Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Irregular & painful periods and the inability to get pregnant are some of the most common symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS.) Because it is a complex condition, some women don’t even realize they have been suffering from PCOS for years. A few irregular periods are normal and expected, after all. Many of us don’t know something isn’t right until we try to get pregnant.
If that’s been the case with you, false unicorn root may just be the right herb for you. It is an all-natural aid to help with menstrual regularity and also boost your fertility,
False unicorn root is popularly known as a fertility herb. Herbalists and naturopaths have found it to be an effective for:
Scientists are still trying to study false unicorn in detail. An investigation of false unicorn root in 2011 led to the isolation of two new plant steroids from it. The investigation was done by The American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy. Further research in 2012 led to the isolation of more plant steroids from false unicorn root. These studies suggest the use of false unicorn as an estrogen regulator. This property of the herb may contribute to menstrual cycle regulation. This would also explain why false unicorn root works well for all hormonal ailments in women.
A tonic made with false unicorn root interacts with the body’s estrogen receptor sites. It’s believed that this process increases estrogen levels in the body. This process aids the ovaries to produce a mature egg during ovulation.
PCOS comes with a failure to ovulate and menstruate in 50% of the patients. As a result, false unicorn root can be especially helpful for these patients. If you’re also trying to get pregnant, this herb can be a double blessing. Many PCOS patients turn to this herb to normalize hormones when they discontinue birth control pills.
False Unicorn Root is an herbaceous perennial. It is native to North America, but is also found in abundance in eastern Canada. This beautiful flowering herb is known by many other names. Fairywand, helionas dioica, devil’s bit and blazing star root are other common names for the same herb.
The roots and dried rhizome of False Unicorn have medicinal use. These were used as a Native American herbal remedy to normalize periods and boost fertility.
The herb combines well with Echinacea and Vitex Agnus Castus (chasteberry) to treat other symptoms of PCOS. These combinations alleviate PMS symptoms and treat chronic pelvic inflammation.
This potent herb should only be used after consulting with a naturopathic physician or skilled herbalist. Never combine false unicorn root with estrogen replacement drugs without discussing with your doctor. It can be toxic in large doses and adversely affect your cardiac health.
A word for the wise: Wild harvesting of False Unicorn Root has made the herb as an endangered one. As this herb gained fame for its abilities to regulate menstruation and prevent miscarriage, the natural crop started to suffer. Once the rhizome root (from which the herbal medicine is made) is harvested, it doesn’t grow back. Despite great effort, regrowth of the rhizome by cultivators across the U.S. has shown little to no success. For this reason, we urge you to use this medicinal herb responsibly. Also, you should only buy it from reliable sources. Always opt for ethically wildcrafted or grown organically sources.
This is also the reason you may find False Unicorn Root to be somewhat expensive. If you’re looking for other more affordable herbal options, we recommend Vitex Agnus Castus, Licorice and Dong Quai for PCOS.
The Truth about False Unicorn (Chamaelirium luteum): Total Synthesis of 23R,24S-Chiograsterol B Defines the Structure and Stereochemistry of the Major Saponins from this Medicinal Herb – http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.201100503/full
Structure and Absolute Configuration of Helosides A and B, New Saponins from Chamaelirium luteum – http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np200100a
Structure and Bioactivity of Steroidal Saponins Isolated from the Roots of Chamaelirium luteum (False Unicorn) – http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np300393y