Stone Root

Scientific Names

• Collinsonia canadensis L.
• Labiatae
• Mint family

Common Names

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Parts Usually Used

Rootstock, leaves
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Stone root is a native North American perennial plant; the hard, knobby rootstock sends up a quadrangular stem from 1-4 feet tall, with opposite, ovate, serrate leaves which are pointed at the apex and narrowed or heart-shaped at the base. The two-lipped (with fringed lower lip), greenish-yellow, lemon-scented flowers, stamen strongly protruding, grow in a loose panicled raceme at the top of the stem from July to October.

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Where Found

Found in rich, damp woods from Quebec to Florida and westward to Wisconsin, Missouri, and Arkansas.
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Medicinal Properties

Diuretic, tonic, vulnerary, astringent, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, alterative
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Biochemical Information

13,000 parts per million of rosmarinic acid, resin, starch, tannin, mucilage and a wax-like stubstance
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Legends, Myths and Stories

In the mountains of Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, and Carolina, the root of this herb is considered as a panacea and is being used outwardly and inwardly for many diseases.
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Uses

An infusion of stone root makes a good diuretic for urinary problems, female disorders, and excessive water retention. It is often included with other plants as part of a mixture. The fresh leaves can be used externally, as poultice or fomentation, to help heal wounds, sores, cuts, ulcers, sprains, burns, and bruises, poison oak and ivy. Root tea used for piles, hoarseness, laryngitis, indigestion, diarrhea, dysentery, dropsy, kidney and bladder ailments, cystitis.

A remedy in functional, vascular diseases of the heart, headache, chronic bronchitis, colic, dropsy, cramps. Seems to be safe for pregnant women.
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Formulas or Dosages

The fresh rootstock is better than the dried.

Infusion: steep 1 tsp. rootstock in 1 cup water. Take 1 cup a day, a mouthful at a time.

Tincture: a dose is from 5-20 drops.
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Warning

Minute doses of fresh leaves may cause vomiting.
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Bibliography

The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.

The Herbalist Almanac, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1988, fifth printing, 1994

Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973

American Folk Medicine, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1973

Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists, by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Company, Inc., West Nyack, NY, 1987.

Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992

The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.

An Instant Guide to Medicinal Plants, by Pamela Forey and Ruth Lindsay, Crescent Books (January 27, 1992).

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