Ghost pipe emerges ethereal from crackling autumn leaves. This snow-white flower is both coveted and controversial; a long-awaited autumn companion shrouded in mystery.
For a survivalist, it could be one of the most important medicinal plants you ever forage. Ghost pipe tincture is a powerful nervine, providing relief and relaxation for those affected by acute pain, panic, and anxiety.
Unfortunately, there’s a great deal of confusion and misinformation surrounding this spectral blossom. Read on to discover what the science says and learn how to make ghost pipe tincture with safety and ecological responsibility in mind.
What to Know Before Making Ghost Pipe Tincture
Ghost pipe is so controversial because of its delicate ecological status, a lack of research, and its possible toxicity.
Known in the scientific community as Monotropa uniflora, ghost pipe is a member of the Ericaceae family in the subfamily Monotropaceae. It is a relatively rare plant at risk for overharvesting in many areas. If you do decide to use it, please do so responsibly by following the directions outlined in step three.
Regarding toxicity, what we know comes mainly from a single study carried out in 1889. This study proved the presence of the neurotoxin grayanotoxin, which is present in many other Ericaceae species.
Ingesting too much of it can lead to a dangerous decrease in heart rate, among other adverse effects. It’s important to note that this study has never been replicated, and there are doubts about its quality compared to modern methodological standards.
Evidence of ghost pipe’s incredible efficacy in pain relief is anecdotal, though the plant does contain glycosides that act similarly to salicylic acid — the main component of aspirin. This is slightly disheartening, considering we already have a vast wealth of alternative salicin-producing plants and a variety of cheap OTC painkillers.
Ghost Pipe: All Hype?
Ghost pipe is greatly revered. Could there possibly be more to the story? Well, maybe. The very toxicity of ghost pipe might be precisely what elevates its pain-relieving properties far beyond mere aspirin. Certain grayanotoxins exhibit intense analgesic properties, some more powerful even than morphine. Whether ghost pipe produces these specific grayanotoxins is unknown, and further study is needed.
Another ounce of anecdotal evidence from yours truly: ghost pipe is a powerful pain reliever. It brings an intense feeling of calm, relaxation, and order to the mind. It is not psychoactive in the slightest and has no euphoric effects. But if drugstore aspirin isn’t available, ghost pipe will work wonders in a survival scenario.
Materials You’ll Need to Make Ghost Pipe Tincture
Ghost pipe tincture is relatively easy to make, though extracting the compounds takes a lot of hands-off time. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- Ghost pipe patch: Ghost pipe will serve as the medicinal base for your tincture. You will need to find a patch of it before you begin.
- Foraging knife: You’ll need a sharp knife to harvest ghost pipe responsibly.
- Alcohol: Use alcohol as a solvent to extract the medicinal compounds in ghost pipe. It’s not clear exactly what percentage of alcohol will work best here, but I always use 190-proof with excellent results.
- Mason jar: The mason jar will contain your mixture and keep it safe while tincturing.
- Strainer: The strainer will allow you to separate the spent plant material from the usable tincture. I sing the praises of my Toncoo strainer and highly recommend it for everyone, but a simple cheesecloth will do in a pinch.
- Amber tincture jars: It’s vital to store such rare and potent herbs correctly in amber glass. Darker colors like amber prevent degradation from UV rays over time, while glass holds up pretty well against high-proof alcohol.
How to Make Ghost Pipe Tincture
1. Source Your Ghost Pipe.
Ghost pipe blooms in early autumn from June to September. It lasts only a few days at prime, so anyone hoping to harvest must stay vigilant and not wait too long. The plant is easy to recognize, a beautiful yet somehow ghastly looking flower lacking chlorophyll or pigmentation.
Also known as “corpse flower,” ghost pipe’s ghoulish skin is firm and somewhat translucent. It may take on a pink hue over time, with spots of black appearing as the flower ages.
You probably won’t mistake it for anything else, and you might not find it at all. Ghost pipe is rare and requires a perfect balance of specific conditions to grow. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to cultivate.
Why is that? Ghost pipe is a mycoheterotrophic flower. Instead of relying on photosynthesis, ghost pipe obtains nutrients from surrounding tree root systems. It parasitizes these trees through fungal mycorrhizae, favoring species of Russula.
This parasitic ménage à trois can benefit you since the trees and mushrooms indicate where you’ll find the flower. Ghost pipe prefers old-growth oak or pine forest bottoms that are much too dark for regular flowers. It populates long-undisturbed places rather than trails more traveled.
2. Prepare Materials at Home.
Once you’ve located a patch of ghost pipe, you’ll want to prepare a mason jar with alcohol at home and bring it into the field. While other plants, like purple dead nettle, can be dried and stored before tincturing, ghost pipe begs for special treatment. It’s best practice to put the pipes into the alcohol immediately after harvesting them.
Lugging a bunch of Everclear out into the forest isn’t exactly convenient. Considering I couldn’t find any scientific basis for this practice, it might not be entirely necessary. However, it is traditional folk practice and the standard method many modern herbalists employ.
So, what are your ratios here? Again, with little scientific research on ghost pipe, giving an accurate picture of medicinal strength by ratio is impossible. I have played around with different proportions and discovered that two flowers per ounce of alcohol works for my needs.
3. Harvest Ghost Pipe the Right Way.
Ghost pipe’s ecological status is tenuous. Because of overharvesting, many herbalists discourage its use entirely. While it isn’t categorized as endangered or threatened on the National Fish and Wildlife registry, several states classify it as imperiled or vulnerable to imperilment.
If you live in an area where ghost pipe is under threat, do not harvest it unless SHTF and you have no other option.
You must take the right plant at the right time to make effective medicine responsibly. Here are some basic practices to keep in mind while you harvest:
- Never harvest a single ghost pipe growing by itself. Only harvest from patches containing a substantial number of flowers.
- Do not pull up the roots. Ghost pipe is a perennial and will grow back next year if its needs are met, but not if you take the root. While some sources indicate roots make more potent medicine, others claim aerial parts are just as effective. In my own experience, the aerial parts are powerful enough.
- Make sure you take plants that bend over like candy canes rather than those that stand straight up. It’s rumored that the flower loses medicinal potency once it straightens out and disperses its seeds.
Harvest two flower heads with stems for every ounce of alcohol. Cut healthy, sizeable specimens as close to the ground as possible without damaging the root. Once cut, brush off any remaining dirt and place the plants in the alcohol. If desired, you can cut them into chunks beforehand.
In a few moments, the tincture will begin to turn purple.
4. Leave for Extraction.
Return to your home and place the tincture in a cool, dark place for four to six weeks. It won’t go rancid if you leave it for more time, but nothing suggests it will be more effective the longer you leave it.
Remove it once every day and shake it around a bit so fresh alcohol reaches the plant material and has a chance to extract compounds. The tincture’s lavender tint will darken more substantially into a rich, deep, purplish black as time passes.
5. Strain Plant Material.
After four to six weeks, break out the ghost pipe tincture and strain it through a cheesecloth or dedicated small-particle strainer. Press the macerated plant material to get out as much alcohol as you can. The leftover plants will be blackish in color. You can compost or dry them and use them for arts and crafts.
6. Bottle in Amber.
Properly storing your ghost pipe tincture ensures a long and fruitful shelf life. Carefully pour the mixture into the amber tincture bottles using a funnel to prevent wasting any medicine. Then label it and put the tincture in a cool, dark place until needed.
7. Use Responsibly.
So, when should you take ghost pipe tincture, and how much should you use? Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear-cut answer to this question. Ghost pipe is a rare, understudied plant with potential toxicity. This is not an everyday tincture and it’s best to consult an herbalist or specialized medicine practitioner before using it.
Do not use ghost pipe if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have any heart issues, or take any other prescription drugs. You just don’t know how this plant will interact. Don’t use it for minor aches and pains, generalized muscle soreness, or just to wind down at the end of the day.
Instead, use it for circumstances that warrant more extreme intervention and save it for when you cannot access anything else. Here are a few instances where ghost pipe would be appropriate:
- Broken bones
- Severe migraines
- Major physical trauma
- Psychotic episodes
- Severe panic attacks
Many herbalists recommend starting with three drops, increasing the dosage depending on response, and waiting 5–20 minutes between doses. I usually take four to six drops for severe pain, though your tolerance will almost certainly differ. To be safe, start with a single drop to three drops and work your way up to gauge your unique reaction to this medicine.
Now that you know how to make and use ghost pipe tincture responsibly, you can keep an eye out for this plant when it pops up next year. Remember to respect the delicate status of this ethereal herb and use it sparingly so that you and others can continue to enjoy it for years to come.
