Medical Uses: Agrimony contains essential oil, bitters and vitamins but it is large amounts of tannins that are responsible for most of it's medicinal properties. Being astringent it has been used to stop bleeding. It has been prescribed by herbalist in the US and Europe for gastric problems including gas and diarrhea. Also for urinary disorders. There are historical accounts of it being used in the 1800s by doctors in the US to successfully treat incontinence.^{(Erichsen-Brown)} The plant has been applied to skin irritations and cuts and used in baths.

In addition to it's medical uses many people enjoy a tea from the leaves and stems for the flavor and the European species has been used to make a yellow dye.

Similar Species: Beaked Agrimony (A. rostellata) is less hairy and the leaves have more rounded teeth. It's range extends further south.
Small-flowered Agrimony (A. parviflora) has 11 to 15 leaflets which are narrow and elongated. It is hairy and it's range also extends further south.
There are at least 4 other species in the US and at least one A. eupatoria which is common throughout most of Europe and the British Isles.

One of the best general guides to wildflowers of the North Eastern and North Central United States. Newcomb's key is an excellent, simple method for identifying plants. Newcomb has drawings for almost every plant mentioned that are excellent aids to identifying the species. Though only the more common plants are covered this is often the first book I pick up when trying to identify a wildflower.

Wildflo wers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians

This is perhaps the best of many field guides covering this region. Featuring 446 excellent color photographs (located with the text) and mentioning as similar to those illustrated are another 800 or so species for a total coverage of over 1,200 species. The start of each family section includes line drawings of some of the species showing important features. The text includes the usual description, bloom season, range, habitat and additionally includes information such as medical uses and lore and how the species was named. This is the official field guide of the Tennessee Native Plant Society.