- Region
- North America
- Origin
- Sandy or rocky woods of eastern North America
- Traditions
- Cherokee medicine, Haudenosaunee medicine
North America · Herb · № 947
Epigaea repens
Herb · North America
Trailing arbutus
Epigaea repens
A creeping, evergreen dwarf shrub of the heath family with fragrant pink to white flowers in early spring. Contains arbutin.
Safety notes
Grows slowly and is protected in several states; leave wild plants alone. Contains arbutin; not in pregnancy or with kidney disease.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: A protected plant; do not gather it. Not in pregnancy except at the birth.
Preparation
Do not gather it. The tradition uses the leaves as a tea.
Use in traditions
According to the notes in Herrick, a Haudenosaunee remedy for kidney complaints and, with partridgeberry and hepatica, for labour pains. It is the state flower of Massachusetts.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
For kidney complaints; with partridgeberry and hepatica for labour pains.
Preparation and amount
The tradition boils a few plants with their roots until the water turns pink.
Caution: A protected plant; do not gather it. Not in pregnancy except at the birth.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)