Fireweed – a treasured medicine of the boreal forest

• Published in: Discovery Phytomedicine
• Main Author: Rogers, Robert
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: DiscoverSys Inc. 2014
• Subjects: Chamerion angustifolium; anti-inflammatory; benign prostatic hyperplasia; First Nations
• Online Access: https://phytomedicine.ejournals.ca/index.php/phytomedicine/article/view/16; https://doi.org/10.15562/phytomedicine.2014.16

A large segment of the Canadian population (approximately 71%) take natural health products, The Baseline Natural Health Products Survey among Consumers, suggesting this trend is likely to continue, with increasing awareness of side effects associated with pharmaceutical prescriptions and over the counter medications. Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) is an often-overlooked herb with amazing medicinal properties. Traditional First Nations usage and modern pharmacology as well as clinical studies suggest its beneficial effects in a number of health concerns. Fireweed has been known to possess anti-inflammatory effects in addition to the recent evidence on its therapeutic effects for both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prevention of prostate cancers. This mini review provides some additional information obtained from First Nations healers, the empirical knowledge associated with clinical practice and aims to stimulate additional interest in the genus, and especially in the circumpolar species of Chamerion angustifolium.