False Wintergreen, Canker Lettuce, Shin Leaf, Pear Leaf Pyrola

There are several kinds of Pyrola growing in North America: Green Pyrola (Pyrola vivens), Pink pyrola (Pyrola asarifolia), Shin leaf (Pyrola elliptica), and Round-leaved Pyrola (Pyrola rotundifolia), which is the one most used in herbal practice. Pyrola is common in damp and shady woods in various parts of the United States.

The herb is a low perennial evergreen. The leaves are radical, ovate, nearly 2 in. in diameter, smooth, shining, and thick, resembling Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) and used similarly. The petioles are much longer than the leaf. The large, white, fragrant, and drooping flowers are many and blossom from June to July. The fruit is a five-celled many-seeded capsule.

Uses

Administer internally for gravel, ulcerations of the bladder, bloody urine, and other urinary diseases; useful in the relief of a scrofulous taint from the system; also for epilepsy and other nervous affections. The decoction will be found beneficial as a gargle for sore throat and mouth, and as an external wash for sore or ophthalmic eyes. It is also used in injections for whites and various diseases of the womb.

Dose

1 teaspoonful of the herb to 1 cupful of boiling water, steeped 10 min. or more and taken three times a day at mealtimes. Of the extract, 2–4 grains.

Facts About Round Leaved Wintergreen

Name Round-leaved wintergreen
Scientific Name Pyrola rotundifolia
Common/English Name False Wintergreen, Canker Lettuce, Shin Leaf, Pear Leaf Pyrola
Name in Other Languages German: Rundblättriges Wintergrün;
Finnish: Isotalvikki;
Swedish: Isotalvikki, Vitpyrola, Vintergröna;
French: Pyrole à feuilles rondes;
Dutch: Rond wintergreen;
English: Round-leaf wintergreen, Round-leaved wintergreen, Wintergreen
Plant Growth Habit Plant Growth Habit
Medicinal part Whole plant
Flowering Season July to September

Round-leaved wintergreen Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Pyrola rotundifolia

Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom Viridiplantae  (Green plants)
Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (Land plants)
Superdivision Embryophyta
Division Tracheophyta  (Vascular plants, tracheophytes)
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Ericales
Family Ericaceae  (Heaths, éricacées)
Genus Pyrola L. (Shineleaf, wintergreen)
Species Pyrola rotundifolia L.
Synonyms
  • Pirola rotundifolia L.
  • Pyrola concolor Dumort., 1868
  • Pyrola discolor Dumort., 1868
  • Pyrola rotundifolia var. chloranthoides P.Fourn., 1937
  • Pyrola rotundifolia var. rotundifolia

Externally

The decoction is much used in all skin diseases and as a poultice for ulcers, swellings, boils, felons and inflammations.

Russian Experience

In Russia Groushanka (Roundleaf) can be found growing among bushes of the Coniferous forests. They use the herb in Folk Medicine, homoeopathically and clinically in the form of teas, decoctions, Nastoika, extracts for throat conditions, stomach and back pain as a result of too much and too heavy lifting, and scurvy.

Externally

As an application for recent and long-standing skin lesions.

Medicinal uses

  • A decoction is used for treating skin ailments, used as a gargle and wash for eyes.
  • Use it internally for treating epilepsy and other nervous afflictions.
  • Take the decoction internally for urinary affections, relieve irritation and useful for hematuria, gravel and bladder ulceration.

 


References


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