Buy Pipsissewa Herb For Kidneys, Urinary Tract And Other Benefits

pipsissewa

Chimaphila umbellata

Pyrolaceae (Wintergreen family)

If you’ve ever played Uncle Wiggly’s old board game, you might remember the line, “The mean pipsissewa shuddered and trembled as Uncle Wiggly took three steps.” This beautiful trailing evergreen herb certainly doesn’t deserve the bad boy reputation! His Algonquian Indian name, pipsissewa, comes from a Canadian Cree word meaning “breaks it into small pieces”, like breaking a stone in the bladder. Its official genus name, chimaphila, means “winter lover,” as these small shrub-like plants are often prominent in winter snow. The name of the species, umbellatapoints to its small umbrella-shaped flowers.

Also called wintergreen, ground holly, waxflower, and prince’s pine, pipissewa is native to eastern forests and thrives in a mixed hardwood forest. The stems can be ten inches tall, surmounted in midsummer by one to three small, fragrant, drooping, white to pink flowers. These small waxy flowers eventually erect into a climax and become woody and fibrous as each plant projects its mature pod upwards. Striped or Spotted Pipsissewa, Chimaphila maculataalso called ratsbane or rheumatism root, it is a close relative.

Traditional uses:

The leathery leaves of pipsissewa were chewed and sometimes smoked by native peoples to treat numerous ailments. The leaves and roots were steeped in strong teas (decoctions), sometimes formulated with other native herbs, to relieve coughs, colds, bladder ailments, and kidney problems. Eastern Algonquins used the tea as a flavoring for other medicines, to alleviate PMS problems, and as a diuretic, astringent, and sudorific (to induce sweating) for sweat baths. Iroquois herbalists used this to treat stomach cancer and rheumatism. Some tribes used leaf decoctions to treat eye problems and drank them as spring tonics. Along the west coast, from British Columbia to southern California and as far as Idaho, lies the western C. menziesii, a whorled, often variegated species, six inches high. The Thompsan Indians of British Columbia plastered the whole powdered plant to reduce inflammation in the joints, legs, and feet. Native peoples also plastered the leaves on skin tumors, ulcers, and muscle pain, especially as a remedy for back pain.

Modern uses:

A decoction made from pipsissewa leaves was an original ingredient in traditional root beers, and pipsissewa extract continues to be used as a flavoring agent in some sweets and soft drinks, as well as various health care products. Provides an earthy and musky flavor.

Deposits:

The biologically active compounds arbutin, sitosterol, and ursolic acid can produce various healing benefits but are also irritating to sensitive skin.

Growing and Propagation Needs:

Pipsissewa prefers dry forests and sandy soils. In most of our northern temperate regions, its glossy green leaves are signs of healing through the winter snows. However, the pipsissewa is now threatened with extinction throughout much of its natural range, making it especially important to cultivate in our medicine wheel gardens. It is difficult to propagate from seed. It is propagated from one-inch pieces of underground rootstock left under leaf mulch.

Companions:

Pipsissewa does well with most shade-loving plants in the medicine wheel garden, especially apple trees and maidenhair ferns.

When a pregnant woman feels feverish and sleepy, she’s not sick, it’s her baby. Make a small bundle of Pipsissewa about an inch thick using the entire plant. Put this in half a quart of water to steep. Take a cup four times a day until it runs out.

– Sam Hill, Onondaga Herbalist, Six Nations Reserve, 1912