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.
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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.
