🪶Indigenous / Native American

Bitterroot (Navajo)

Lewisia rediviva

About Bitterroot (Navajo)

Bitterroot (Navajo) (Lewisia rediviva) is a herb used in the Indigenous / Native American tradition to help with Heart Health, Stress, and Fatigue. The aerial parts and leaves are the parts traditionally used, taken internally.

Botanical background

Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva) is a small perennial herb in the Montiaceae family.

Source: Wikipedia, via iNaturalist

Parts used

Aerial Parts · internalLeaves · internal

Conditions addressed

🫖

Decoction

1–2 cups daily
  • Add 1–2 tsp of dried Bitterroot (Navajo) to 2 cups of cold water.
  • Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15–20 minutes.
  • Strain and drink warm.
💧

Tincture

20–40 drops in water, 2–3× daily
  • Pack dried Bitterroot (Navajo) into a jar and cover with 40–60% alcohol.
  • Seal and steep for 4–6 weeks, shaking daily.
  • Strain and store in a dark dropper bottle.
💊

Powder / Capsule

500 mg – 1 g, 1–3× daily
  • Grind dried Bitterroot (Navajo) into a fine powder.
  • Fill size 00 capsules or stir into smoothies or honey.
🛁

Herbal Bath

2–3× per week as needed
  • Brew 4–6 tbsp of Bitterroot (Navajo) in 1 litre of hot water for 15 minutes, strain, and add to a warm bath.
  • Soak for 20–30 minutes.

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding — insufficient safety data; consult your doctor
  • Children under 12 — therapeutic dosage not established
  • Pre-surgery — discontinue at least 2 weeks prior (potential antiplatelet effect)
  • CNS medications (benzodiazepines, SSRIs, MAOIs) — may potentiate sedative or serotonergic effects

Warnings

⚠️ Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established for most herbal remedies. Consult your midwife or doctor before use.

⛔ Heart & Blood Pressure Medications

May interact with antihypertensive drugs, blood thinners, or cardiac medications. Do not combine without medical guidance.

⚠️ Sedatives & Antidepressants

May potentiate the effects of sedative, anxiolytic, or antidepressant medications. Use with caution alongside any CNS-active drugs.

⚠️ Allergic Reactions

Discontinue immediately if you experience rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing.

⚠️ Not Medical Advice

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal remedies.

Where to find in nature

Native region

North America

Climate

Varied — temperate to subarctic

Habitat

Prairies, woodlands, wetlands, and mountain meadows of North America

🌿 To see Bitterroot (Navajo) growing, visit botanical gardens, university plant collections, or specialist herb nurseries near you. If foraging in the wild, always work with an expert identifier — never consume a plant you are not 100% certain of.

Where to buy

In store

  • Health food stores (Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Holland & Barrett, GNC)
  • Naturopathic clinics and integrative medicine practices
  • Specialist herbal apothecaries and herbalist practices
  • Farmers markets with herb vendors

Online

iHerb

Wide selection of standardised extracts, capsules, and powders with lab testing

Mountain Rose Herbs

Premium bulk dried herbs — certified organic, ethically sourced

Starwest Botanicals

Large selection of certified organic bulk herbs and powders

Herb Pharm

High-quality liquid extracts and tinctures, rigorous quality standards

Amazon

Convenient — verify brand certifications and check third-party testing

Etsy

Small-batch artisan herbalists, hand-harvested and wildcrafted herbs

Quality tips

When buying Bitterroot (Navajo), look for: certified organic labelling, clearly stated country of origin, third-party lab testing for heavy metals and pesticides, and a batch expiry date. Standardised extracts offer consistent dosing; bulk dried herbs are more economical for regular use. Avoid very cheap, unlabelled products — quality varies enormously.