HERB OF THE WEEK>>>>Squaw Vine?

Squaw Vine

Squaw Vine is most beneficial in childbirth. It strengthens the uterus, helps prevent miscarriage, and relieves congestion of the uterus and ovaries. Its antiseptic properties make it valuable for treating vaginal infections, and is a natural nerve sedative. It is most often used in combination with Raspberry.

The Native Americans are also credited with revealing the benefits of this herb to women. Squaw vine is used for various alternative medicinal purposes, but it is typically best known for the relief that it offers pregnant women and new mothers. Use of the herb is believed to be most popular in the United States.

Pregnant women sometimes consume squaw vine products to prepare their bodies for childbirth. It is generally only taken in the last weeks before birth and during labor. Women are typically advised against taking any squaw vine products in the first or second trimester. When women take it at the end of their pregnancy, however, it is believed that the herb can help to reduce labor pains.

After delivering their babies, some women use squaw vine for their breasts. It is believed that the herb can help to relieve pain associated with lactation. The herb is also used for sore nipples associated with breast feeding.

Some women use squaw vine for other female issues. The herb is sometimes consumed to help relieve pains associated with menstrual cycles. It may also help to relieve symptoms of vaginitis.

The herb is not only regarded as being of benefit to women. Squaw vine, which is believed to have tonic, astringent, and diuretic properties, is also believed to be useful in treating conditions such as gonorrhea, diarrhea, and dysentery. The form in which the herb is used depends on the ailment. Sometimes it may be consumed as an infusion or in capsule form. At other times, parts of the plant may be used to produce tinctures or salves.

Squaw vine is the dried plant of Mitchella repens Linne, common to the woodlands of the central and eastern United States. The plant blooms in July and is usually harvested late in summer.

Chemical Components

The leaves of the plant contain resin, wax, mucilage, dextrin, and tannin. The leaves are also thought to contain glycosides and saponins.

Actions

Tannic acid has local astringent properties that act on GI mucosa, which is thought to occur through binding and precipitation of proteins, and forms insoluble complexes with select heavy metal ions, alkaloids, and glycosides. It has also been shown to have antisecretory and antiulcerative effects within the GI tract because of an inhibitory action on the gastric enzyme system. Saponins are usually less toxic to humans after oral ingestion, but when administered I.V., they act as potent hemolytics.

Reported Uses

Squaw vine has been used as an astringent, a diuretic, and a tonic. Because its tonic properties are thought to work primarily on the uterus, squaw vine has been used extensively as an aid in labor and childbirth. Native Americans were the first to use the plant to make parturition safer and easier. It has also been used in cases of abdominal pain associated with menstruation, abnormal menstruation, and heavy bleeding . Other claims include its use as a remedy for amenorrhea, diarrhea, dysentery, dysuria, edema, gonorrhea, hysteria, kidney stones, polyuria, and vaginitis. Crushed squaw vine berries have been mixed with myrrh and used for sore nipples. The use of squaw vine is based on traditional and anecdotal reports, not on controlled human clinical trials.