✵The article records the herb Agrimonia Bud, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—namely, the plant species Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb Agrimonia Bud, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Gemma Agrimoniae (Agrimonia Bud)
Pinyin Name: Hè Cǎo Yá
English Name: Agrimonia Bud
Latin Name:Gemma Agrimoniae Properties and Flavor: Neutral in nature; bitter and astringent in taste
Brief Introduction:Gemma Agrimoniae (Agrimonia Bud) is the dried winter bud, with a short piece of rhizome attached, of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., used as an anthelmintic for the treatment of taeniasis. The herb is commonly known as Gemma Agrimoniae, Agrimonia Bud, or Hè Cǎo Yá.
Botanical Source: Herbal classical works define Gemma Agrimoniae (Agrimonia Bud) as the underground winter sprout (winter bud) of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., a species belonging to the genus Agrimonia L., family Rosaceae (rose family), order Rosales. This commonly used species is described below:
Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb
Botanical Description: The plant, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., is commonly known as Lóng Yá Cǎo (“Dragon Sprout Grass”). It is a perennial herb. Roots are often tuberous and surrounded by numerous lateral roots; the rhizome is short, and the base frequently bears one to several underground buds. The stem grows 30–120 cm tall, sparsely covered with pilose and pubescent hairs; the lower part is sparsely covered with long, hirsute hairs.
The leaves are imparipinnate and alternate; stipules (peraphylla) are sickle-shaped, rarely oval, with acute or acuminate apices and sharply serrate or lobed margins—rarely entire. Leaflets (lobules) are either large or small and are arranged interstitially along the rachis. Larger leaflets occur in 3–4 pairs (rarely 2 pairs), decreasing upward to 3 leaflets. Leaflets are subsessile, obovate to obovate-lanceolate, 1.5–5 cm long and 1–2.5 cm wide; apices are acute to obtuse (rarely acuminate); bases are cuneate; margins are sharply serrulate or crenate. The upper surface is green and sparsely pilose; the lower surface is pale green, with sparse, appressed pubescence along the veins—sometimes becoming glabrous. Distinctive glandular points are present.
Racemes are solitary or 2–3 in number at the stem apex; the inflorescence axis is pubescent; peduncles are 1–5 mm long and pubescent. Flower bracts are usually deeply trilobed; lobes are linear; bracteoles (bractlets) are opposite, oval, and entire—or their margins are slightly fissured. Flowers are 6–9 mm in diameter, with 5 oblong, yellow sepals; 5–15 stamens; and 2 filiform styles with capitate stigmas.
Achenes are obovate-conical, with 10 prominent ribs, sparsely pilose, and bearing several layers of hooked spines at the apex—erect when young and connivent at maturity. Including the hooked spines, achenes measure 7–8 mm in length and 3–4 mm in maximum diameter. Flowering and fruiting occur from May to December.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows commonly along stream banks, roadsides, grasslands, thickets, forest edges, and dwarf shrublands (underbrush), at altitudes ranging from 100 to 3,800 meters above sea level. It is distributed across China, Central Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Growth Characteristics: The plant exhibits strong climatic adaptability and cold tolerance. It can be cultivated in ordinary soils, but fertile sandy loam yields higher crop productivity. Growth accelerates during high-temperature seasons—particularly July and August.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is conical, often curved in the middle and upper portions, measuring 2–6 cm in total length and 0.5–1 cm in diameter. Several light brown, membranous bud scales envelop the apex. The rhizome is short and compact, cylindrical, 1–3 cm long, with a tan (chocolate-brown) surface bearing tight annular nodes; brownish-black, degenerated scale leaves adhere to the nodes, and occasionally a few adventitious roots persist at the rhizome’s base. The root bud has a crisp, fragile texture; the fracture surface is flat and yellowish-white. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly beany taste, followed by mild sweetness, then bitterness and astringency.
The tender stems and leaves are edible—nutrient-rich and possessing notable anti-cancer activity—making it a valuable wild edible vegetable. The whole herb, root, and winter bud are all used medicinally.
Medicinal Efficacy: Expelling and killing parasites, detoxification, and reducing swelling. It is indicated for cestodiasis (taeniasis), Trichomonas vaginalis infection, sores and ulcers, scabies, furuncles and carbuncles, red and white dysentery (i.e., dysentery characterized by bloody stools or by whitish mucoid stools), etc.
Administration of Gemma Agrimoniae (Hè Cǎo Yá):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Gemma Agrimoniae (Hè Cǎo Yá)
TCM Books:
(1) Not applicable. (2) Internally: water decoction, 10–30 grams; or as finely powdered herb, 15–30 grams. For infants, the dosage is 0.7–0.8 grams per 1 kg body weight. External use: apply an appropriate amount—either as a wash prepared from a water decoction, or as a fresh herb paste applied topically.
✵The article records the herb Agrimonia Bud, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—namely, the plant species Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb Agrimonia Bud, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Hè Cǎo Yá
Botanical Description: The plant, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., is commonly known as Lóng Yá Cǎo (“Dragon Sprout Grass”). It is a perennial herb. Roots are often tuberous and surrounded by numerous lateral roots; the rhizome is short, and the base frequently bears one to several underground buds. The stem grows 30–120 cm tall, sparsely covered with pilose and pubescent hairs; the lower part is sparsely covered with long, hirsute hairs.
The leaves are imparipinnate and alternate; stipules (peraphylla) are sickle-shaped, rarely oval, with acute or acuminate apices and sharply serrate or lobed margins—rarely entire. Leaflets (lobules) are either large or small and are arranged interstitially along the rachis. Larger leaflets occur in 3–4 pairs (rarely 2 pairs), decreasing upward to 3 leaflets. Leaflets are subsessile, obovate to obovate-lanceolate, 1.5–5 cm long and 1–2.5 cm wide; apices are acute to obtuse (rarely acuminate); bases are cuneate; margins are sharply serrulate or crenate. The upper surface is green and sparsely pilose; the lower surface is pale green, with sparse, appressed pubescence along the veins—sometimes becoming glabrous. Distinctive glandular points are present.
Achenes are obovate-conical, with 10 prominent ribs, sparsely pilose, and bearing several layers of hooked spines at the apex—erect when young and connivent at maturity. Including the hooked spines, achenes measure 7–8 mm in length and 3–4 mm in maximum diameter. Flowering and fruiting occur from May to December.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is conical, often curved in the middle and upper portions, measuring 2–6 cm in total length and 0.5–1 cm in diameter. Several light brown, membranous bud scales envelop the apex. The rhizome is short and compact, cylindrical, 1–3 cm long, with a tan (chocolate-brown) surface bearing tight annular nodes; brownish-black, degenerated scale leaves adhere to the nodes, and occasionally a few adventitious roots persist at the rhizome’s base. The root bud has a crisp, fragile texture; the fracture surface is flat and yellowish-white. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly beany taste, followed by mild sweetness, then bitterness and astringency.
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