Unicorn root, Aletris farinosa, is also called agueroot, alumroot, bitter grass, colicroot, colicweed, crow-corn, mealy star-grass, mealy starwort, star grass, star root, true unicorn root and white star-grass. It shares the name colic root with the unrelated gay feather. It is also not related to chickweed (sometimes called starwort). The spotted cranesbill is also sometimes called alum root. It is in the same botanical family as false unicorn root, but is easily distinguished from it, because it has bell-like florets that stick straight out horizontally from the sides of the flower stem (see picture inset) and are on close examination apparently coated in flour (hence the specific name, farinosa, meaning floury).
Unicorn root is a perennial, hardy to zone 7 (-15ºC), a native of the Eastern United States. Reaching a height of around 2 feet (60cm), unicorn root requires a sunny position in moist, well drained acid soil which is sandy or loamy.
Plants can be divided in spring to propagate them. If you manage to obtain seed, sow thinly in good soil under cover in spring and grow in the original container, giving a liquid feed occasionally for the first year. Do not pot on until they are a year old, then keep them in the greenhouse until the second year after they were sown, planting them out after all risk of frost has passed.
Do not use fresh unicorn root, as the properties described here do not develop until it is dried. The fresh root is mildly poisonous and may cause colic as well as having narcotic effects.
Make a decoction by adding 1 tsp of dried rootstock to 250ml (1 US cup, 8 fl oz) cold water in a small pan. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer for 5-10 minutes before straining off and discarding the root. The dosage is up to 1 cup a day, in single mouthfuls.
Unicorn root’s main purpose is as a tonic for the female reproductive system. It is used to help strengthen the reproductive organs to help prevent repeated miscarriages. It can also be used to treat diarrhea.
As with all remedies that you grow, unicorn root requires organic gardening methods to avoid the corruption of its active constituents by foreign chemicals. To find out more about growing organic herbs visit the Gardenzone.
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