Chimaphila umbellate (Umbellate Wintergreen, Pipsissewa, or Prince’s pine) is a small perennial flowering plant found in dry woodlands, or sandy soils. It is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere.
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Uses
Some Plateau Indian tribes used a boil of prince’s pine to treat tuberculosis.
It is used as a flavoring in candy and soft drinks, particularly root beer.
“Pipsissewa” is a Cree name meaning “It-breaks-into-small-pieces”.
Benefits
Although the homeopathic remedy chimaphila has a number of therapeutic uses, it is basically prescribed for problems of the urinary tract. In homeopathy, chimaphila is considered to be the most appropriate remedy for men suffering from an enlarged prostate. Men who endure this health condition suffer from physical symptoms like retention of urine in the bladder for a very long period and other urinary complaints. Such patients may experience withering or shrinking of the tissues in their testicles and diminish into the form of a small mass. In addition, patients enduring enlarged prostate may also have a sensation as though there is a ball in the pelvis and they are sitting on it. Such an awkward feeling often causes discomfort and unease. In such cases, the flow of urine may simply be quite prolonged owing to the constraints in the urethra. Patients suffering from this disorder may also experience physical symptoms, such as a tendency to stiffen or become tense while urinating or when they are defecating. Turning to the homeopathic remedy chimaphila helps not only to treat the main condition, but also provides fast relief from the associated symptoms.
Men suffering from an enlarged prostate are also likely to develop infections that may result in prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland), which may prove to be an additional bothering problem. It has been found that men suffering from this condition find it difficult to start passing urine as the entire act causes immense pain as well as discomfort. Some patients having enlarged prostate may also endure additional symptoms, such as the development of chronic cystitis. All the symptoms associated with disorder are not only extremely painful, but also cause unease and discomfort to the patient. Whenever any individual finds such symptoms occurring, he should immediately consult a qualified homeopathic medicine practitioner who would prescribe chimaphila to cure this problem of enlarged prostate gland.
In homeopathy, physicians very rarely recommend chimaphila for treating kidney problems. Nevertheless, since this homeopathic remedy is seldom used to cure kidney disorder, it does not denote that this medication is not effective in healing such conditions. On the contrary, the use of the homeopathic remedy chimaphila is known to be extremely useful in curing cystitis together with any other inflammation or soreness in the urethra or any general related burning symptoms down the urinary tract. In addition, this homeopathic medication is also known to be extremely useful to providing relief from conditions wherein an individual finds it difficult or problematic to pass urine owing to no obvious causes. Using a few drops of chimaphila in the form of its mother tincture (MT) has the aptitude to provide fast relief to the sufferer from such problems. At the same time, using chimaphila also alleviates the concern and unease related to this painful and irksome condition.
Precisely speaking, the homeopathic remedy chimaphila is used for treating several conditions. While one can use this medication to treat an enlarged prostate gland, chimaphila may also be prescribed to people who suffer from excessive retention of water in their urinary bladder for prolonged periods. In addition, this homeopathic medication has also been found to be effective in curing the tissues of testicles that have withered or shrunk forming a small mass. Homeopathic medicine practitioners also recommend the use of chimaphila to cure conditions when an individual suffers from chronic cystitis as well as when an individual has to undergo a lot of painful straining while passing urine or when they are defecating. All said and done, this homeopathic medication is also known to be the most appropriate remedy for treating any type of infection of the prostate gland.
As aforementioned, the herb Chimaphila umbellata, which forms the basis of the homeopathic remedy chimaphila, was initially used by numerous Native Americans (Red Indians) to cure urinary disorders as well as gravel (stone) in the bladder. They used the extracts of this herb to alleviate the stones in the urinary bladder and also mitigate the ensuing slowing down of urination or urine passage.
It is important to note that in addition to using it as a homeopathic remedy, the herb Chimaphila umbellata can also be used just as a micro-nutritional for providing essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In homeopathy, the potencies of this remedy are attributed to the strength as well as effectiveness of the electromagnetic characteristics of the original substance acted upon by any enzyme (substrate). Homeopathic remedies are basically dilutions and succussions of the medicines prepared in a scientific manner so that not a solitary molecule or the slightest trace of the original substance or the medicine is present in the final product.
Irrespective of whether it has been used in the form of a homeopathic remedy or just as a micro-nutrition, the herb pipsissewa has demonstrated efficacy in treating a number of symptoms, including acne, other skin problems, lactation problems, atrophy (withering/ shrinking) of the breast, lymphatic problems, cystitis, cataract, sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea, enlarged gland, jaundice, nephritis, kidney problems and malignant ulcers. In effect, majority of these problems have been found to develop owing to the inability of the body to get rid of toxic substances in a proper manner. Hence, this also points to the usefulness of pipsissewa as well as the homeopathic remedy chimaphila in treating all types of problems related to the urinary tract.
Cautions
The substance hydroquinone found in pipsissewa is toxic in large doses and prolonged use of the herb can be harmful. Large doses can cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Pipsissewa can give urine a green color, but it is not dangerous.
Due to the content of tannins, it can reduce the absorption of some medication in the intestine and therefore the herb should be taken few hours before or after any medication. People with iron deficiency and generally poor nutrient absorption should avoid this herb.
The effect of this herb on women how are pregnant and breast-feeding is not known so a trained herbalist or other professional health care provider should be contacted before using pipsissewa as a medicinal herb. The plant can cause contact allergy and rash in some people.
Interactions
None are recorded! Please consult your doctor!
Other names
Herb: Stinking Goosefoot, Latin name: Chenopodium vulvaria, Synonyms: Chenopodium olidum
References
Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimaphila_umbellata
Herbs2000, http://www.herbs2000.com/homeopathy/chimaphila.htm
Herbalsupplement, http://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/pipsissewa.html