Agrimonia pilosa

BotanicalBest taken away from food

What is it

Agrimonia pilosa (hairy agrimony, xianhecao) is a perennial herb in the Rosaceae family used in East Asian traditional medicine for bleeding, diarrhea, and inflammation.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Bleeding / hemostat (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional Chinese medicine use; clinical evidence is limited and mostly from small Chinese studies.

Diarrhea / dysentery (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Astringent and antimicrobial properties may help; rigorous human data is lacking.

How it works

Agrimonia pilosa contains polyphenols (agrimoniin, ellagitannins), flavonoids and triterpenes. Preclinical studies show astringent, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and modest hemostatic activity. Agrimoniin has been investigated in cell models for antitumor and antiviral effects. Traditional use as a hemostat is consistent with its tannin-rich profile. Human clinical evidence is limited but some small Chinese clinical reports describe applications for bleeding and dysentery.

Dosage

No established RDA. Traditional Chinese medicine doses are 6-15 g of dried aerial parts per day in decoction.

When and how to take it

Traditional teas are taken between meals.

1 commercial form

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Dried aerial parts (xianhecao)

Used in Chinese herbal formulas.

Traditional infusion or decoction.

Safety

Generally well tolerated short-term. High tannin content can cause stomach upset, nausea or constipation. Long-term safety not characterized in modern studies.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to lack of data. Use cautiously with iron supplements (separate by 1-2 hours).

Interactions

Tannins may reduce absorption of iron and certain medications. May modestly affect blood glucose and clotting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Agrimonia pilosa the same as common agrimony?⌄

It is a closely related species; A. eupatoria is the European common agrimony.

Is it safe to take long-term?⌄

Long-term safety has not been well established; short-term traditional use is more typical.

References

Agrimonia pilosa on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Agrimonia pilosa on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Agrimonia pilosa (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.