young plants make a single spike of 30-50cm while a mature specimen reaches up to nearer a meter with a few branching stems. Along the tapering flower spikes the buds open progressively from the bottom, revealing small five-petalled yellow flowers of 5-8mm on short stems. The lower flowers turn to fruits while those above are still in bud. The growing tip of the plant often droops slightly. The fruits have small hooks that catch on to the fur of animals or clothes of passers by.

The leaves are similar to some other plants being pinnate (divided up into pairs of leaflets along a mid-rib) and dark green. In spring they resemble such leaves as those of meadowsweet, but these are smooth while in agrimony the stem and leaves are hairy. A possible resemblance might be found in the mullein, another flowering spike of yellow five-petalled flowers, but mullein is larger, the leaves are single, oval and pointed. One related variant is A. odorata (or A. procera) which is said to be larger and more scented. The subdivision is not followed by all authorities and need not concern us.

Flowering Period

Agrimony flowers from June through to August. Agrimony is a flower of high summer.

Preparation

Agrimony is prepared using the sun method. Select from several different plants that are well in flower. Cut the stems above any faded blooms or seeds that are forming and without too many buds at the top. It is best to pick from young plants early in the season. Do not remove individual blooms but cover the bowl with these flowering stalks. Choose a place where many plants grow together and set the bowl in their midst but where no shadows will fall on to the surface.

Uses

For those who hide their suffering behind a mask of cheerfulness.

Human beings of this nature tend to be gregarious, happy, fun-loving people. They dislike making a fuss and so conceal their anxiety, depression, pain, grief or bad temper behind their usual bonny exterior and cheerful personality. No one would know that they were suffering such inner torture, they hide it so well.

Animals of the Agrimony disposition will also be naturally happy-go-lucky. They will enjoy your laughter at their antics, and will be sensitive to arguments or any bad feeling in the household. If you are distressed, your Agrimony companion will be distressed too. But instead of looking dejected or crying for attention he is likely to play the court jester, making all sorts of attempts to divert your attention from the object of your upset and, despite his own suffering, try to make you happy again.

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