Medicinal Herb: Pipsissewa

Chimaphila umbellata

Also, Known As:

• Butter Winter
• Ground Holly
• King’s Cure
• Love in Winter
• Pipsissewa
• Princes pine
• Pyrola Umbellata
• Rheumatism Weed

Pipsissewa is a petite evergreen herb that grows perennially and up to a height of 3 inches to 10 inches. Plants of this species produce glossy, vividly green, jagged leaves that emerge in order of whorls the length of the stem. Pipsissewa bears tiny flowers whose color range from white to pink and they blossom during July and August. The flowers of pipsissewa are clustered at the apex of a straight stalk. When the leaves of this herb are crushed, they exude a strange flavor which is sweetish and astringent and also has a pleasingly bitter taste.

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…