Squaw Vine
Botanical Description & Habitat
Mitchella repens
Family
Rubiaceae
Common names
| Checkerberry | Deerberry |
| Hive vine | One-berry |
| Twin-berry | Squawberry |
| Winter clover |
Habitat
An evergreen herb found in moist, dry areas from eastern Canada to the southern United States.
Description
Perennial plant with a creeping stem which grows up to one foot in length. The leaves are opposite, petioled, dark green, shiny on the top, and often streaked with white. The flowers are white, often tinged with purple, grow in pairs and bloom from April to July. The fruit is a bright red drupe.
Medicinal parts
Leaves, fresh or dried
whole herb, dried, harvested at time of flowering
Historical Properties & Uses
Squaw vine was a favored North American Indian remedy for "female problems." It was administered during the last trimester of pregnancy to aid parturition and to prevent miscarriage. It was also used for menstrual problems. Many early American allopathic and homeopathic physicians adopted the plant for their use, and in 1926 it was listed in the National Formulary; however, the herb is virtually unknown outside the United States.
In modern herbal medicine, squaw vine is usually combined with other, similar herbs in blends designed as female tonics and specifics for female problems. As a single herb, it is occasionally used as a mild diuretic and astringent.
Method of Action
There is presently insufficient data on this subject.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
Insofar as squaw vine's diuretic action increases the renal excretion of sodium and chloride, the herb may potentiate the hyperglycemic and hyperuricemic effects of glucose-elevating agents.
Diuretics in general may potentiate the action of antihypertensive, ganglionic or peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs, tubocurarine and, to a lesser degree, norepinephrine.
Possible Interactions
The diuretic action of squaw vine may reduce renal clearance of lithium. The use of diuretics such as this may require dosage adjustments of antidiabetic drugs.
Topical application of the astringent herb squaw vine, in conjunction with the acne product tretinoin (retinoic acid, vitamin A acid), may adversely affect the skin.
The oxytocic property of squaw vine, in conjunction with vasoconstrictors such as ephedrine, methoxamine, phenylephrine, or sympathomimetics, may cause severe hypertension.
Squaw vine in conjunction with citrates may produce erratic and unpredictable results due to oxytocic action. Furthermore, this herb and sparteine may have synergistic oxytocic activity.
Comments
Prolonged use of this diuretic herb may affect certain laboratory test results such as electrolytes, especially potassium and sodium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, glucose, and protein bound iodine (PBI).
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The toxicity level of squaw vine has not been determined at this time.
Preparation & Administration
Three times a day
Dried plant
2-4 grams
Tea
made from 1 tsp of dried plant
Fluid extract
1:1 in 25% alcohol, 2-4 ml
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Am Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Wash, D.C.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Casaday, G.N., et.al. 1960. Postpartum hypertension after the use of vasoconstrictors and oxytocic drugs. Etiology, incidence, complications and treatment. JAMA. 172 (Mar 5).
Chambers, G., R.J. Kerry & G. Owen. 1977. Lithium used with a diuretic. British Medical Journal, 2. pp. 805-806.
Chiles, V.K. 1968. Drug interactions and the pharmacist. Canadian Pharaceutical Journal, 101(7). pp. 241-247.
Committee on Pharmocopaeia of the Am Institute of Homeopathy, Homeopathic Pharmacopaeia of the US. 8th ed., Vol 1. Clapp & Son, Boston, l981.
De Martinis, M., et.al. 1980. Milk thistle (silybum marianum) derivatives in the therapy of chronic hepatopathies." Clin. Ter., 94(3). pp. 283-315.
Drug package insert (FDA approved official brochure) and other labeling based on sponsored clinical investigations and New Drug Application data.
Goldner, M.G., H. Zarowitz & S. Akgun. 1960. Hyperglycemia and glycosuria due to thiazide derivatives administered in diabetes mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine, 262(Feb 2). pp. 403-405.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. MacMillan. NY.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Hansten, P.D. 1968. Antidiabetic drug interactions. Hospital Form. Management, 4(2). pp. 30-32.
Hurtig, H.I. & W.L. Dyson. 1974. Lithium toxicity enhanced by diuresis. New England J of Med, 290(Mar 28). pp. 748-749.
ÚHyde, F.F. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. British Herbal Medicine Assoc: West Yorks, England, 1983
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, J.P. Lippincott Co, Phila(St. Louis).
Lewis, Walter H. and Elvin-Lewis, Memory P.F. Medical Botany: Plants Affecting Man's Health, John Wiley and Sons. New York, l977.
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Lutz, E.G. 1975. Lithium toxicity precipitated by diuretics. J of Med Soc of N J, 72(5). pp. 439-440.
Miller, R.D., et.al. 1976. Enhancement of d-tubocurarine neuromuscular blockage by diuretics in man. Anesth, 45. p.442.
Miller, L. & R. Lindeman. Red Blood Cell and Serum Selenium Concentration as Influenced by Age & Selected Diseases. J Of Am College Nutri, 2 1983.
Martin, E.W. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Co, Phila.
Moore, M. Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West. Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, NM l984.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Sara, C. 1965. Drugs that complicate the course of anaesthesia. Med J of Australia, 52. pp. 139-142.
Scientific Committee, British Herbal Pharmocopaeia, British Herbal Med Assoc, Lane House, Cowling, Na Keighley, West Yorks, Bd Bd220lx, l983.
Stuart, D.M. 1968. Drug metabolism Part 2. Drug interactions. PharmIndex. 10(10). pp. 4-16.
Tuttle, C.B. 1969. Drug interactions. Canadian J of Hospital Pharmacy. 22(5-6). pp. 2-15.
Multimedia
Mitchella repens
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