Wonderful Wintergreen

Let's talk about Pipsissewa.

Doesn't sound familiar?

It's wintergreen, or teaberry. Bright, refreshing and clearing, its fragrance is unmistakable. You may recognize it from chewing gum, desserts, and teas. Growing up, my family used it for flavoring throat lozenges and candies for Christmas gifts.

Both the berries and leaves are edible and native to Eastern Northern America. The Indigenous people of the region have used pipsissewa as both an internal and topical medicinal for the treatment of patterns including —

• arthritis, aches, pains and rheumatic conditions (often used as a poultice or made into a rub)

• edema and lymphatic swellings

• fevers, colds and flu

• gastrointestinal disorders - gas, bloating, slow digestion

• genitourinary conditions - bladder incontinence, pressure, infections, leaking

The energetics of wintergreen

Cold, bitter, astringent, drying and slightly bitter. It clears damp heat in the Lower Burner (bladder, colon, genitourinary tract). It reduces pain, heat, decongests and dissolves or softens masses, stones and cysts.

In my practice, it's one of the first herbs - along with cornsilk - I select for bladder and genitourinary issues including incontinence, bladder pressure and leaking, infections, lymphatic swellings and discharges. And it’s in several of my topical liniment that I use in Amma sessions.

Bonus — like cornsilk — it’s native to North America making it a preferred option to non indigenous plants, in my opinion. I am continuously working to increase my use of local and indigenous herbs to reduce the impacts of shipping, packaging, and harmful herbal growing and supplement industry practices. Don’t get me wrong - Chinese medicine, energetics and herbalism is amazing and by understanding its principles (the energetics and functions of herbs) I am working to adapt my practice to be more sustainable. There is something that grows here in this region that has the same properties and uses.

A few ways to use wintergreen

• Fresh leaves can be nibbled on. But unless you are a forager and live where it grows, you will likely be using a ready made tea or tincture.

• Use it topically. The active constituent, methyl salicylate, is strong and needs to be diluted in a carrier oil.

• Diffuse the oil to clear and refresh the air.

• Tinctures are readily available. I am partial to Wind River Herbs out of Wyoming for their Cornsilk Pipsessewa blend.

• Food grade extracts and oils are available for cooking adventures and can still provide subtle energetic benefits.

• Poultices are used topically for wounds and rheumatic conditions.

Do not ingest the oil straight as it can upset the stomach — ouch!

Be well!
April