Botanical: Collinsonia canadensis
Family: Labiatae/Lamiaceae (mint)
Other common names: Richweed, Hardhack, Horseweed, Knob Root, Collinsonia, Horse Balm, Rich Leaf, Knobweed, Oxbalm, Knot Root

Stone Root was used by generations of settlers and Native Americans alike as a "cure-all" and remedy for treating kidney and bladder stones. It is a potent diuretic that is said to relieve virtually all urinary tract disorders. Herbalists have long relied on it to reduce excessive water retention and alleviate diarrhea, colitis, digestive complaints and varicose veins.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History:
Stone Root is a native North American perennial that may be found in the damp woodlands of Canada and the United States. The hard, knobby rootstock is brown-gray and sends up a quadrangular stem that bears oval, serrate leaves terminating in branches of greenish-yellow flowers that bloom from July to October. Stone Root thrives in moist soil in partial shade and reaches a height of four feet. The whole plant exudes a strong lemon fragrance and a pungent, bitter taste, which has earned it the common name, Richweed; and Stone Root's botanical name, Collinsonia, was bestowed upon it in honor of the man who discovered it, Peter Collinson. Generations of Native Americans and settlers alike in the mountains of Virginia, the Carolinas, Kentucky, and Tennessee used the leaves in lotions and washes to heal wounds, cuts, and bruises and considered the root, which appears to have potent diuretic properties, a reliable treatment for "the stone," which is believed to be the root's traditional use for removing gravel from the bladder and preventing the formation of kidney stones. It is also thought to be the origin of its name, Stone Root. The herb was also an important household remedy for headaches and constipation, and during the nineteenth century, Stone Root continued to enjoy further use by physicians in the United States. It is still employed as a reliable diuretic by veterinary surgeons. Stone Root is collected from the wild in autumn, dried, and used in herbal medicines. Some of the constituents in Stone Root include resin, mucilage, starch, tannin, wax, volatile oil and an alkaloid.

Beneficial Uses:
Stone Root is considered a powerful diuretic that has been highly valued in all complaints of the urinary organs. By promoting increased urine flow, the herb has helped to relieve excessive water retention and dropsy. Moreover, it helps to relieve a variety of urinary tract complaints, including cystitis, benign prostate hypertrophy, vaginitis, urinary irritation, catarrh of the bladder and leucorrhoea.

Further supporting Stone Root's role as an important and potent diuretic, it has long been used as a reliable herbal remedy that increases urine flow, helping to flush the bladder and kidneys of gravel and other urinary sediment, which thus prevents the formation of kidney stones.

Stone Root is said to be an astringent and antispasmodic that has been very useful in the relief of diarrhea, hemorrhoids, dysentery, colitis and diverticulosis.

As an overall tonic, Stone Root is believed to help strengthen capillaries, the minute blood vessels that connect the arteries and veins, and as such, may be helpful to the cardiovascular system. This factor may also account for the herb's use to relieve varicose veins.

Stone Root has been employed as a home remedy for headaches, rectal pain, and also as a digestive aid that was used to relieve gastroenteritis and other problems connected with the digestive system.

Used externally, Stone Root has been included in poultices to heal wounds, bruises, sores and cuts and has also been added to mouthwashes and gargles.

Recommended Dosage:
Take one (1) capsule, one (1) time each day with water at an early to mid-day mealtime.

Contraindications:
Pregnant and nursing women should not use Stone Root, and overuse (many times the recommended dosage) may cause vomiting.

Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs of powdered herb material.

• Stone Root (sold as Collinsonia) - Botanical Powder -- Approximately 600 mgs each