Partridgeberry

Mitchella repens

COMMON NAMES

• Deerberry
• One-berry
• Partridgeberry
• Squaw Vine
• Winter Clover

An evergreen vine, partridgeberry grows up to a foot long, with a whitish, trailing stem. A ground-hugger, partridgeberry forms "mats" as it grows. Flowers are white and often paired. Fruits are small, scarlet berries.

Partridgeberry brightens the drab forest floor in fall and winter, its mats of evergreen leaves and scarlet fruits hugging the ground. Landscapers often transplant this cheerful creeper to residential yards, where partridgeberry is used in rock gardens and as ornamental ground cover under shrubs, thriving especially in acid soil.

The twin white flowers that adorn the ends of partridgeberry stems merge to form a single fruit, as the name one-berry indicates. The low fat content of the fruits makes them resistant to rotting, so that they stay intact on the branches late into winter and are available to nourish wildlife when other foods are lacking.

The delectable-looking but nearly tasteless fruits are said to be favored by ruffed grouse, birds similar to European partridges-hence the name partridgeberry. Another common name suggests that this creeping plant supplies food for deer.

Partridgeberry is a native American plant, and the name squaw vine comes from its use among the Indians. During the final weeks of pregnancy women drank a tea made from the leaves to ease childbirth, and nursing mothers applied a lotion made from the leaves to their breasts to relieve soreness. English colonists also used the tea as an aid in childbirth and as a remedy for menstrual cramps.

PARTS USED

Whole herb.

USES

Partridgeberry is a distinctively Native American plant. Its nickname - squaw vine - was coined by colonists who saw Native American women using it. Although primarily employed in a medicinal capacity, partridgeberry had additional uses among various tribes, including the following: as a love potion, as a ceremonial smoke, and as a food. The fruits were eaten either raw or dried and in sauces, breads, and cakes.

Partridgeberry has a long history of use among Native American women. Numerous tribes used partridgeberry to treat menstrual pains and cramps, to regulate menstruation and relieve heavy bleeding, and to induce childbirth and ease delivery. Partridgeberry is now recommended by herbalists for similar reasons. As a salve, partridgeberry is also used to treat nursing mothers' sore or cracked nipples. Partridgeberry is thought to contain tannins, glycosides, and saponins, and it is generally believed to have a tonic action on the uterus and ovaries. Partridgeberry may also be effective as an abortifacient; for this reason, partridgeberry is not recommended for pregnant women.

Partridgeberry is still extensively used to aid labor and childbirth, and is also considered to have a tonic action on the uterus and the ovaries. Partridgeberry is taken to normalize menstruation and to relieve heavy bleeding and menstrual pain. This herb has also been recommended for stimulating breast-milk production, but other herbs with a similar action, such as fennel, are preferred. The berries, crushed and mixed with tincture of myrrh, are helpful for sore nipples. An astringent herb, partridgeberry has also been prescribed for diarrhea and colitis.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Partridgeberry is indigenous to eastern and central North America. Partridgeberry can be found from southwestern Newfoundland to Minnesota and southward to Florida and Texas.

CONSTITUENTS

Partridgeberry is believed to contain tannins, glycosides, and saponins.

USUAL DOSAGE

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 teaspoonful of the herb and let infuse for 10 - 15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 1 - 2ml of the tincture three times a day.

COLLECTION AND HARVESTING

Being an evergreen herb, partridgeberry may be found all year round in the forest and woodland habitat it likes. Partridgeberry is best collected in flower between April and June.

COMBINATIONS

As parturient to prepare for childbirth partridgeberry may be used with raspberry leaves. For dysmenorrhoea partridgeberry could be combined with cramp bark and pasque flower.

COMMENTS

From J

I drink a cup of the infused herbs two to three times a day when my milk production slows down, and it is very effective. I usually notice the effects within 24 hours. I highly recommend this herb to nursing mothers.