Table of Contents
Shinleaf AKA white wintergreen (Pyrola elliptica) is overshadowed in foraging and herbal medicine by its relations wintergreen and to some extent its cousin pipsissewa. It’s not used by foragers that I know of, and it’s a weaker medicinal than American wintergreen. I might have waited to cover this one, except it’s so common in the woods here!
While I usually find wintergreens on roadsides and edges of trails, shinleaf while present there also likes it deeper in the woods. Shinleaf is common around Ontario, and is the most likely of the wintergreens for you to spot here in the wild.
Green-flowered Wintergreen (Pyrola chlorantha) is a lookalike and has more notes for Haliburton on iNat than American (P. americana). And some rarer species are listed in Haliburton Flora that may yet be found here.
Medicinal Uses of Shinleaf
Shinleaf is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Integumentary
Medicinal tags include Analgesic and Astringent. See Medicinal tag key for more information.
Common usage includes the whole plant as a poultice for bruises and other wounds, traditionally used and named for shin casting. Round leaved shinleaf (P. rotundifolia) is the most used “shinleaf” in Western herbal medicine. But other wintergreens are stronger.
Growing Pyrola Elliptica
This and closely related pyrola have been under the radar in native plant landscaping, perhaps because they are harder to propagate and grow. But they’d make a great lily-of-the-valley substitute for those who like a challenge. Sometimes its called wild lily-of-the-valley. Canada mayflower is another with that title.
Some may want shinleaf because it’s a native evergreen groundcover. Its relations wintergreen and partridgeberry fit that bill too, and are easier to find at native plant nurseries.
WARNINGS
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess.
2) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
3) For medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
4) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
5) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
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REFERENCES
https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/1606
Indian Herbalogy of North America: The Definitive Guide to Native Medicinal Plants and Their Uses
The Herb Book: The Most Complete Catalog of Herbs Ever Published (Dover Cookbooks)