Botanical atlas
True Unicorn Root
Aletris farinosa
For generations, Native American nations of the eastern woodlands and later the granny-women and midwives of Appalachia turned to the bitter root of Aletris farinosa as a tonic for a troubled stomach and a trusted support through a woman's cycles and pregnancy. Its common names tell its story plainly: colic root for its digestive use, and unicorn root for the odd, single spike of mealy white flowers it sends up each summer. By the nineteenth century it had earned a steady place in American Eclectic and physiomedical practice, where physicians listed it among the native tonics worth keeping on the dispensary shelf. It was valued less as a dramatic cure and more as a slow, steadying presence, the kind of root a household kept on hand rather than reached for only in emergencies.
In tradition.
For generations, Native American nations of the eastern woodlands and later the granny-women and midwives of Appalachia turned to the bitter root of Aletris farinosa as a tonic for a troubled stomach and a trusted support through a woman's cycles and pregnancy. Its common names tell its story plainly: colic root for its digestive use, and unicorn root for the odd, single spike of mealy white flowers it sends up each summer. By the nineteenth century it had earned a steady place in American Eclectic and physiomedical practice, where physicians listed it among the native tonics worth keeping on the dispensary shelf. It was valued less as a dramatic cure and more as a slow, steadying presence, the kind of root a household kept on hand rather than reached for only in emergencies.
Traditional preparations.
A mild decoction of the dried root, traditionally sipped in small amounts as a settling digestive and general tonic.
Traditionally, a decoction is made by gently simmering 1/2 teaspoon of the dried, cut root in 250 ml of water for about 10 minutes, then straining before drinking. Only properly dried root was used this way, never the fresh root.
Safety.
Use only properly dried root; the fresh root is acrid and can cause nausea, vomiting, or narcotic-like effects in quantity. Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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