False unicorn root, Chamaelirium luteum (syn. C. carolinianum, Helonias dioica, H. lutea, Melanthium dioicum and Veratrum luteum), is sometimes called just false unicorn; other names include blazing star, devil’s bit, fairy wand, helonias and starwort. It is called false unicorn root to distinguish it from another plant, the (true) unicorn root, which is in the same botanical family. It shares the names blazing star aqnd devil’s bit with another unrelated plant with mauve/purple flowers, Liatris spicata, the gay feather. False unicorn root is not related to chickweed (sometimes called starwort) or to the devil’s bit scabious.
To distinguish the false unicorn root from the true unicorn root, check the flowers. False unicorn root has tiny flowers tightly arranged in a spike as shown in the picture here. True unicorn root has much larger flowers, individually shaped a bit like bluebells but bright white, seemingly coated in flour, and placed some distance apart around the flower stem, sticking out horizontally.
False unicorn root is a hardy perennial which reaches a height of around 20 inches (50cm). A native of the Eastern US, it’s found growing in moist areas such as meadows and woodland where the soil is rich and full of humus. Because it requires moist acid soil, it can be difficult to grow. It can cope with very acid soil, so if you have this and are able to find or make a moist area in which to grow it, you should be successful so long as it is not in full shade. Dappled shade is fine.
This plant is dioecious, a technical term which means that male and female flowers grow on separate plants. This does not matter unless you wish to produce seed for propagation. If you do, you will need to ensure that you grow both male and female plants. However, as germination can take up to 6 months, you may find it easier to propagate by division.
The part used in medicine is the root (or rhizome), which can be harvested in fall before the ground gets too hard and dried in the usual way, by chopping into small pieces, laying out in a single layer somewhere airy and out of the sun, and turning daily until ready to store in a dark colored airtight container.
Do not exceed the stated dose of this herb, because large amounts can damage the heart, Patients with any heart problems might be better off using other remedies. Not suitable for use during pregnancy,
To make a decoction, put 2 teaspoons of root in a pan with 250ml (1 cup, 8 fl oz) of cold water in a pan and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer for 15 minutes, then strain off the root and discard. The dosage is up to 1 cup a day, split into 3 doses.
Traditional uses for false unicorn root are mainly related to what used to be called women’s problems: vaginal discharge, painful periods, to promote delayed menstruation, and to treat ovarian cysts and symptoms occurring at the menopause. In addition it can be used to expel internal parasites, as a prostate tonic, a general fertility enhancer in both sexes and a diuretic.
As with any herb grown for use medicinally, false unicorn root must be grown organically to ensure that its active constituents remain uncorrupted by the presence of foreign chemicals. To find out more about growing organic herbs visit the Gardenzone.
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