Collinsonia Can

A North American woodland herb of the mint family with a rock-hard root, traditionally used in homoeopathy for piles with stubborn constipation.

Collinsonia canadensis, stone root or richweed, is a perennial of the mint family found in moist, shady woodlands of eastern North America. It grows to just over a metre tall, bears small, lemon-scented yellow flowers in midsummer and has a very hard, knobbly root, which gives it its common name and is used for the remedy.

Its main sphere in homoeopathy is the rectum and pelvic veins. It is traditionally used for painful, bleeding piles with obstinate constipation and a feeling of sharp sticks in the rectum, particularly in pregnancy. It is also linked with hoarseness and a dry, sore throat from overuse of the voice.

• Piles
• Obstinate constipation
• Piles in pregnancy
• Hoarse voice