King's Cure

At a glance

Origin / distribution: French, US, German, US(PA), Danish, US(Blackfoot), US(Flathead), US(Paiute)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alterative, Antiseptic, Apertif, Cancer

Science studied: ARBUTIN, CHIMAPHILIN, 2,7-DIMETHYL-1,4-NAPTHOQUINONE, GUM

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Ericaceae

Scientific name: Chimaphila umbellata

Common names: King's Cure, Pipsissewa, Bittergrønn, Chimafila, Chimaphile en ombelle, Chimaphile en ombelle, Pyrole en ombelle, Chimaphile ombellée, Chimaphile ombellee, Chimaphile ombellée, Dolden-Winterlieb, Doldiges Wintergrün, Doldiges Winterlieb, Harilik talvik, Japanska zelenka

POWO: 60442655-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in French, US, German, US(PA), Danish, US(Blackfoot), US(Flathead), US(Paiute) and 3 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alterative
• Antiseptic
• Apertif
• Cancer
• Diuretic
• Fumitory
• Kidney
• Liniment

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• French
• US
• German
• US(PA)
• Danish
• US(Blackfoot)
• US(Flathead)
• US(Paiute)
• Canada(Salish)
• US(Appalachia)
• US(Amerindian)

Documented cultural uses

• Alterative
• Antiseptic
• Apertif
• Cancer
• Diuretic
• Fumitory
• Kidney
• Liniment
• Medicine
• Myalgia
• Rheumatism
• Stiffness

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alterative · French · "
• Antiseptic · US · "
• Apertif · German · "
• Cancer · US(PA) · "
• Diuretic · US · "
• Diuretic · Danish · "
• Fumitory · US(Blackfoot) · "
• Fumitory · US(Flathead) · "
• Fumitory · US(Paiute) · "
• Kidney · US · "
• Liniment · Canada(Salish) · "
• Medicine · US(Appalachia) · "
• Myalgia · Canada(Salish) · "
• Rheumatism · US · "
• Stiffness · Canada(Salish) · "
• Stone · US(Amerindian) · "
• Tea · US · "
• Tonic · US · "
• Typhus · US(Amerindian) · "
• Vulnerary · US · "
• Fever · US(Blackfoot) · "
• Collyrium · US(Flathead) · "
• Diabetes · US · "
• Digestive · French · "

3 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• <i>Chimaphila umbellata</i>; a biotechnological perspective on the coming-of-age prince's pine. · 2023 source ↗
• Population genetic diversity and conservation priority of prince’s pine Chimaphila umbellata populations around the south margin of their distribution · 2021 source ↗
• Development of microsatellite markers for the endangered semi‐shrub Chimaphila umbellata (Ericaceae) · 2018 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ARBUTIN
• CHIMAPHILIN
• 2,7-DIMETHYL-1,4-NAPTHOQUINONE
• GUM
• HENTRIACONTANE
• HYPEROSIDE
• METHYL-SALICYLATE
• RESIN
• STARCH
• SUGAR
• TANNIN
• HOMOGENTISIC-ACID-GLUCOSIDE
• RENIFOLIN
• BETA-SITOSTEROL
• TARAXASTEROL
• AVICULARIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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