By BRMI Staff
“Ghost pipe’s bell shaped flower first faces upward toward a sky whose sunlight it does not need and then nods down toward the ground that gives it life.”
Nature offers a wealth of medicinal plants, and among them is the intriguing Ghost Pipe. If you encounter this plant, harvest only a few aerial parts carefully and create a tincture to add to your natural medicine collection. Traditionally used by Native Americans, Ghost Pipe is known for its potent anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-seizure, and pain-relieving properties.
Introduction to Ghost Pipe
Translucent and ethereal, resembling a spine and brain stem, Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) emerges from the forest floor. Having no chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis, it does not utilize the filtered light that shines gently on this delicate plant. Surrounding it, trees extend their roots through the musty layers of decaying leaves into the rich, dark soil. Here, their roots intertwine with mycelial networks. These networks, with their fruiting mushroom bodies, spread spores, and expand the web.
Fungi pull water and minerals from the soil, feeding them into the trees' roots. The trees then draw these nutrients up through their trunks, forming leaves that use sunlight to create sugars. These sugars feed the tree and flow back through the roots to nourish the mycelium, in turn feeding the fungi.
Ghost Pipe, also known as Indian Pipe, Corpse Plant, and Ice Plant, taps into the junction where the mycelium meets the tree roots, drawing nutrients from both mushroom and tree. It sends up a slender stalk that blossoms into a bell-shaped flower. Initially facing upward toward the sky, it later nods downward toward the nourishing ground.
By tapping into the mycorrhizal network, Ghost Pipe connects to these unique systems for processing information—essentially two distinct forms of consciousness and intelligence.
Mycelial consciousness is horizontal and diffuse, with information moving rapidly and multi-directionally across vast networks of nerve-like filaments, along with chemical signals. In contrast, trees concentrate information over time in one place, with their trunk rings holding memories of rain, drought, and fire.
How difficult would this be when the information is painful such as drought, fire, pollutants, excavation to name just a few challenges the natural world endures. Imagine mycelia as the internet and trees as our books—both receiving and recording the gravity of the input they encounter.
The mycelia (the internet) processes present experiences, while trees store in their memories (the hard drive) of the past recorded in their rings. Would it not be beneficial for them, as it is for us, to have a modulator for the inevitable pain in both their world and ours?
Ghost pipe is a nervine and is theorized that this may be the benefit ghost pipe provides in this complex relationship. Likewise, we also benefit from its unique healing properties, assisting us through both physical and emotional pain.
Physical Characteristics and Ecology of Ghost Pipe
Ghost Pipe is a striking white – and sometimes light pink – waxy plant that typically grows to about six inches tall. Because it lacks chlorophyll, it has a distinctive ghostly appearance. Unlike most plants, Ghost Pipe does not photosynthesize, instead relying on a complex relationship with fungi and trees to obtain nutrients.
Ghost Pipe typically emerges in summer, often appearing suddenly in small groups in shaded forest areas. It is frequently found near old stumps or rotting logs. The plant features individual nodding flower, resembling pipes. These straighten and turn upward after pollination. As the plant matures, it turns dark and woody, leaving behind black stalks that resemble burnt matchsticks.
As discussed, Ghost Pipe’s unique ecology, known as myco-heterotrophic, involves a parasitic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, which in turn have a symbiotic connection with tree roots, Unlike other mycorrhizal fungi that penetrate root cells, these fungi form a mantle of intricately branched hyphae between the root cells of trees without penetrating the cell walls. The fungi provide nutrients to the Ghost Pipe, which indirectly come from the trees and the fungi.
They grow best under hemlock, pine, fir, spruce, oak, hickory, alder, and beech, provided the appropriate fungi are present. The fungi involved are often species of Russula, many of which are edible mushrooms.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Ghost Pipe has been observed, used, and written about for at least 250-300 years in formal botanical literature, with indigenous knowledge and use extending much further back in time. The plant's unique appearance and properties have captured human interest for generations, leading to its documentation in both scientific and cultural contexts.
In the 19th century, Ghost Pipe gained attention in Western herbal medicine. An 1898 publication by Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd mentioned its use as a substitute for opium.
Traditional Medicinal Uses of Ghost Pipe
Historically, Ghost Pipe is used in traditional medicine for various purposes. Native American tribes and early herbalists employed it as a nervine and analgesic, using it to treat conditions such as seizures, convulsions, insomnia, migraines, and chronic muscle spasms. Herbalists have reported success in using small doses of Ghost Pipe tincture to alleviate the following:
Pain Relief: Ghost pipe has traditionally been used for its analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. It is known as "nerve sedative" and is used to alleviate conditions such as headaches, muscle pain, and other types of pain.
Anxiety and Insomnia: Ghost Pipe helps with anxiety and insomnia due to its calming effects on the nervous system.
Anti-inflammatory: Ghost Pipe helps to reduce inflammation and may be beneficial for conditions like arthritis.
Anti-seizure: Ghost Pipe has been successful in lessening Childhood seizures, febrile seizures, and epileptic seizures.
Folklore and Legends
The mysterious nature of Ghost Pipe has led to various folklore and legends surrounding it. Various cultures have used Ghost Pipe in rituals and for its perceived mystical properties Cherokee legends attribute its creation to human selfishness, while other traditions suggest it can heal broken hearts of those mourning loved ones. Perhaps if it was created from human frailties since it can also heal and resolve those as well.
A Personal Note Regarding Ghost Pipe
On a personal note, the inspiration for this article was finding this magical plant in nature. Deep in the woods, under a canopy of shade, a clump of Ghost Pipe appeared. Its enchanted appearance was mournful – yet simultaneously – peaceful and healing. Knowing its medicinal properties, only a portion of these bowing ghosts were carefully picked and are in the process of being transformed into a tincture.
Those selling Ghost Pipe tinctures received excellent reviews. The comment that stood out the most was someone asking if they could buy this by the gallon.
Creating a Ghost Pipe Tincture
Most articles and videos call for 100 proof vodka. Once placed in a mason jar, within a few hours the tincture turned a beautiful purple. The color continues to intensify each day.
For 4oz of 100 proof, quality Vodka, six stems were picked and submerged. Leave in a cool and dark place to produce a tincture that is ready in 4-6 weeks.
Ghost Pipe Dosage for Relieving Pain
Contraindications: Not for pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, recovering alcoholics, and for those taking ADHD related medications.
For Physical Pain: Standard Dose is 5-15 drops, taken up to 3 times a day. For severe pain, start at 3 drops and increase to 1 ml if no response, up to 40 drops (2ml) every half hour. As the pain level diminishes, extend the amount of time between doses and reduce the dosage amount. Dosing: (Note: 1 ml = 20 drops)
Frequent small doses seem to work best for disrupting the pain cycle. Not recommended for long term use past one month of daily use.
Usage Duration: Ghost Pipe is typically used for short-term relief rather than long-term use.
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This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct care of a qualified health practitioner who oversees and provides unique and individualized care. The information provided here is to broaden our different perspectives and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.