PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS PIPSISSEWA 596

Leaves, Stem and Root: The young shoots are villous,

becoming pubescent. The leaves have a leaf cushion and are

flat, short (1 to 1.5 cm long) and obtuse. The upper surface is

dark green and the under surface has 2 blue-white long

stripes.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to North America.

Other Names: Hemlock Bark, Canada Pitch, Hemlock Gum

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Tannins (8-15%)

Flavonoids: hemlock tannin

Stilbene derivatives (8-10%): picea tannols

EFFECTS

The active agents are the tannin, hemlock tannin, and picea

tannols. The drug has astringent, anti-inflammatory, diapho-

retic, and diuretic properties.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Pinus Bark is used for digestive disorders,

diarrhea, and diseases of the mouth and throat. It was

formerly used to treat scurvy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. Administration in allopathic medicine is not

common.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is available as a liquid

extract, in medicinal preparations and combinations.

LITERATURE

Hoppe HA, (1975-1987) Drogenkunde, 8. Aufi., Bde 1-3: W de

Gruyter Verlag, Berlin, New York.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. AufL, Bde 1-8: Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Pinus species

See Scotch Pine

Piper betle

See Betel Nut

Piper cubeba

See Cubeb

Piper elongatum

See Matico

Piper methysticum

See Kava Kava

Piper nigrum

See Black Pepper

Pipsissewa

Chimaphila umbellata

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried Ier.es

(occasionally mixed with twigs and flowers), the fresh ierial

parts of the flowering plant and the complete dried pLiat.

Flower and Fruit: The plant has terminal inflorescences 10

cm long with umbels of 2 to 7 flowers. The flowers. *inch

are initially bright pink and men white, are nodding and

mildly campanulate. The 5 sepals are obbvate. denuze and

about a third as long as the 5 petals. The petals are broadly

ovate, domed, pink and 5 to 6 mm long. The 10 stamens are

thickened at the base, the edges are winged and ciliare. The

anthers are short, thick and red. The style is very short and

the stigma broad and shorter than the anthers. The fnm is a

5-grooved capsule with erect stems.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial semi-shrub

growing up to 25 cm high with an upright, angular stem and

a creeping white rhizome. The evergreen, alternate leaves are

short-petioled, coriaceous, ovate-spatulate to linear and

wedge-shaped. The leaf margin is sharply serrate.

Habitat: The plant grows extensively in Europe. Asia,

Siberia, and North and South America. It is a protected

species in Germany.

Production: Pipsissewa is the aerial part of Chimaphila

umbellata, which is collected in the wild.