Gillenia trifoliata
StarGillenia trifoliata
Synonyms: Ulmaria trifoliata, Spiraea trifoliata, Porteranthus trifoliatus
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Native Americans used the dried, powdered root of Indian physic as an emetic and as a mild bitter tonic; the practice was later adopted by settlers, and the root entered Eclectic and official American medicine as a substitute for ipecac, remaining in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1880 (Harding; Smith, 1928).
Botanical Description
Gillenia trifoliata (Bowman's root, mountain Indian physic, American ipecac; syn. Porteranthus trifoliatus) is an erect, clump-forming perennial herb of the family Rosaceae, growing 0.5–1 m tall from a knotty, reddish rootstock. The slender, wiry, reddish stems bear alternate, short-stalked leaves divided into three lanceolate, sharply and doubly serrate leaflets, subtended by small, narrow, soon-deciduous stipules. From late spring into summer it produces loose, airy clusters of delicate flowers, each with five narrow, twisted white (sometimes pink-tinged) petals that appear slightly wilted, set against a reddish, bell-shaped calyx; the fruit is a small cluster of dehiscent follicles. It is native to eastern North America, ranging through the Appalachian region and adjacent uplands of the United States and into Ontario, where it grows in dry to moist open deciduous woods, rocky slopes, and woodland edges on acidic soils.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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