Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens) is a North American native, forming a woody creeping perennial groundcover with dark green small leaves.
The plant normally forms dense mats on the forest floor, with trumpet-shaped small white flowers produced in pairs followed by red berries.
Each berry amazingly comes from two flowers, requiring a fusing of the ovaries of the twin flowers!
Although the little berries are edible, they are fairly tasteless with a slight wintergreen flavor.
Due to their ornamental nature, Partridge Berry is sometimes harvested (or overharvested locally) for Christmas decorations.
Partridge Berry has a long history of use by Native Americans as traditional medicine. They have been mainly used as a uterine tonic for easing childbirth and menstrual discomfort, but also sometimes used for other complaints like insomnia, rheumatism, as an analgesic, or as a diuretic.
Partridge Berry has been mainly prepared for topical use as a poultice, as a wash (for sore nipples) or as a tea from the berries, with a sedating effect
.
Through scientific investigation, Partridge Berry has been found to have anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic and sedative properties.
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*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
The Tonic Women’s Berry
