{"id":6688,"date":"2022-04-15T18:27:28","date_gmt":"2022-04-15T17:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=herb&p=6688"},"modified":"2025-04-14T10:27:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T09:27:36","slug":"gravel-root","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/gravel-root\/","title":{"rendered":"Gravel root"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":6692,"parent":0,"menu_order":-230,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"118a987d-9bec-4915-bcac-f593af135f48","beyondwords_preview_token":"1aa9d14b-a8cd-435d-a980-0417dbebe9dc","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[411,744,743,143],"conditions":[697,685],"sustainability":[1576],"sense":[18,17,31],"western_action":[1008,1000,1001],"chinese_action":[],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[1499,1498,1381],"region":[1893],"class_list":["post-6688","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-anti-inflammatory","tag-diuretic","tag-gravel-root","tag-urinary","conditions-urinary-system","conditions-digestive-system","sustainability-green-sustainability-status","sense-bitter","sense-aromatic","sense-astringent-taste","western_action-diuretic","western_action-astringent","western_action-bitter","energetics_action-astringent","energetics_action-bitter","energetics_action-neutral","region-western-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20220415","herb_author":null,"banner_text":"Gravel root is a diuretic used for both urinary and arthritic problems","latin_name":"Eutrochium purpureum<\/em>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Asteraceae","herb_summary":"The roots and rhizomes of Gravel root have a long history of use as a medicine. Traditionally they have been used primarily for pain and inflammation within the urinary tract and for chronic arthritic presentations.","key_benefits":"Cystitis\r\nUrethritis\r\nProstatitis\r\nArthritis","how_does_it_feel":"Gravel root is extremely hard. When harvested it has to be chopped with an axe to divide the firmly matted roots. It feels strong, like it can break something, such as a stone. It is acrid, heavy and descending.","hdif_image_1":6692,"hdif_image_2":6691,"hdif_image_3":6693,"hdif_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/0Z6uxj_HfyA","sense":[17,31,18],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"\"\"Gravel root has been used for all manner of presentations affecting the urinary tract that are accompanied by pain, infection and inflammation. It causes an increase in urine production and can help flush out waste products.\u00a0 This action means it can also be of benefit in chronic joint pain.\r\n\r\nTraditionally often combined with Hydrangea and Parsley piert or Pellitory-of-the-wall for urinary gravel.\r\n\r\nIt is important to ensure you are obtaining an authenticated source of this plant. There can be hybridization with other species or adulteration and contamination with other related species such as Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum<\/em>).\r\n\r\nPlease refer to the safety section for further detail.","into_the_heart_of":"Due to its diuretic properties gravel root has been used to good benefit in the urinary system for infections and urinary gravel, hence its common name.\u00a0 It has been used to good effect along with herbal analgesics and anti-inflammatories in cases of prostatitis.\r\n\r\nIt can be of help in gout and \u2018rheumatism\u2019 \u2013 the latter, a catch-all term used to describe conditions characterised by pain and stiffness in the muscles, joints or surrounding fibrous tissue. Useful here as it helps the body to rid itself of waste products via the kidneys.","tradtional_uses":"\"\"Traditionally gravel root was used in a similar way to its relative Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) for fevers and as a tonic for debility, especially in older people.\r\n\r\nThe plant was widely used by Native Americans. The Cherokee used the roots as a remedy for the kidneys and for rheumatism. It was also used as a\u00a0partus preparator<\/em> (to prepare the womb for labour) and to tone the uterus. The Chippewa used it when with a cold, inhaling the vapours from an infusion of the plant. The Potawatomi people used a poultice of the leaves for burns, and the Navajo used the herb as an antidote for poison (2).\r\n\r\nAdopted by white settlers it was also used for urinary infection, gravel and stones and as a diaphoretic to help break a fever.\r\n\r\nGravel root was considered a valuable remedy for\u00a0dropsy<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 a term once used for fluid retention\/oedema and\u00a0stranguary \u2013\u00a0<\/em>another old term used for painful spasm in the bladder and urethra with frequent need to urinate, often whilst only passing small amounts of urine.\r\n\r\nAlso used for blood in the urine, gout and rheumatism, it was said to exert a special influence on chronic renal and cystic issues (3).","what_practioners_say":"

\"\"<\/strong>Genitourinary tract<\/h3>\r\nIn urinary tract infections it has been put to good use when combined with demulcents such as corn silk and urinary antiseptics such as thyme or buchu.\r\n\r\nUseful in cystitis, urethritis, dysuria (painful urination) and prostatitis, it combines well with pasque flower for such situations.\r\n

Musculoskeletal<\/h3>\r\nThe diuretic properties of gravel root make it helpful in osteoarthritis and gout, drawing out impurities by increasing the flow of urine.\r\n\r\nLiver remedies are often combined to assist the body excrete waste products via the bowel, thus utilising both these routes of elimination.","research":"There is scant scientific data on the medicinal actions of gravel root.\r\n\r\nIn vitro anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated from an isolated constituent of gravel root known as cistifolin, a benzofuran flavonoid which may contribute to the plants reputation as an anti-rheumatic herb (7).\r\n\r\nPlease also refer to the safety section.","did_you_know":"The common name of\u00a0Joe-pye weed<\/em>\u00a0comes from the name of Joe Pye, a New England medicine man who was said to have halted an epidemic of typhoid fever in colonial Massachusetts with use of the plant. The ashes from burnt roots have been added as a kind of salt to flavour foods.","additional_information_right":{"illustration":6690},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"Gravel root sits within a genus of 38 species of hardy and semi-hardy perennials and shrubs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nNative to eastern USA, Gravel root is a tall, handsome, clumping perennial with whorls of finely-toothed, lance-shaped leaves on unbranched stems. Dome-shaped corymbs of feathery lavender-pink flowers appear in mid to late summer, their scent redolent of vanilla. It can get up to around 3 meters in height with a spread of one metre. Often found on the borders of woodland, river sides and thickets, it favours a sunny or partially-shaded spot.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThis plant hybridizes with other species of <\/span>Eutrochium<\/span><\/i> and can show variability in appearance of leaf shape.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe fragrant flowers attract a number of different visitors, including butterflies, moths and native bees.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe roots and rhizomes are harvested for medicinal use in the autumn after the plant has finished flowering (1).<\/span>","common_names":"