Evidence supporting the use of: Aletris
For the health condition: Afterbirth Pain
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Aletris, commonly known as Aletris farinosa or “false unicorn root,” has been used in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in North American and eclectic medicine practices, to support women's reproductive health. Its use for afterbirth pain (the discomfort and uterine cramping that occurs after childbirth) is primarily based on traditional and historical accounts rather than scientific validation. Herbalists in the 19th and early 20th centuries included Aletris as a component in formulas for “female complaints,” including menstrual irregularities, threatened miscarriage, and postpartum discomforts. However, the documentation is largely anecdotal and found in old herbal texts and eclectic materia medica. There are no controlled clinical studies or robust pharmacological investigations that substantiate Aletris’s efficacy specifically for afterbirth pain. The purported mechanism, based on traditional use, is its supposed “uterine tonic” effect, thought to help normalize uterine function. The contemporary scientific literature is nearly silent on Aletris’s direct application for postnatal uterine pain, and major modern herbal references do not emphasize this use. Thus, its application for afterbirth pain remains primarily a matter of historical tradition, with little to no modern clinical evidence supporting efficacy or safety for this specific indication.
Other ingredients used for Afterbirth Pain
ashwagandhablack cohosh
chamomile
turmeric
fennel
ginger
ginseng
lavender
licorice root
parsley
rhodiola
xanthium (cockleburs)
shen-chu
mugwort
anise
punarnava
caesalpinia crista
boxthorne
goldenrod
yarrow
myrrh
siler root
fern
trichosanthes
queen of the meadow
arnica
Avens
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Alchemilla
Aletris
Anserina
Aerva lanata
American Liverleaf
Aquilegia formosa
Ashoka
Abuta
Amor seco
Arisaema
Blue Cohosh
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Black-Eyed Susan
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Butea monosperma
Bethroot
Comfrey
Cohosh
Calendula
Calotropis gigantea
Capillary Artemisia
Cinquefoil
Cyathula
Cynodon dactylon
Castor Oil
Chrysophanics
Didymocarpus
Dragon's Blood
Davilla rugosa
Erigeron
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Eupatorium
Fleabane
Gnaphalium
Giant Trillium
Little ironweed
Other health conditions supported by Aletris
Afterbirth PainAmenorrhea
Appetite (deficient)
Debility
Dysmenorrhea
Fatigue
Infertility
Leucorrhea
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Miscarriage (prevention)
Ovarian Pain
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Prolapsed Uterus
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginitis