Squaw Vine (Mitchella repens)
Photo: Sesamehoneytart · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Female Reproductive
- 1 condition
- Licensed photo
Overview
Squaw vine is an evergreen herb that grows up to 1 foot tall, forming mats on the ground. It has rounded shiny leaves, fragrant white flowers on flowering stems, and produces small bright red berries. Native American women commonly used this plant as an infusion to hasten childbirth, and it was occasionally employed for other conditions including insomnia, rheumatic pain, and fluid retention. The plant grows in dry woodland sites in the eastern and central United States.
Traditional uses & properties
Squaw vine is extensively used to aid labor and childbirth, with a recognized tonic action on the uterus and ovaries. It helps normalize menstruation and provides relief from heavy periods and menstrual pain. As an emmenagogue and uterine tonic, it tones the uterus, which eases painful, heavy menstruation and regulates irregular periods. While it has been recommended for stimulating breast milk production, other herbs like fennel are generally preferred for this purpose. The crushed berries combined with myrrh tincture provide relief for sore nipples, and topical salve applied after breastfeeding can heal sore nipples effectively. As an astringent herb, it has also been used to treat diarrhea and colitis.
Traditional preparations
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person.
Standard infusion: 2-4 ounces 3 times daily. Tincture (fresh plant 1:2 in 95% alcohol, or dried herb 1:5 in 50% alcohol): 2-5 ml (0.4-1 tsp) 3 times daily. Traditionally taken as a tea during pregnancy in later stages.
Safety & precautions
Do not take during the first 6 months of pregnancy. May be used in later stages of pregnancy and for childbirth preparation under appropriate guidance.
Drug & food interactions
Interaction data is not available for this herb - talk to a pharmacist before combining it with any medication. A blank entry here means we have not documented interactions, not that none exist.
Habitat
Native to the eastern and central United States, growing in dry sites in woodlands. Harvested in late summer.
Traditionally used for
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Frequently asked questions
What is Squaw Vine (Mitchella repens) traditionally used for?
Traditional sources describe Squaw Vine (Mitchella repens) as follows: Squaw vine is extensively used to aid labor and childbirth, with a recognized tonic action on the uterus and ovaries. It helps normalize menstruation and provides relief from heavy periods and menstrual pain. As an emmenagogue and uterine tonic, it tones the uterus, which eases painful, heavy menstruation and regulates irregular periods. While it has been recommended for stimulating breast milk production, other herbs like fennel are generally preferred for this purpose. The crushed berries combined with myrrh tincture provide relief for sore nipples, and topical salve applied after breastfeeding can heal sore nipples effectively. As an astringent herb, it has also been used to treat diarrhea and colitis.
How is Squaw Vine (Mitchella repens) prepared?
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person. Standard infusion: 2-4 ounces 3 times daily. Tincture (fresh plant 1:2 in 95% alcohol, or dried herb 1:5 in 50% alcohol): 2-5 ml (0.4-1 tsp) 3 times daily. Traditionally taken as a tea during pregnancy in later stages.
What safety cautions apply to Squaw Vine (Mitchella repens)?
Do not take during the first 6 months of pregnancy. May be used in later stages of pregnancy and for childbirth preparation under appropriate guidance.
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