Chamaelirium Luteum
False Unicorn comes to us from the North American Indians; they used it for a variety of female health problems including the prevention of miscarriage, infertility, easing of morning sickness, and menopause symptoms. Eclectic physicians (*see below for more info) during the late 1700s and 1800s used False Unicorn to treat strangury (slow, painful, spasmodic urination), jaundice, atonic dyspepsia, and nephritis associated with depression. A Thomsonian practitioner, Dr. Sweet in Connecticut in 1826, put together a combination of herbs known as Mother O’s Cordial, using water and alcohol extractions. The preparation, which is still used today, contains 4 parts Partridge berry (Mitchella repens), one part each False Unicorn root, Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), and Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus).
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In diseases of the reproductive organs of females, and especially of the uterus, False Unicorn is one of our most valuable agents, acting as a uterine tonic, and gradually removing abnormal conditions. While at the same time, it imparts tone and vigor to the reproductive organs. It has been useful in treating uterine problems in non-pregnant women to help normalize delayed or absent menstruation (amenorrhea).
It can be especially helpful in painful menstruation where there is a heavy dragging feeling in the lower abdomen or a feeling of heaviness and congestive pressure in the pelvis with the sensation that the pelvic organs are falling out. This herb stimulates ovarian hormones and can be helpful for early menopause, after a hysterectomy or to help the system become normalized after years of contraceptive use.
The King’s Dispensatory
In the King’s Dispensatory, the late 1800s, I have found this plant to possess a decidedly beneficial influence in cases of sexual lassitude in both sexes and of nocturnal emissions, the result of excesses. Especially in those instances where there are symptoms of gastric derangement with impaired memory, mental apathy, or indifference. Also, an enfeebled condition of the general system, with weakness or dull pain in the renal, or lumbosacral region. It can be used by men for impotency and prostate problems.
Midwives have used False Unicorn to strengthen the uterus of pregnant women and thereby prevent miscarriage, and overcome the tendency to abort. False Unicorn is generally only used for problems existing during pregnancy and is generally not used when pregnancy is normal and healthy.
Uses:
Appetite (loss of), Colic, Digestive Problems, Dyspepsia, Edema, hemorrhage, Impotence, Infertility, Kidneys, Menstrual Irregularities, Miscarriage (prevents), Morning Sickness, Nausea, Nocturnal Emissions, Parasites, Prostate, Sterility, tape Worm, Uterus (prolapsed), Vaginal Discharge, Worms.
*Eclectic physicians
Eclectic physicians were those who when this country was first explored diligently studied American flora and the medicinal uses of these plants by the Native Americans. Some of these Doctors lived for years among the American tribes gathering this rich herbal information and their healing philosophy for posterity. One of these was Dr. Constantine Rafinesque who coined the word eclectic to refer to those physicians who adopted whatever was found to be beneficial to their patients.
References:
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
The Ultimate Healing System, Course Manual, Copyright 1985, Don Lepore
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Lotus Press, 1988
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, by James A. Duke, Pub. CRP Second Edition 2007
The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Published by Dorling Kindersley