Aletris
Aletris farinosa

Other Names: Aletris, Agueroot, Blazing Star, Cilicroot, Crow-corn, Star Grass, Mealy Star Grass,

Unicorn Root, Sternwurzel, Sterwortel, True Unicorn, True Unicorn Root, Unicorne, White Colicroot

Note: Many of these common names are also used for Helonias (Chamaelirium luteum) or False Unicorn Root.

Habitat: (Aletris farinosa) Perennial herb native to Northern America from Ontario Canada south to Florida and west to Texas. Found growing in grassy or sandy open woodlands, seashores, sandy or gravel areas. Cultivation: Aletris is fairly easy to cultivate, it prefers a sunny position in slightly moist sandy peat. Growing from a tuberous, cylindrical, horizontal root with many long root hairs, mostly on its lower surface, is a basal rosette of lanceolate, grasslike, sessile, ribbed, leaves from 2 to 6 inches long and yellowish green in color. The stems or flower spikes, 1 or 2, are 1 to 3 feet high, erect, round, smooth, and simple with alternating sparse scales. Flowers are sessile or short peduncle, white, bell-shaped, oblong, urns sometimes tinged with yellow and grow along the top of the long stem or spiked raceme. The fruit is an ovate capsule with many fleshy and oily seeds. Flowers bloom from May to August. Fresh plant is not edible. Gather leaves and roots, in late summer after flowering and dry for later herb use.

Properties: Aletris was being used by Native Americans, even in ancient times, for many medicinal purposes. Now these uses have been scientifically confirmed as valid uses. Analysis of the plant reveals the valuable constituent Diosgenin, which is medicinal as an antifatigue, antiinflammatory, antistress, estrogenic, hypocholesterolemic, and mastogenic, as well as traces of Resin, Saponin, and Volatile oils. It is of greatest value in the treatment of female problems, including habitual miscarriages, troubles arising from menopause, and various uterine disorders. A decoction of the dried root is a bitter tonic and has been used for expelling flatulence and in the treatment of diarrhoea, rheumatism and jaundice. Used as a female tonic it is excellent for loss of virility and for debility. Also an extremely effective stomachic it promotes the appetite, an infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of colic, stomach disorders, and bloody dysentery. The fresh root is bitter, diuretic, narcotic, emetic and cathartic, it is used in small doses only to treat hysteria and other nervous conditions.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MANY HERBAL PRODUCTS!

Folklore: Aletris was considered a sacred female medicine and known to the Medicine Women and Men of many native tribes. It was used in some tribes to introduce young girls into womanhood. Also used to induce visions due to its narcotic properties.

Try This Recipes

Medicinal tonic: To 1 tsp. dried herb add 1 cup boiling water, steep 10 min. sweeten to taste, drink in morning and at bedtime.