Aletris farinosa
(True unicorn)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Bitter - increases gastric mucosal secretions
• Bitter - increases gallbladder secretions
• Uterine tonic

Clinical Indications:

• Amenorrhea
• Dysmenorrhea
• Fertility/Infertility
• Menopause
• Dyspepsia
• Flatulence
• Hormonal insufficiency
• Inflammation of the pelvic organs
• Miscarriage prevention
• Prolapse of vagina or uterus
• Uterine sedative

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy - due to either depression or stimulation of animal uteri studies

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Antagonizes pitocin in contracting uterine muscle
• Narcotic, emetic and cathartic in large doses of fresh root

Chemical Constituents:

• Diosgenin, a steroid glycone containing estrogenic-like action
• Gentrogenin, similar to diosgenin
• Resin
• Volatile oil

Toxicity:

• With extremely high doses, an individual may experience:
  
  Dizziness
  Drowsiness
  Upset stomach

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).