Botanical Name
- Family Labiatae
- Collinsonia canadensis
Common Names
- Stone Root, Hardhack, Horseweed, Heal-all, Knob Grass, Knob Root, Richweed, Richleaf, Knobweed, Hardback
Cautions
- Too much can irritate in lining of the intestinal tract, causing pain and nausea and sometimes dizziness.
Description
Native to the moist woodlands of North America, stoneroot is a perennial herb, growing to about three feet, having a square stem, oval leaves, and clusters of greenish-yellow flowers. The plant is strongly and unpleasantly aromatic and numbing in large amounts. The root is unearthed in autumn.
History
The rhizomes and dried roots have long been used to treat kidney and bladder problems and gastrointestinal disorders.
The Iroquois used the leaves in a poultice to relieve headaches while the Cherokee made a deoderant with the flowers.
Key Actions
- diuretic
- stomachic
- tonic
Key Components
- volatile oil
- caffeic acid derivatives (including rosmaric acid)
- tannins
- saponins
Medicinal Parts
- Root, leaves
Traditional Uses
It is used mainly in the treatment of kidney stones, calculi, urea, bladder inflammations, dropsy, and gastrointestinal disorders.
It is also prescribed for fluid retention and to alleviate PMS symptoms.
The fresh leaves or roots can be used in tonics and applied topically in poultices for bruises, cuts, and sores.
Homeopathic uses include hemorrhoids and constipation.
It has been used to reduce venous pressure which, in turn, helps prevent the formation or worsening of hemorrhoids and varicose veins.
As an astringent, it contracts the lining of the intestines, helpful in treating such digestive system disorders as irritable bowel syndrome and mucous colitis.