Pipsissewa
Latin: Chimophila umbellata (translates to Winter Loving)
Family: Ericacaea
Other Names: Prince’s pine
Family: Ericacaea
Other Names: Prince’s pine
Pipsissewa is native to most of the United States, and especially found growing in the northwest forest understory amongst those sister plants that also embody kidney healing, such as the Manzanita. While her flower is extraordinary, also humble, small, gazes down to the earth, always nodding. Pipsissewa's face is enchanted, reflecting her deep love of the earth. The prince's pine as her name implies lives among and is protected, held safe and cherished by Pine, especially the Ponderosa.
Properties & Actions
Astringent, Antiseptic, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Tonic
Indications & Uses
Astringent and somewhat warming leaves clear urinary tract infections, strengthen the bladder and kidneys, and resolve swollen and inflamed lymph glands.
(Scott Kloos, Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants)
(Scott Kloos, Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants)
Similar in use and pharmacology to uva ursi, manzanita, pyrola, and blueberry, all relatives. It is much less astringent than than uva ursi, with a stronger diuretic action and less irritation of the intestinal linings. Pipsissewa contains ursolic acid, the glycosides arbutin, ericolin, and its own specific, chimophilin, all of which are excreted in urine as a disinfectant substances. Pipsissewa is an almost perfect remedy for kidney weakness or chronic mild nephritis, and can be taken several times a week for extended periods; It can reduce the problem substantially, given time and a reasonable diet. The average dose is a scant to rounded teaspoon of the chopped leaves, boiled for 20 minutes or more. In short or long term skin eruptions, two or three cups a day will temporarily aggravate but considerably shorten the duration of the symptoms. The fresh leaves, moistened, are an effective counterirritant, if left on for half hour or longer. (Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Southwest)
Antibacterial and astringent, pipsissewa is used primarily for urinary problems involving inflammation, such as cystitis, prostatitis, and urethritis. It is a great remedy for irritable bladder. It has the same urinary disinfectant compounds as uva ursi, but pipsissewa has less tannin, which makes it easier on the kidneys. (Easley/Horne)
Antibacterial and astringent, pipsissewa is used primarily for urinary problems involving inflammation, such as cystitis, prostatitis, and urethritis. It is a great remedy for irritable bladder. It has the same urinary disinfectant compounds as uva ursi, but pipsissewa has less tannin, which makes it easier on the kidneys. (Easley/Horne)
The herb derives its name from the Cree (a native tribe of Canada) term ‘pipsisikweu’ which translated into English literally means ‘it breaks into small pieces’. This name of the plant is primarily owing to the belief that the rubbery leaves of pipsissewa enclose a substance that helps to dissolve kidney stones. The Native American Indians used this plant for other therapeutic purposes as well. People belonging to the Penobscot and Mohegan tribes boiled the leaves of the plant in water and applied the solution topically to cure blisters. On the other hand, the Thompson Indians inhabiting British Columbia pounded the pipsissewa plant and used it in soaked dressings to lessen swellings of the feet and legs. On the other hand, the Catawbas called the herb fire flower and extracted a solution from it and used it to ease a backache. Chippewas prepared a decoction with the pipsissewa’s roots and used it as eye drops to cure aching eyes.
Pipsissewa was not only popular among the Native Americans, but also the early European settlers who also learned the use of this species from them. They took the herb internally particularly as a remedy for kidney problems and rheumatism. In traditional medicine, pipsissewa served as an astringent as well as diuretic from the period ranging between the days of Daniel Boone, an American explorer, pioneer, and frontiersman, throughout the Civil War and even later. It was also taken on as an official medication quite early. During the period between 1820 and 1916, pipsissewa was cataloged in the United States Pharmacopeia. And until the early part of the 20th century, pipsissewa tonic was an essential home remedy in several households in rural North America. Even to this day, pipsissewa is used in the form of a conventional ingredient in making root beer. (1)
Pipsissewa was not only popular among the Native Americans, but also the early European settlers who also learned the use of this species from them. They took the herb internally particularly as a remedy for kidney problems and rheumatism. In traditional medicine, pipsissewa served as an astringent as well as diuretic from the period ranging between the days of Daniel Boone, an American explorer, pioneer, and frontiersman, throughout the Civil War and even later. It was also taken on as an official medication quite early. During the period between 1820 and 1916, pipsissewa was cataloged in the United States Pharmacopeia. And until the early part of the 20th century, pipsissewa tonic was an essential home remedy in several households in rural North America. Even to this day, pipsissewa is used in the form of a conventional ingredient in making root beer. (1)
Role in Detox
Pipsissewa is used in detox herbal protocol primarily for strengthening and cleansing the kidneys, as well may be used to improve lymphatic congestion.
Systems Affinity
Urinary (Kidneys, Bladder), Lymphatic
Pipsissewa Spirit
This is a profound healer for deep release. It establishes an energy circuit in people that continues the function of the etheric or spiritual release beyond the use of the herb. The plant provides some of this effect as a medicinal release, but the spiritual effect of this circuit creates a spiral of energy in the persons’ abdominal region that generally becomes an ongoing release system. This can have a potent effect regarding blockages to spiritual progress, such as fear or guilt. But more importantly, there is clarity in areas which one sees as blockages and is thus unable to receive God's love. There is a purging or cleansing from the heart downwards rather than upwards, as is more often the case, so that energy release can be profound and important.
At the same time, this vortex of energy cancels out some of the disharmonious effects of various negative thought forms that may have accumulated around the individual. In this way, the release function serves the individual on a high an important spiritual level, but it also makes use of many levels of unconscious energy. It is an herb that tends to bend the energy that one might emit unconsciously, particularly in the sleep state, into a path that is self-governing to release many levels of etheric toxicity and other difficulties.
Sometimes this energy transfers to other chakras, but is primarily associated with the second and third chakras. For most individuals it will tie in at a point about midway between them. These two chakras are unusually influenced by each other period on the highest spiritual level, this energy release can be very liberating. Blockages, such as negative thought forms, may be temporarily released without the individual putting much attention on it. There is a slight danger of one becoming somewhat addicted to this process, to the point of repeatedly using this herb to release negative thought forms. It is far wiser, when they are released, to understand what their purpose was to allow a greater strengthening to take their place. But again, this is on the highest spiritual level. Most individuals involved in fasting, meditation, and creative visualization will reach these higher states and then be able to utilize the higher properties in a balanced fashion.
This release process aids in psychic development, especially when the intuitive process is blocked because of patterns from your current lifetime. This does not generally relate to past lives, because this herb does not have much effect on the astral level. Instead, on an unconscious level, the individual has attitudes and ideas that block psychic development in certain areas. For instance, if you are attempting to develop your intuition or clairvoyance, you may place a negative value judgment upon yourself because individuals in your past may have said only people who are crazy can do that, or there is something wrong with someone who does this. This area though, completely cleared out in many other ways in your life, may be more easily released when this herb is used. This is about one example of blockage removal.
Because this release is also taking place on the abdominal level, it is a release agent in relationships as well. If you are using this herb and are in an intimate relationship with someone, that person should also be fully aware of the herb’s properties. They might take it with you. As you release negative energy, you will develop greater love. At the same time, the energy between you may increase. Agitation on an emotional level may temporarily increase in the relationship, but there will be a cleansing. This can be an interesting growth experience for two individuals who wish to purge some negative aspects of their relationship.
The whorl pattern on the leaf is significant. The energy that moves from it etherically generates a powerful spiral. This spiral of energy carries with it any psychic debris that you may bring into the living plants field. For example, people beginning to open third eye sight, might be aware of some negative aspects of themselves, bringing it more clearly into the aura by imagination, and then bring it near the leaf of this plant. They may see it carried away in the ethers that project from pipsissewa.
In Lemuria the techniques of energy healing by which such vortices were established were relatively easy. When an individual had an accident or needed to have deeper states of learning, these energetic vortices were easily put into place. It was seen as a possibility that mankind's ability to heal in such a fashion might become more difficult or even be lost from the planet. Pipsissewa was chosen to preserve this capacity. It was not known when it would be needed again. It turned out to be needed more in today's civilization than in others when such energetic release techniques were more commonly used.
There is a strengthening of the kidney and bladder meridians, and the nadis throughout the abdomen are stimulated. Many of the energies that flow through the large and small intestine are stimulated, although not the meridians directly associated with these organs. The etheric body is usually first cleansed, and then a few hours after the tea is taken, the etheric body is strengthened. The cancer miasm is eased, and there is a strengthening and greater clarity with the third, 4th, and 7th rays. There is an easing of Mars negative affects when it is in square or opposition, and the test point is about 2 inches below the navel. (Gurudas, Spiritual Properties of Herbs)
At the same time, this vortex of energy cancels out some of the disharmonious effects of various negative thought forms that may have accumulated around the individual. In this way, the release function serves the individual on a high an important spiritual level, but it also makes use of many levels of unconscious energy. It is an herb that tends to bend the energy that one might emit unconsciously, particularly in the sleep state, into a path that is self-governing to release many levels of etheric toxicity and other difficulties.
Sometimes this energy transfers to other chakras, but is primarily associated with the second and third chakras. For most individuals it will tie in at a point about midway between them. These two chakras are unusually influenced by each other period on the highest spiritual level, this energy release can be very liberating. Blockages, such as negative thought forms, may be temporarily released without the individual putting much attention on it. There is a slight danger of one becoming somewhat addicted to this process, to the point of repeatedly using this herb to release negative thought forms. It is far wiser, when they are released, to understand what their purpose was to allow a greater strengthening to take their place. But again, this is on the highest spiritual level. Most individuals involved in fasting, meditation, and creative visualization will reach these higher states and then be able to utilize the higher properties in a balanced fashion.
This release process aids in psychic development, especially when the intuitive process is blocked because of patterns from your current lifetime. This does not generally relate to past lives, because this herb does not have much effect on the astral level. Instead, on an unconscious level, the individual has attitudes and ideas that block psychic development in certain areas. For instance, if you are attempting to develop your intuition or clairvoyance, you may place a negative value judgment upon yourself because individuals in your past may have said only people who are crazy can do that, or there is something wrong with someone who does this. This area though, completely cleared out in many other ways in your life, may be more easily released when this herb is used. This is about one example of blockage removal.
Because this release is also taking place on the abdominal level, it is a release agent in relationships as well. If you are using this herb and are in an intimate relationship with someone, that person should also be fully aware of the herb’s properties. They might take it with you. As you release negative energy, you will develop greater love. At the same time, the energy between you may increase. Agitation on an emotional level may temporarily increase in the relationship, but there will be a cleansing. This can be an interesting growth experience for two individuals who wish to purge some negative aspects of their relationship.
The whorl pattern on the leaf is significant. The energy that moves from it etherically generates a powerful spiral. This spiral of energy carries with it any psychic debris that you may bring into the living plants field. For example, people beginning to open third eye sight, might be aware of some negative aspects of themselves, bringing it more clearly into the aura by imagination, and then bring it near the leaf of this plant. They may see it carried away in the ethers that project from pipsissewa.
In Lemuria the techniques of energy healing by which such vortices were established were relatively easy. When an individual had an accident or needed to have deeper states of learning, these energetic vortices were easily put into place. It was seen as a possibility that mankind's ability to heal in such a fashion might become more difficult or even be lost from the planet. Pipsissewa was chosen to preserve this capacity. It was not known when it would be needed again. It turned out to be needed more in today's civilization than in others when such energetic release techniques were more commonly used.
There is a strengthening of the kidney and bladder meridians, and the nadis throughout the abdomen are stimulated. Many of the energies that flow through the large and small intestine are stimulated, although not the meridians directly associated with these organs. The etheric body is usually first cleansed, and then a few hours after the tea is taken, the etheric body is strengthened. The cancer miasm is eased, and there is a strengthening and greater clarity with the third, 4th, and 7th rays. There is an easing of Mars negative affects when it is in square or opposition, and the test point is about 2 inches below the navel. (Gurudas, Spiritual Properties of Herbs)
Cautions and Contraindications
None known
Qualities
Cooling and drying; Astringent taste
Wildcrafting
Shade-tolerant pipsissewa, a member of the pyrola family, prefers loamy, uncompacted, well-drained soils and can be found growing in deep forest duff throughout North America. In the Pacific Northwest, it inhabits the understory of mostly coniferous forests at low to middle elevations from Alaska to California.
Snip the upper pseudo-whorl of leaves from plants that are not flowering or actively maturing seeds. The leathery leaves are difficult to dry and turn brown easily. Dry them quickly and thoroughly on well-ventilated screens or use a dehydrator on the lowest setting to ensure they retain their green color and medicinal properties. (Scott Kloos, Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants)
Snip the upper pseudo-whorl of leaves from plants that are not flowering or actively maturing seeds. The leathery leaves are difficult to dry and turn brown easily. Dry them quickly and thoroughly on well-ventilated screens or use a dehydrator on the lowest setting to ensure they retain their green color and medicinal properties. (Scott Kloos, Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants)
From the Apothecary
Pipsissewa is best taken in tea or infusion, as the leaf doesn't grind well into powder. Tincture also works well.
Resources & Recommended
Additional Sources Cited:
(1) https://goodwitcheshomestead.com/2017/11/29/medicinal-herb-pipsissewa/
(1) https://goodwitcheshomestead.com/2017/11/29/medicinal-herb-pipsissewa/