agrimony flower essence

Melinda
Jun 25
14 min read

Updated: Jul 29

A yellow Mimulus flower — Photo credit: Image by WikimediaImages from Pixabay

Agrimony flower essence

"The jovial, cheerful, humorous people who love peace and are distressed by argument or quarrel, to avoid which they will agree to give up much. Though generally they have troubles and are tormented and restless and worried in mind or in body, they hide their cares behind their humour and jesting and are considered very good friends to know. They often take alcohol or drugs in excess, to stimulate themselves and help themselves bear their trials with cheerfulness." ~ Edward Bach, The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies

An Agrimony blockage:

inner tension & worry

restlessness

skin problems

drink and/or drug use to drown woes (perhaps regularly)

hates being alone

avoids conflict

always in the company of others

won't communicate freely & deeply with others

Positive expression of:

honesty with self & others about feelings

joyful

optimistic

faith in life

ability to confront others

can communicate easily

inner peace

Agrimonia eupatoria

The first word that jumps to mind when I think of those who might benefit from Agrimony flower essence is: worry, worry, worry. The second word, which isn't lagging far behind, is: restlessness. Looking on superficially from the outside, however, you might not suspect either of these to be a problem. Why? Because like a chameleon, these folks are masters of (humor-soaked) disguise.

The Agrimony type will often be challenging to spot because they do such a superb job of concealing the sometimes overwhelming worries and problems in their lives. Either because they don't find their feelings to be discussion-worthy, or because they believe that their private life is none of your stinkin' business, they keep their anxieties strictly locked within. This becomes especially problematic when we realize that it isn't only others they won't communicate with, but also themselves. With a general intolerance to being left alone with their thoughts, they instead fill their days, hours, and minutes with the constant company of others in an attempt to drown out the inside noises with outside ones.

Very social in nature, they're often the life of the party. Humorous, popular, cheerful, and kind, they're a friend to all and seem to not have a care in the world. In lieu of companionship (or, more likely, in conjunction with it), they'll funnel their energies in one activity after another in a endlessly busy attempt to distract themselves and fend off any chance of introspection—for forever, if they can manage it.

A clue to the inner turmoil that they carry, however, is the hand that is never without a drink. Or a joint. Or any other intoxicating substance that can make their problems disappear—at least for the night. Whether or not this is done consciously, it helps to block the pain for a time and allows them to forget whatever it is in their life that, perhaps desperately, needs addressing. And so that drink may become a constant companion as they strive to ignore the emotional heaviness that they carry around inside.

peace at all cost

Those in need of support from the Agrimony flower essence find that they crave outer peace, sometimes at all costs—even when maintaining it is somehow detrimental to themselves. If their outer world is in harmony, then it may perhaps be easier to ignore the inner battles taking place. And sometimes, it even works (for a hot minute, anyway).

With a strong tendency towards people-pleasing, they will even go so far as to actively avoid negative situations or conflict with others. Unfortunately, this avoidance isn't an act of healthy self-care, but more of a defense mechanism that allows them to pretend that the darkness of the world isn't part of their personal reality.

Their faith in life—and in the belief that existence itself has purpose and meaning—isn't strong enough to help them weather the storms. Consequently, the walls get built, the armor gets donned, and humor is used to deflect anything uncomfortable—all in the hopes that these measures will provide enough protection to insulate them from the endless and traumatic woes of the world.

Alas, not understanding the blessings of their highly-sensitive nature, they instead continue to absorb the pain around them, adding it to their inner cache that is already far too heavy of a burden to bear. Desperate for peace, which seems an unattainable goal, they bury this desperate worry alongside all of the others. And paste a smile of their face to hide it all.

the physical indications

While we might like to pretend that our problems will simply disappear if we ignore them for long enough, the reality is that that's generally not how this living thing works. Unfortunate, yes, but pain does seem to offer the most incentive to learn and grow. So instead of miraculously resolving themselves, the problems compound. The tension builds. The worry increases. And the restlessness grows.

But that building tsunami of feelings that the Agrimony individual continually turns away from still demands expression—somehow and in some way—or that energy will often eventually spill outward. Needing an outlet, it then translates into behaviors, mannerisms, and physical problems—like acne. Nervous skin rashes. Nail biting or teeth grinding. And all of these external problems only point to the internal ones from which they stem. Lacking constructive and intentional release, the trapped inner emotions are now erupting outwardly.

Additionally, there may be an acute sensitivity to physical pain, but even when ill the Agrimony patient retains their seemingly carefree manner. Joking with the doctors, nurses, and caregivers, they pretend that all is well, even when it clearly is not.

only one

It's important to remember that if only one of the aforementioned "symptoms" resonates with you, then giving Agrimony a try is still a good call. There will be certain personality types that exhibit nearly all of the symptoms nearly all of the time, but that's not always the case.

For example, I worked with one individual who was constantly fidgeting, and the restlessness clued me in on his need for Agrimony. Taking the essence did definitely help; however, it wasn't the first essence that came to mind while working with him. Restlessness was my clue, and only later did I connect it to hidden worries that he found it difficult to share.

Just recently I gave it to another individual who is not generally the Agrimony type either. She came to me extremely frustrated because the skin on her face had recently become red, bumpy, and irritated. While she doesn't possess an Agrimony personality in general, she had recently walked away from an unhealthy relationship that was extremely Agrimony in nature.

In it, she felt as though she had to constantly conceal her worries and pretend that all was okay. While she sensed something was amiss in the relationship, she hid it all behind jokes and humor in order to avoid becoming "overly emotional." While typically very open with her friends and family, she kept this problem tucked away inside for much longer than she normally would have.

Consequently, the emotions were trapped inside but demanding a release. Lacking another avenue, they chose her skin, and rightly so because it became something she couldn't so easily ignore. She noticed a definite improvement after just two days of taking Agrimony flower essence.

the flip side

Mechthild Scheffer calls Agrimony The Honesty Flower because of its ability to allow us to be honest with both ourselves and others. Instead of ignoring our problems, it helps us to bravely address them head-on and then communicate our feelings with those in our lives. By sharing our troubles willingly with those we trust, it leads to a renewed sense of joy and a blooming optimism that maybe things aren't so bad after all. And even if they are "so bad" now, they're bound to eventually change. Instead of absorbing the pain of the world around us, we learn to see it without being consumed by it.

And although the Agrimony soul likely looks anything but lonely—constantly surrounded by others and a "friend" to all—there may be a persistent loneliness present nonetheless. After all, how deep and meaningful can any of those relationships be if one is unable to share their true self and their problems. With the help of Agrimony, however, we begin to let people in. We reveal ourselves and allow others to know us better. Now, the happiness that was sought without is able to be sourced from within.

Consequently, our faith in both ourselves and others will naturally grow. We come to believe that we're able to tackle our problems effectively and also to keep things in perspective. While one may always be an extrovert in nature, the Agrimony soul is now able to be alone with themselves and their thoughts, no longer afraid of what will bubble up unbidden. The worries subside as each problem is addressed and, eventually, we find the peace that has so long eluded us.

"The lesson of this plant is to enable you to hold peace in the presence of all trials and difficulties until no one has the power to cause you irritation." ~ Edward Bach

(Because I'd like these flower essence posts to function all on their own, the next parts will be a repeat of things you've already heard if this isn't the first post of mine you've read.)

where to buy

If you don't already have the essences on hand (and you're thinking that Agrimony might be just the essence for you!), there are two options I would recommend you explore. I buy my bottles through Flower Essence Services and the essences are prepared by Julian Barnard exactly as Bach prepared his. Barnard's line of essences is called: Healing Herbs Bach Essences and the reason I choose them is because they're prepared with organic ingredients. The preservative used is organic brandy but even if, like me, you don't consume alcohol, there's another way besides consumption to use them if you wish.

The second option is the original Bach line, still made by Nelsons which is the company Bach originally gave his essences to. These are prepared with either alcohol or vegetable glycerin if the alcohol concerns you and you'd prefer to avoid it. I'll just add here that if you make a dosage bottle as outlined below, the amount of alcohol will be minuscule, having been diluted multiple times. Alcohol is considered a Group 1 carcinogen, however, so do what you feel is best for you and your health.

how to use

There are several ways in which you can take the remedies, and all of them are simple! Remembering that even if you choose the wrong essence they can do no harm (they simply won't have an effect), you can experiment and choose the avenue that suits you best. I have my preferences, but I encourage you to play around and see what works most effectively for you :)

No matter which brand you purchase, you'll use it in exactly the same way. The small bottles you purchase are called stock bottles (diluted from the original Mother Essence), and the first method involves making yourself a further diluted dosage bottle. This is the most cost-effective method and the one I typically recommend, especially for chronic issues. Once the dosage bottle is made, it's extremely easy to add it to whatever you're drinking throughout the day.

Stock bottle: The bottle that you will purchase; this bottle is more concentrated. If you take the drops by mouth, you'll taste the preservative.

Dosage bottle: The bottle you will create, using the specific essences you need; this bottle will be much, much more diluted. If you take the drops by mouth, there won't be much, if any, flavor unless you add an additional preservative.

Dosage Bottle

Fill a 1 ounce glass dropper bottle with clean spring water. Distilled water is not recommended, and I have found that this "dead" water doesn't seem to work nearly as well. It will preserve the essences for longer if you aren't using any additional preservative, but it doesn't pack nearly the same (gentle) punch. For whatever reason, the essence doesn't seem to be able to impregnate distilled water.
To this spring water, you will add 2 drops of your Agrimony flower essence. There is usually no need to add any preservative if the bottle will be used with 2 or 3 weeks, especially if you store it in the refrigerator. Make sure the dropper never comes into contact with your mouth or fingers, and it should keep fine. You could, however, replace 25% of the spring water with either brandy or vegetable glycerine to preserve it for longer. If you're using multiple essences (up to 6), add 2 drops of each of them to this bottle as well.
Add 4 drops of this diluted dosage bottle to whatever you're drinking throughout the day. The energetic vibrations will imprint on the water, so essentially you're getting a hit of Agrimony with every sip that you take. This method is great for children, adults, pets, or even plants. You will continue on with this until the symptom(s) passes. In the case of an acute flare-up, this may only be for an hour or a day. In the case of a chronic condition, I'd take the essence for 3 weeks and then reevaluate. If you feel the need to continue and aren't using any preservatives, I'd prepare a fresh bottle at this time.
You can also drop 4 drops from the dosage bottle directly into your mouth as needed. I tend to prefer adding the drops to my drinks throughout the day when using the dosage bottle, especially for chronic emotional issues. This is mostly because I get in more of the essence(s), but this is entirely up to you. You can always pop your dosage bottle into your purse/pocket and carry it with you, taking drops throughout the day.
Making a dosage bottle is my preferred method when you're working with multiple essences at the same time (which happens frequently) or when you anticipate the essences will be needed long-term. It'll save you the time of having to sort through all of your essences and drop them in individually whenever you need some support.

Stock Bottle by Mouth

Take two drops of the stock bottle (the original bottle you purchased) and drop directly into your mouth. I have experimented with both myself and my family, and I find this to be one of the two most effective ways to approach an acute emotional flare. Usually within minutes I can feel a shift, and then the mood begins to blessedly lift. This lifting will almost always expose new emotional issues underneath, and I continue working with the revealed emotional blockages until I'm feeling better.
If, after 15 minutes or so you haven't felt any change (or enough of a change), take another two drops by mouth.
If, after another 15 minutes you still haven't felt any kind of shift, no matter how minute, it's quite possible that the wrong essence has been chosen. Sometimes it's difficult to differentiate between moods and there is definitely some trial and error involved. If you're certain that it is the correct flower essence, I would then switch over to a glass of water with 2 drops of the stock bottle added and sip it throughout the day (see below: Stock Bottle in Drinks).
This way most certainly isn't the most cost-effective method, but it is easy and works well, especially short-term. The bottles preserved with brandy will taste like alcohol and the ones with vegetable glycerine will taste sweet.

Stock Bottle on Skin

You will do exactly as described as when taken by mouth, except now you'll drop them onto your skin. I generally drop the essences onto my wrists and rub them together, but you could probably apply them anywhere. Remember, they're energetic in nature and the rules are far less rigid than what most people are accustomed to.
Some flower practitioners may disagree, but so far I have found this method to be as effective as dropping into the mouth for acute negative moods. I think taking it by mouth makes one think of a traditional medicine and so the mind has an easier time accepting what it (most likely) can't understand, but your energetic field surrounds your entire body; thankfully, the flower essences can work with it in a number of ways.
This is an excellent approach to use with children. Just the other day, my young niece wasn't feeling well—dizzy and light-headed. I pulled out the appropriate essence and without thinking, went to drop it into her mouth. She recoiled with a "does it taste bad?" so I instead applied it to her arm. After the first dose she felt better, so I gave her another. After the second, the next time I saw her she was smiling, chatting, and eating again :)
I would recommend this method only with the essences preserved with brandy. They'll dissipate quickly and leave no residue whereas those with glycerine will leave a stickiness behind.

Stock Bottle in Drinks

Instead of the mouth or the skin, simply drop 2 drops of the essence directly into the drink you're drinking.
One of my girls likes to make up a fresh glass each morning to address the moods that she feels pressing on her when she wakes; she calls this her Trauma Cup ;) She'll sip from it periodically, making it last for the entire day. If the glass runs low, you can leave some of the essence water and refill; I've found the essences will impregnate the fresh water and continue their work. You can also simply make up a fresh glass with fresh essences.
This method would be helpful if you feel as though your emotions are continually shifting. Daily, you'll peel back fresh layers of emotions to be dealt with. Eventually you'll almost certainly reach a chronic personality blockage that will require more than simply a day to work through, but you can continue on with this method for chronic issues if it's most convenient for you.

patience, diligence & time

I think it's important to note that your response to the essences won't always be immediate. I can almost always, quite quickly, find relief to the acute moods that strike, but chronic deep-seated issues usually take longer. I've been working with someone on their guilt issues for several months now (they add drops from a dosage bottle to their water throughout the day) and just recently they've begun to feel a welcome shift.

If you know your emotion (for example, I've had to work a lot of frustration as of late!), then keep on keeping on with the essences. Give them time. I personally believe that some of these blockages are carry-overs from other lifetimes and won't disappear overnight. With time and patience, however, I've seen some remarkable shifts that make your diligence well worth it. In the end, does it really matter whether it takes an hour, two weeks, or four months if you can finally shake an emotional blockage that saps too much of the joy from your days? Continually addressing my emotions has given me a lightness and newly focused clarity that only enhances the hard work of living life as a human. And all it took was a commitment to sipping water ;)

Additionally, I think it's very important to add that I anticipate needing the support of flower essences for the duration of my lifetime; I don't think of them as a tool to use and then discard, but to continually reach for in times of emotional distress. People are generally a seething bundle of emotions—often negative ones—and I think that's just part and parcel of being a human. While souls may be universally "good," not all people are. And because we're social creatures and require at least a modicum of interaction, we'll get plenty of chances to work on those negative emotions that we struggle with most. While flower essences are excellent at helping us tackle our chronic issues, they're also invaluable for supporting us with the day-to-day struggles. In my home, my essence kit is kept in a spot that is available to all, day or night, and there's always someone rummaging through the bottles in search of just the right helpmate!

working with infants

Flower essences are safe to use, even with the smallest of babies. I wish desperately that I'd known about essences when my girls were young because they would have been such an awesome tool to have in my mama tool-belt! Upon reincarnation, I think some souls have a much more difficult time re-acclimating to the human body and struggle with being so helpless and restricted again. I believe flower essences would have made a world of difference for some of my girls (and definitely myself!).

Obviously, though, babies can't speak. In this case, it's up to the caregiver to assess the baby's behavior. It's often easy enough to tell when a baby is irritated, scared, weak, or in pain. Look to what their body and face are showing you. This would also be helpful with anyone unable to speak. Are they feverish and restless? (Agrimony) Irritable with being unwell? (Impatiens) You can apply the essences directly to their skin, knowing that they can do no harm. Hardworking mamas could also benefit greatly from the support of flower essences, both during pregnancy and then for those challenging days (and sleepless nights) beyond!

And that'll wrap it up for Agrimony! Next on tap is: Chicory. Below you can find my cheat sheet that should tide you over until I get through all thirty-eight of the flower essences :)