Planting the Future

STONEROOT

Collinsonia canadensis

MARTIN WALL

I remember my first experience with stoneroot very clearly. I was working at an herb shop in central North Carolina that served a mix of rural and city people, many of whom were elders who had learned about herbs from their parents and grandparents. It was through one of these elders that I was introduced to stoneroot. I suggested it to a couple of people for hemorrhoids, and it worked. As a matter of fact, it worked so well that it became one of our most popular remedies. Sometime after that, a customer who had suffered from seasonal allergies reported that his sinuses were better after taking stoneroot. At first I thought it must have been something else; then I read in an old book written by an Eclectic physician how the herb could tone mucous membranes, which are filled with capillaries. It was becoming clear that stoneroot was useful for far more than just hemorrhoids.

Stoneroot is an herbaceous perennial growing in the rich deciduous forests of eastern North America, from Wisconsin, Ontario, New York, and Vermont in the North to Louisiana and Florida in the South. In North Carolina it is found mainly in the mountains and the piedmont. It prefers moist areas, often growing in stream corridors. I have found stoneroot growing in pockets of woods along creek banks even in the middle of the city. The largest and presumably oldest plants I have seen were in a protected area of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. Some of these grandfathers and grandmothers were nearly 5 feet tall measured to their top leaves.

Stoneroot is a member of the Mint family, Lamiaceae, and therefore shares some of the characteristics of that family. It has somewhat square stems, more so between leaf nodes than in the lower part of the stem. The corners can be somewhat rounded, but four flat sides can definitely be observed. The stem rises to a height of from 2 to 5 feet from a very hard, thick rhizome with many attached rootlets. The plant can be multistalked, putting up several aerial stalks. The root is so hard that it takes the sharpest snips to cut it—hence the name stoneroot. The leaves are arranged as opposite pairs, with the pairs tending to alternate at 90 degrees to one another. They are ovate to elliptical in shape, have coarsely serrated edges, and are strikingly large when mature. The largest leaves at flowering can be nearly a foot long and 7 inches wide. Usually there are three or more pairs of leaves at flowering. The numerous yellowish flowers are also striking, having stamens and stigmas that protrude noticeably beyond the fringed lower lip. The flowers are on a terminal panicle, and appear in late summer. The flowers and crushed leaves have a lemony scent.

There are three other members of the genus Collinsonia. They are C. serotina, C. tuberosa, and C. verticillata. None are common in the Carolinas except C. canadensis. The USDA’s PLANTS database lists no synonyms for the Latin name Collinsonia canadensis, but common names abound. They include stoneroot, richweed, collinsonia, horseweed, horse balm, knob-root, citronella horse balm, ox-balm, heal-all, hardback, and knot-root.

The Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus, the developer of the binomial system of nomenclature, gave stoneroot its Latin binomial name in honor of amateur botanist Peter Collinson. But stoneroot was known to the Native peoples of North America long before European colonization. Uses ranged from the treatment of colic to swollen breasts. According to one report, the Cherokee boiled the roots and leaves “with the whole plants of Camptosorus rhizophyllus and Asarum canadense. The infusion is applied to the breast and is also drunk to cause vomiting which is believed to reduce the swelling.” After that, we have extensive record of use by the Eclectics for such things as “minister’s sore throat” and varicose veins. Stoneroot is currently not a major commercial herb, appearing primarily in formulas for poor venous tone, laryngitis, and other uses similar to the Eclectics’.

The primary part of stoneroot used is the root (rhizome and roots); the leaves are used to a lesser extent. It is considered much better when prepared fresh and is sometimes prepared as a fresh extract from the entire flowering plant—roots, leaves, and flowers. During the Eclectic era, some practitioners used what was called Aromatic Collinsonia, prepared from the entire fresh flowering plant. According to tests done at Herb Pharm, there is good reason to use the leaf along with the root:

The Herb Pharm Analytical Laboratory performed a chromatographic comparison of Collinsonia fresh root extract in comparison to an extract of the fresh, mature aerial portions of Collinsonia. The constituents tested were terpenoids and saponins. Both in terms of the quantity of these constituents, as well as the specific types of constituents present, the fresh root and the aerial portions were shown to be very similar in their makeup. This provides scientific support for the traditional practice of using the whole plant, and supports the ecologically conscientious practice of making medicine with the renewable portion of the plant.

By using the entire plant, there is less dependence on roots, with a subsequent preservation of plant resources.

Stoneroot’s actions are alterative, tonic, stimulant, diuretic, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, and astringent. Some also consider it antilithic, about which there is some debate. Some of its chemical constituents are alkaloids, saponins, tannins, resins, volatile oils, and the polyphenol rosmarinic acid. The primary indications for stoneroot’s use are poor venous and mucous membrane tone, and engorgement due to capillary dilation. Stoneroot can be useful in nearly any ailment arising from these conditions.

Hemorrhoids, piles, anal fissures, and varicose veins all respond well to treatment with stoneroot due to its tonic action on the venous system. If the condition is too advanced, only symptomatic relief can be expected. The herb is considered especially useful if these conditions arise during pregnancy. Stoneroot is also considered to have a tonic action upon the heart, with application in rheumatic heart conditions, noninflammatory edema of the pericardium, and mitral valve backflow or regurgitation.

A gargle of stoneroot tincture diluted in water is considered a classic remedy for “minister’s sore throat,” a condition of inflammation of the vocal cords due to overuse. It also proves of benefit in chronic laryngitis. Stoneroot can be of tremendous benefit to sinusitis due to venous engorgement and catarrh of the capillary-filled mucous membranes.

Stoneroot benefits a wide range of conditions of the female reproductive system. Lloyd and Felter list it as appropriate for “amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, vicarious menstruation, prolapsus uteri, leucorrhea, threatened abortion, and pruritis vulvae, dependant on varicosis.” In the male, it benefits prostate conditions due to poor pelvic circulation.

Collinsonia has been used as a part of a treatment for urinary calculi. There is debate over whether it actually helps reduce the stones or just eases the irritation they cause. In any event, care must be taken not to cause harm by trying to force stones out by it’s diuretic action.

Lloyd and Felter reported Collinsonia’s use to treat poor digestion due to low gastric output and poor tone of the digestive organs. There was some belief that stoneroot helped increase innervation of the gastric tissues, resulting in better gastric secretions. The Eclectics believed stoneroot to have a soothing effect upon the vagus nerve (the tenth cranial nerve, with connections to many internal organs) and all tissues to which it traveled.

The bruised fresh leaves have been used as a poultice, resulting in one of stoneroot’s common names, horse balm. Stoneroot’s leaves can be applied to “burns, bruises, wounds, ulcers, sores, sprains, and contusions.”

The Botanical Safety Handbook lists Collinsonia canadensis root as a class one herb, which is defined as an herb “that can be safely consumed when used appropriately.” There are, however, a few references to the fresh plant being emetic in the literature. I was trying to determine how emetic the fresh leaves might be in preparing this monograph, so I did a little Collinsonia leaf eating. Reading that small amounts of fresh plant could be emetic, I began rather modestly with a square inch of leaf. It had a strong lemony taste, and I felt a little queasy after eating some. After about twenty minutes without emesis I tried some more. That day I consumed one entire leaf, containing about 12 square inches. I have since eaten as many as two large leaves and have not noticed any queasiness since that first test. Perhaps the thought of throwing up made me uneasy that first day.

The entire fresh plant—roots, leaves, and flowers—should be extracted in grain alcohol, pure water, and glycerine. An herb-weight to solvent volume ratio of 1:2.5 or better is preferred. The solvent, or menstruum, should be around 80 percent alcohol, 10 percent glycerine, and 10 percent water. The glycerine will help prevent precipitation of constituents due to the tannins in stoneroot. The fresh plant material will supply enough water to dilute the final alcohol content to around 40 to 50 percent, depending on the relative amounts of tops to roots.

The dried roots should be decocted by adding from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of herb to a cup of cold water, heating to a boil, and simmering for fifteen minutes before straining, cooling, and drinking.

A poultice of the fresh leaves is prepared by bruising and applying them to the affected part.

There aren’t many people who have propagated stoneroot commercially, but there are a few. Tim Blakley of the National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs has successfully propagated it from seeds, cuttings, and root divisions. Robyn Fletcher of Gardens of the Blue Ridge has also propagated stoneroot, although he says the demand is light for stoneroot as a bedding plant.

Stoneroot can be grown from seeds, but is more difficult than root cuttings. Tim Blakley has seen 60 to 75 percent germination with bottom heat and mist. The plants seem to grow pretty well from seeds in established areas, according to both Blakley and Fletcher. Fletcher says their established beds provide a nursery for young plants, but that it is difficult to intentionally germinate stoneroot seeds. Blakley also reports that stratification with a long cold period is necessary for good germination. A harvestable root can be grown from seeds in about four full years.

Root divisions seem to be the most productive way to go, according to both Blakley and Fletcher. Using very sharp shears to snip the roots between buds, it is possible to get several divisions from each mature root. When roots are dug, divided, and replanted in the fall, harvestable roots are available in three years—allowing three full seasons for growth. Older roots can get quite large, according to Fletcher. He says some of the plants in their seedbeds are eight or nine years old and their roots are as big as his fist!

No matter how stoneroot is propagated, it needs rich, moist soil and shade. It doesn’t need as much shade as ginseng, but at least partial shade is required. I have seen it growing along the sides of forest service roads where more sun reaches the forest floor. The few plants I have do just fine in the shade of an oak tree, where they get a little direct sun early in the day, and later, some afternoon shade. The soil is well protected by a layer of leaf mulch.

The roots should be unearthed in the fall as the aerial portions start to die back, or the entire plant can be harvested as the first flower begins to open for the preparation of whole-plant extract. The roots should be cleaned in cool water immediately to remove soil before it dries in hard-to-reach places. The consensus on stoneroot is that fresh is better, so the plants should be processed immediately. However, if the roots are to be dried, they should be laid out on a screen in a warm, dry, shady place and rotated occasionally to allow for even drying. Cutting the roots while fresh will be easier than trying to do so once they are dry.

UpS RECOMMENDATIONS

• Use primarily cultivated resources; some limited wild harvest is permissible.

• Good alternatives include European horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), red clover, sweet clover, garlic, and parsley root.

Stoneroot currently has in its favor a lack of popularity among the general public. It is an herb that is relatively unknown outside herbal circles, as was black cohosh just a few years ago. As herbs continue to become more popular, the virtues of stoneroot are sure to become more appreciated. This will put an increasing strain on the wild populations that supply the current demand. Two options for harvesting stoneroot are available to us: the use of the whole plant instead of just the root, and dividing and replanting a portion of the roots harvested in the wild until cultivated sources become more available. Relying more on the renewable parts of stoneroot will help reduce consumption. Since the aerial portions offer significant medicinal action, this would seem a logical move. Dividing and replanting a portion of wild-harvested roots will help control depletion as well.

At the same time, the loss of suitable habitat continues at an alarming rate. In much of the East the wild places where many of our medicinal herbs grow are becoming more and more scarce. If the human population continues to encroach upon the last remaining wild places, one day there may be no more. The solutions to human problems are complex, but the earth depends on us finding solutions. As for stoneroot, the dual factors of increasing demand and accelerating habitat loss could bode ill for it. As with most wild-harvested medicinal herbs, I feel the future of stoneroot lies in cultivation. As we move into an era of cultivating plants we once collected in the wild, our knowledge of how to grow them will surely increase. It can be done, but we must not forget the importance of protecting and preserving the environment in which these plants live. It is, after all, the same environment in which we live.

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Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles, and C. R. Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1968.

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USDA, NRCS (1999). The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, La. 70874-4490.