This is one of our native herbs that I am fortunate enough to have growing naturally in my yard. It is a small plant that many would overlook, but is a nice wild edible as well as being medicinal. Traditionally, this was called Squaw Vine in the Appalachians (and beyond in early America) as it was valued by Native Americans for “female troubles.” But now that name has become “politically incorrect” so you will usually see it listed as Partridgeberry.
Mrs. Grieve tells us:
The plant grows in dry woods, among hemlock timber, and in swampy places; in flower in June and July. The leaves resemble those of clover and remain green throughout the winter. The fruit or berry also remains bright scarlet, is edible, and nearly tasteless, dry, and full of stony seeds. The use of the drug is peculiarly American.
Constituents---It has been found to contain resin, wax, mucilage, dextrin, and what appears to be saponin.
Medicinal Action and Uses---Parturient, diuretic, tonic, astringent. Beneficial in all uterine complaints. It resembles in its action pipsissewa (Chimaphila), for which it is often substituted. It is taken by Indian women for weeks before confinement, in order to render parturition safe and easy. A herbal physician should be consulted for a safe and effectual preparation.
It is used in dropsy, suppression of urine, and diarrhoea. The following preparation is a cure for sore nipples: 2 OZ. of the herb (fresh, if possible), 1 pint of water. Make a strong decoction, strain, and add an equal quantity of good cream. Boil the whole down to the consistency of a soft salve, and when cool, anoint the nipple every time the child is removed from the breast.
Dosages---Of a strong decoction, 2 to 4 fluid ounces, two or three times a day. Fluid extract, 1/2 to 1 drachm
The Cherokee used Partridge Berry:
The roots made from the squaw vine and Hieracium venosum are made into a tea for bowel complaints. A tea of the whole plant is taken for “summer complaint.” A tea of the roots is given to a baby before it “takes the breast.” A root tea is taken for monthly period pains.
The Lumbee used this herb:
Patridgeberry was a popular treatment among the Lumbee to ease menstrual pains and prevent miscarriages. Many Native American women from various tribes drank a tea from the leaves of the Partridgeberry to help ease childbirth. A leaf lotion was used to relieve breast soreness for nursing mothers.
Resources of The Southern Fields and Forests tells us:
MITCHELLA; PARTRIDGE-BERRY, (Mitchella repens, L.)
Vicinity of Charleston ; grows in shady swampy lands; collected tn St. John's. Fl. May.
Ell. Bot. Med. Notes, 199.
An infusion of the stems and leaves is used in dysuria, its diuretic powers, however, not being of any importance. A decoction of this plant is esteemed a good emetic, and has obtained, says Mills in his Statistics of S.C, a very general use. The " Cherokee Doctor" declares that the "decoction taken freel}^ is an excellent article to facilitate childbirth. It should be used daily for two or three weeks before that period!" The fruit is slightly acid and edible. It re- sembles the pipsissewa and maybe used in the same manner as that plant, being diuretic, tonic and astringent. U. S. Disp.
King’s American Dispensatory of 1898 states:
This plant is indigenous to the United States, growing in dry woods, among hemlock-timber, and in swampy places, flowering in June and July. The leaves bear some resemblance to clover, and remain green through the winter. The fruit or berry is bright scarlet, edible, but nearly tasteless, dry, and full of stony seeds, and also remains through the winter. The whole plant is medicinal, and imparts its virtues to boiling water or alcohol.
Chemical Composition.—E. Breneiser found in this plant a saponin-like body, frothing in aqueous solution; the water-soluble part of an ether extract of the plant contained a principle forming a precipitate with tannic acid and with picric acid; but it was neither an alkaloid nor a glucosid. No volatile oil was present (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1887, p. 229).
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Partridgeberry is parturient, diuretic, and astringent. Used in dropsy, suppression of urine and diarrhoea, in decoction. It seems to have an especial affinity for the uterus, exerting a powerful tonic and alterative influence upon this organ, and has hence been found highly beneficial in many uterine derangements, as in amenorrhoea, some forms of dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, chronic congestion of the uterus, enfeebled uterine nervous system, etc. It is said that the squaws drink a decoction of this plant for several weeks previous to their confinement, for the purpose of rendering parturition safe and easy. Similar virtues have been ascribed to it by competent physicians of our time. The remedy is peculiarly American, not being noticed or used by foreign practitioners. Dose of a strong decoction, from 2 to 4 fluid ounces, 2 or 3 times a day. The berries are a popular remedy for diarrhoea and dysuria. Used as follows, partridgeberry is highly recommended as a cure for sore nipples: Take 2 ounces of the herb, fresh if possible, and make a strong decoction with a pint of water, then strain, and add as much good cream as there is liquid of the decoction. Boil the whole down to the consistence of a soft salve, and when cool, anoint the nipple with it every time the child is removed from the breast.
Jethro Kloss wrote:
SQUAW VINE (Mitchella repens)
Common Names: Partridgeberry, checkerberry, deerberry, winter clover, twin-berry, one-berry, hive vine, one-berry leaves, squawberry.
Part Used: Entire plant.
Medicinal Properties: Diuretic, astringent, tonic, alterative, parturient.
Description and Uses: This herb was very highly esteemed by the Indian women. It is an excellent medicine to take during the last few weeks of pregnancy and will make childbirth much easier. It is better than red raspberry leaves, but it is good to combine the two. Good in scanty or painful menstruation. An excellent wash for sore eyes in infants. For this purpose combine with equal parts of raspberry leaves and witch hazel leaves. If the witch hazel leaves cannot be secured, use wild strawberry leaves. This is also an excellent injection for mild leukorrhea, dysentery, and gonorrhea. This herb is good for gravel, urinary troubles, uterine troubles, female complaints, and increases the menstrual flow.
A strong tea made from the berries is good to bathe sore nipples.
Add a little olive oil or cream.
Stir thoroughly and apply. As a decoction, use two ounces in one pint of water and take in wineglass doses. As a tincture, 5 to 10 drops three times a day.
Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians tells us:
Among American Indians, partridge berry was used as a remedy for a wide range of female reproductive system problems including menstrual cramps, delayed or irregular menses, heavy menstrual flow, labor difficulties, and infertility. Leaf infusions and poultices were used to soothe sore nipples, hemorrhoids, and wounds.
The folk use of partridgeberry includes an herbal steam to relieve rheumatic pain and a decoction of berries in milk to stop diarrhea and treat dysentery. Partridgeberry was a popular remedy for women's reproductive problems during much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Though they have little flavor, the berries were also used as food.
Botany in A Day tells us:
The plant is used medicinally to tone the prostate and the womb.
Plants for A Future states:
Medicinal use of Partridge Berry: Partridge berry was commonly used by several native North American Indian tribes as a parturient to hasten childbirth. It was also occasionally used to treat a variety of other complaints including insomnia, rheumatic pain and fluid retention. It is still used in modern herbalism as an aid to childbirth and is also considered to have a tonic effect upon the uterus and the ovaries. The herb is astringent, diuretic, hypnotic and tonic. Frequent doses of a tea made from the fresh or dried leaves were used by N. American Indian women in the weeks preceding childbirth in order to promote easy delivery. This tea should not be used during the first six months of labour, however, since it can induce a miscarriage. The tea is also used to treat delayed, painful or irregular menses. The tea was also used externally as a wash for hives, swellings, sore nipples, rheumatism etc. The leaves are harvested in the summer and dried for later use. A tea made from the berries has a very definite sedating effect on the nervous system.
This article is an excerpt from
Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide
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Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
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