Family Name: Lilliaceae

Resources

Fact Sheet 1
Fact Sheet 2
Eclectic Physician’s Notes

Fact Sheet 1
Synonyms:colic root, stargrass, starwort, star root, blazing star, ague root, aloe-root, ague grass, black root, bitter grass, crow corn, bettie grass, devil’s bit

French: aletris farinseu

German:mehlige aletria

Part used: root

Chemical content: saponin, aglycone diosgenin, essential oil, resin, alkaloids, starch.

Safety rating: unknown

Available: nature food stores
Unicorn root is one for the girls. Said to contain a hormone that stimulates the female body, triggering healthy reproduction function and sexual desire. The problem with hormone stimulating plants is they tend to assist the conception process, a result that not all are interested in.

Fact Sheet 2

Early in the Eclectic movement Aletris farinosa was seen as a tonic in debility, a digestive tonic, and a female reproductive tonic.

General tonic
As a general tonic, Aletris was used when the debility was associated with poor digestive function. King(1854) writes this of it, “It is of much utility in dyspepsia, as well as in cases of general or local debility.”

Digestive Tonic
King(1854) states that Aletris farinosa activates the digestive process when the process has become sluggish. “It has been used in decoction or tincture, in flatulent colic, hysteria, and to increase the tone of the stomach.”

Webster(1898) makes it clear that it is safely used by men as well as by women. “As a stomach remedy, however, we need not reserve it strictly for female patients, for it acts well in the treatment of gastric disorders of the male.” He confirms that it should be used when digestive atony is present. “This remedy may be thought of in dyspepsia where digestion is slow and difficult and attended with flatulence, especially in the anaemic debility of chlorotic girls and pregnant women.”

Reproductive Tonic
As a general female reproductive tonic, King introduces it and states clearly it was one of the best drugs available. “Its most valuable property consists in the tonic influence it exerts upon the female generative organs, giving a normal energy to the uterus, and thus proving useful in cases where there is an habitual tendency to miscarriage. In chlorosis, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and engorged conditions of the uterus, as well as in prolapsus of that organ, it is one of our best vegetable agents.”

Pharmacy
King(1854) tells us that when fresh, Aletris farinosa acts as an emetic, but, when dried, it acted as a bitter tonic and that it is effective when used in tincture form. Whether used as a crude drug or a tincture, it was used in small doses. “The alcoholic extract is an elegant form in which to employ it, in the above affections. Dose of the powdered root, from five to ten grains, three times a day; of the saturate tincture, from five to fifteen drops, in water.”

Scudder(1874) also tells us that the drug should be used in small doses. “In small doses it is tonic and stomachic. In large doses it is said to produce nausea, vomiting, purging, dizziness and other unpleasant effects, which would seem to indicate that it is possessed of acro narcotic properties.” Prepare a tincture from 3viij. of the root to Alcohol 76 degree Oj. The dose would be from two to ten drops.

Felter and Lloyd(1909) agreed with the earlier Eclectics that the drug should be used in small doses. “The dose of specific aletris is from 5 to 20 drops.”

Despite the fact Aletris farinosa(Unicorn root) and Chamalirium luteum(False unicorn root) are quite different morphologically speaking, there were greatly confused by the trade during the Eclectic day.

As the Eclectic movement came to a close, we see the Eclectics rethinking its use in female conditions and remaining resolute in its action as a digestive tonic. Felter and Lloyd(1909) said this. “Owing to the confusion which formerly resulted from the substitution of the root of aletris for helonias, erroneous statements have been made regarding the status of the drug in female complaints. The drug must be restudied to determine its true place in therapy. Enough is known, however, to place it among the simple bitter tonics and stomachics, and as such it is employed to promote the appetite and aid digestion, and in flatulence, colic, borborygmi, etc. This root and its preparations are almost entirely employed in dyspeptic conditions; while, in the abnormal conditions of the female reproductive organs, the chamaelirium is used. The dose of specific aletris is from 5 to 20 drops.”

Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

1854: John King
Properties and Uses – Unicorn root, in the recent state and in large dose, is considerably narcotic, with emetic and cathartic properties. When dried these properties are destroyed and it becomes a bitter tonic. It has been used in decoction or tincture, in flatulent colic, hysteria, and to increase the tone of the stomach. It is of much utility in dyspepsia, as well as in cases of general or local debility. But its most valuable property consists in the tonic influence it exerts upon the female generative organs, giving a normal energy to the uterus, and thus proving useful in cases where there is an habitual tendency to miscarriage. In chlorosis, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and engorged conditions of the uterus, as well as in prolapsus of that organ, it is one of our best vegetable agents. The alcoholic extract is an elegant form in which to employ it, in the above affections.

In uterine diseases it may be given alone with advantage or employed in combination with asclepidin, senecin, caulophyllin, or cimicifugin. In flatulent colic and borborygmi, a mixture of dioscorein two grains, ginger four grains, and alcoholic extract of aletris two grains, may be divided into two pills. of which one may be given every two or three hours with decided benefit. (see asclepidin),. The resinous extract of the root, aletrin, is not so much employed at present, as the alcoholic extract aletridin, although it possesses active properties. Dose of the powdered root, from five to ten grains, three times a day; of the saturate tincture, from five to fifteen drops, in water.

1874: Scudder
The aletris is a gastric stimulant and improves digestion. It has also proven a valuable tonic in uterine diseases. It deserves a thorough examination, which I hope some of our readers will give it and report. Prepare a tincture from 3viij. of the root to Alcohol 76 degree Oj. The does would be from two to ten drops.

1883: Scudder: (tonic)
The root of aletris farinosa U.S. Preparation: Tincture of Aletris. Dose: From five drops to half a drachm. Therapeutic Action: The Aletris is tonic, stomachic, narcotic, discutient, emetic, cathartic, and expectorant. In small doses it is tonic and stomachic. In large doses it is said to produce nausea, vomiting, purging, dizziness and other unpleasant effects, which would seem to indicate that it is possessed of acro narcotic properties.

Aletris is recommended in diseases peculiar to females as an article of great value. In cases of frequent abortions, or where a disposition to abort exists, in nervous weakness, pain in the breast or side, cold, coughs, consumption, and uterine derangements in general, it has been recommended as a highly important agent.

Small doses promote the appetite and assist digestion. It is similar to quassia in its properties, so far as a tonic and stomachic are concerned. It is used in cases of flatulency, colic, hysteria, and chronic rheumatism.

1895: Watkins
Too frequent menstruation, atonic condition of uterus, constipation, flatulence, digestion slow. Ten drops to four ounces of water, teaspoonful every two hours.

1898: Webster: (digestive)
Aletris farinosa specifically improves the functional power of the stomach, and is appropriate to any case of indigestion, especially in women whose reproductive organs seem to share in the disarrangement. As a stomach remedy, however, we need not reserve it strictly for female patients, for it acts well in the treatment of gastric disorders of the male.

Goss affirms that it is valuable remedy in the gastric depravity that leads to diabetes, and states that he has found excellent results to follow its use in such cases.
This remedy may be thought of in dyspepsia where digestion is slow and difficult and attended with flatulence, especially in the anaemic debility of chlorotic girls and pregnant women.

Women prone to habitual abortion are often subject to feeble digestive functions, and aletris will here be of excellent service.
It is also of service in the morning sickness of pregnancy; probably one of the best and most reliable we have. It may be given in ten-drop doses of the specific medicine, and repeated every three or four hours during the day.

Form for Administration-The specific medicine.

Dose- Add half a drachm to four ounces of vehicle and order a teaspoonful four or five times daily.

1909: Felter and Lloyd
History and Description – The commercial drug, under this name, as found upon the market, is generally the rhizome of Chamaelirium (see Chamaelirium). Strange as it may seem under these circumstances, the two roots have no resemblance, are utterly unlike, and their appearance forbids admixture. We can not recall a single instance where Aletris farinosa was adulterated with Chamaelirium, and yet so universal has the substitution of the last become, that Prof. King, in describing the root of Aletris (Amer. Dis;., 8th ed., p. 78) has given a description of that of Chamaelirium, and Strong’s American Flora figures the top of Aletris with the rhizome of Chamaelirium. In this connection, we invite attention to our exact engraving of the Aletris plant and root (Fig. 14) and as a comparison, invite attention to the engraving of Chamaelirium (see Chamaelirium, Fig. 66).

When dry, the root of Aletris farinosa is from 1/2 to 1 inch in length, seldom longer. It is surrounded and completely hidden by an intricate mass of fibers, remains of radical leaves and partly decayed matter. The recent growth of yearly fibres are white, and from 2 to 6, or even 10, inches in length. In texture, they are made up of a hard, durable, brown, woody center, over which are several layers of white, tissue-like epidermis, that peel off by age, and decay. Thus we find the lower portion of the dry rhizome of Aletris farinosa covered by a mass consisting of dead, brown, woody fibers of former years, from which the paper-like envelope has separated, together with white, recent rootlets from which the white epidermis is still scaling; while intermixed are the chaff-like remains of the epidermis, in various stages of decomposition.

The radical leaves spring directly from the upper part of the growing end of the creeping rhizome. They contain numerous hard, round, woody fibers running lengthwise with the leaf, and from year to year, as the succulent portions of the leaves decay, the fibers remain and hold the fragements of mealy leaf-matter; and thus the upper, as well as the lower portion of the primary root is perfectly concealed from view. The dried root proper is about 1/4 of an inch in diameter just beneath the leaves, and tapers from this point to nearly 1/4 of an inch; very often the extreme end turns downward, and usually terminates abruptly. The surface is rough, scaly, and thickly covered with root fibers below, and leaf scars and leaf fibers above. Internally, it is soft, spongy, white or slightly straw-colored, the central portion being less firm than the outer. It is odorless, acrid to the taste, not bitter. Chamaelirium (Helonias), on the contrary, is very bitter.

Physicians should insure the identity of Aletris when purchasing. There is no excuse for confusion, as the two plants (Aletris and Chamaelirium) are entirely different in appearance, the roots do not resemble each other, and are, to the taste, utterly unlike; and while Chamaelirium has a peculiar and characteristic odor, the Aletris is odorless.

Action, Medical Uses and Dosage – Owing to the confusion which formerly resulted from the substitution of the root of aletris for helonias, erroneous statements have been made regarding the status of the drug in female complaints. The drug must be restudied to determine its true place in therapy. Enough is known, however, to place it among the simple bitter tonics and stomachics, and as such it is employed to promote the appetite and aid digestion, and in flatulence, colic, borborygmi, etc. This root and its preparations are almost entirely employed in dyspeptic conditions; while, in the abnormal conditions of the female reproductive organs, the chamaelirium is used. The dose of specific aletris is from 5 to 20 drops.

1911: Fyfe
Flatulency; colicky pains;atonic conditions of the digestive organs; too frequent menstruation;with labor like pain and sense of debility in the pelvis. Aletris farinosa is a gastric stimulant and uterine tonic.