Botanical Index No. 798

Pipsissewa

chimaphila spp.

Medicinal Actions

Alterative, Analgesic, Antiaggregant, Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Astringent, Candidicide, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Expectorant, Orexigenic, Stimulant, Tonic, Urinary Antiseptic

Primary Conditions Treated

Collyrium Rubefacient Adenopathy Ague Alzheimer’s Angina Anorexia Arthrosis Backache Bacteria Bleeding Blister Bot BPH Cancer Candida Cardiopathy Catarrh Childbirth Cold Conjunctivosis Cough Cystosis Depression Dermatosis Diabetes Dropsy Dysmenorrhea Edema Fever Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gravel Head Cold Heart Hemoptysis Hepatosis Infection Inflammation Mastosis Mucososis Myalgia Nephrosis Ophthalmia Pain Prostatosis Pulmonosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Scrofula Smallpox Sore Stomachache Swelling Tuberculosis Typhus Urethrosis VD Water Retention Worm Wound Yeast

General Dosage

1–3 g/tea; 1–4 ml liquid extract; 2.5–5 ml.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. Salicylates and tannins. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Unsuitable for long-term use because of hydroquinone glycoside content. Hypoglycemic. I question the accuracy of the report of quinine, but believe the reports of hydroquinone in several members of the Ericaceae, including this one. For snakebite, one chews the pulp, swallows the juice, and poultice the cud onto the bite after it has bled. It is also considered abortive. Native Americans poke crushed stems in their nose to alleviate snoring. “Secoyas” mixed ground rhizome with water for fever, flu, and fright. In Piura, the chopped shoots are considered hemostatic and vulnerary.

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