Indian Pipe

Botanical

What is it

Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora), also called ghost plant or corpse plant, is a non-photosynthetic flowering plant that obtains nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi. Native American traditional medicine used it for nervous system, pain, and eye complaints.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Pain / nervous system (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Indigenous traditional use; no rigorous clinical evidence.

How it works

Indian pipe is unusual in being chlorophyll-free and parasitic on mycorrhizal fungi. Chemical analysis has identified glycosides and possibly mild sedative compounds, but the plant is poorly characterized. Traditional use focused on pain and nervous system support. Modern clinical evidence is essentially absent, and the plant is uncommon, so supplement use is rare.

Dosage

No established RDA. Traditional preparations used small amounts of fresh plant tincture.

When and how to take it

Traditional tinctures taken in small doses as needed.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Whole plant tincture (rare)

Traditional Native American preparation.

Variable.

Safety

Limited safety data. Some sources warn that fresh plant may contain mild toxins; cooked or processed preparations were traditional.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to lack of data. Ethical sourcing: do not harvest this slow-growing plant from wild populations.

Interactions

No significant interactions documented.

Frequently asked questions

Is Indian pipe safe?⌄

Limited modern data. Use cautiously and verify ethical sourcing.

Why is it called a 'ghost plant'?⌄

It is white and lacks chlorophyll, growing in dark forest floors.

References

Indian Pipe on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Indian Pipe on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Indian Pipe (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.