Stone Root

Botanical Description

Collinsonia canadensis

Family
Labiatae

Common Names:

Hardhack	Horseweed
Knob grass	Knob root
Richweed

Habitat
A native eastern North American plant found in damp woods from Quebec to Florida.

Medicinal Parts
Dried rootstock, leaves, collected in autumn

Stone root is used primarily as a tonic diuretic. That is, as diuretics go, stone root is one of the most gentle, and it is said to impart considerable nutritive value at the same time it is taking care of urinary problems and getting rid of excess water. Externally, stone root is used as a vulnerary to help heal wounds, bruises, and abrasion.

The British, at least, have found consistent use for stone root. Stone root contains an ill-defined mixture of saponins, resin, tannin, organic acids and alkaloids. The mix sounds promising, but extensive research on this plant has not been done.

It was listed in the 26th edition of Martindale, however, which suggests some work was done sometime but it was gone by the 29th (current) edition.

The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognizes stone root as an antilithic, litholytic, mild diaphoretic and diuretic, for use in the treatment of kidney stones. Stone root is combined with parsley piert, gravel root and hydrangea to dispose of urinary stone.

Information on the chemistry of stone root is limited and no documented scientific evidence, or toxicological information, was located.

Therefore, excessive use should be avoided, especially if pregnant or lactating.

No data available.

Use three times daily

Decoction
Use 1-4g of dried root

Liquid extract
Use 1-4ml of 1:1 in 25% alcohol

Tincture
Use 2-8ml of 1:5 in 40% alcohol

British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.

Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.