Stargrass, Blazing Star, True Unicorn… quite magical names for this wildflower with its tall, sturdy round stem from which a cluster of tiny, white urn-shaped flowers blossom. True Unicorn has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to support women’s reproductive health, including menstrual disorders and infertility. In native cultures, the herb was given to women with a history of miscarriage.
True Unicorn is most commonly used with women who have a “weak uterus,” meaning they have very light menstrual flows or have anemia. This herb helps to tone and strengthen the uterus before pregnancy and is good for balancing hormones. It has been used to help women get pregnant and to help maintain healthy pregnancy. However, it has estrogenic properties and is not used during the course of pregnancy.
When used by qualified practitioners, only very small doses are prescribed. Since there have not been any published human clinical trials on Aletris farinosa, clinicians base their recommendations on case studies and the long history of use in traditional medicine.
References
- Natural Center for Homeopathy: Aletris farinosa. Accessed 4 June 2017: http://www.homeopathycenter.org/remedy/aletris-farinosa-0
- Butler, C. L. and Costello, C. H. (1944), Pharmacological Studies. I. Aletris farinos. J. Pharm. Sci., 33: 177–183. doi:10.1002/jps.3030330605 Accessed 15 June 2017: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jps.3030330605/abstract
- Drugs.com. Aletris. Accessed 4 June 2017: https://www.drugs.com/npp/aletris.html
- Wildflower.org Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; Plant Database: Aletris farinosa. Accessed 4 June 2017: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ALFA2
- Personal Correspondence, Judith Thompson, N.D., June 5, 2017. Re: Notes from Debra Brammer, N.D., (class lecture 2002-2003)