Mountain pride

Mountain Pride (Penstemon newberryi): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Botanical Overview

Botanical and Common Names

Mountain pride is the common name applied to Penstemon newberryi A. Gray, a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae (plantain family). It is also sometimes called Newberry's penstemon. The genus name Penstemon refers to the five stamens, particularly the infertile fifth stamen or staminode, and the species name honors the nineteenth-century botanist and physician Dr. John Newberry, who discovered it. The Penstemon genus was traditionally a part of the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) plant family, which included snapdragons and monkeyflowers; however, penstemons are now considered part of the Plantaginaceae, the plantain plant family.

Physical Description and Natural Habitat

Mountain pride is native to the mountains of northern California, Oregon, and Nevada, where it grows in rocky habitat, often at high elevation such as talus slopes. It is a bushy, mat-forming subshrub growing up to 30 centimetres tall. The leaves are mostly basal, oblong or oval and toothed, measuring 1 to 4 centimetres in length, with a few smaller pairs along the stem. The glandular inflorescence bears showy magenta flowers 2 to over 3 cm in length, which are generally tubular or funnel-shaped with a coating of short to long and curly hairs in the mouth and on the staminode.

Mountain pride is found from the mid-altitudes to upper ranges of the western US mountains — on average higher than Penstemon rostriflorus but not as high as Penstemon davidsonii. It can grow right out of the crevices of granite rocks in cliffs or spread over rock-strewn landscapes, and has a subshrub form with woody stems and leathery serrated ovate leaves.

In cultivation in the United Kingdom, Penstemon newberryi has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Taxonomic Context and Related Species

Penstemon constitutes the biggest genus of endemic flowering plants of the North American continent. The Flower Essence Society (FES) has emphasized three penstemon species in its flower essence research: besides Penstemon newberryi (Mountain Pride), it has also developed flower essences from Penstemon davidsonii (Davidson's penstemon) and Penstemon rostriflorus (Bridge's penstemon, or Red Penstemon). All three are robust perennial plants with woody stems, well adapted to challenging rocky terrains.

A variety, Penstemon newberryi var. berryi (Berry's Mountain Pride), is also recognized. This is a native perennial herb that grows in Northern California, primarily in the Klamath Mountain Range region, at elevations from 5,200 to 7,500 feet.

2. Context of Use: Mountain Pride as a Dietary Supplement

Mountain pride (Penstemon newberryi) is not consumed as a conventional herbal medicine, dietary extract, or nutritional supplement in the mainstream sense. Its primary contemporary identity as a "supplement" or "natural health product" is specifically as a flower essence — a highly diluted, water-based preparation associated with the tradition established by Dr. Edward Bach and subsequently expanded by practitioners in North America, most notably the Flower Essence Society (FES).

Flower essences are herbal infusions or decoctions made from the flowering part of the plant, which are used to address emotional and mental aspects of wellness. The first 38 flower remedies were formulated by a British physician, Dr. Edward Bach, in the 1930s, although new remedies from other plant species are now available.

3. Historical and Traditional Use

The Bach Flower Essence Tradition (1930s, England)

Flower essences were first prepared in England in the 1930s by Dr. Edward Bach. Bach was a visionary healer who recognized soul-spiritual dimensions of healing. He was trained in conventional medicine but knew that the physical symptoms he treated were intimately related to the emotional and mental conditions of his patients. He sought a natural, non-toxic method of addressing inner levels of human experience. Although widely recognized as an outstanding bacteriologist and homeopathic medical doctor, Bach left his practice to develop a new healing modality derived from the fresh blossoms of plants. During the period of the Great Depression, Fascism, and Nazism, Bach developed a set of 38 flower remedies intended to help the human soul overcome fear, despair, and depression.

Bach's 38 flower remedies each address one of seven psychological causes of illness: fear, uncertainty, insufficient interest in present circumstances, loneliness, oversensitivity to influences and ideas, despondency or despair, and overcare for the welfare of others. Mountain pride (Penstemon newberryi) is not one of the original 38 Bach remedies; it was introduced later through North American flower essence development.

North American Expansion: The Flower Essence Society (Late 1970s–Present)

The Flower Essence Society (FES) is an international membership organization of health practitioners, researchers, students, and others interested in deepening knowledge of flower essence therapy. Founded in 1979 by Richard Katz, FES was incorporated as part of the non-profit organization Earth-Spirit in 1982, and is directed by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz.

Richard Katz's research culminated in flower essence therapy as a "living science of Nature," requiring accurate understanding of subtle plant qualities and of the mental and emotional realms within the human being. After working extensively with the original English repertory of Dr. Bach, Katz pioneered, since 1978, the development of flower remedies from North American plants, which are now recognized and used throughout the world.

Mountain pride (Penstemon newberryi) was developed as part of the FES Quintessentials range, a collection of North American flower essences. FES Quintessentials are flower essences collected, produced, and promoted by the Flower Essence Society in the Sierra Nevada, California. FES co-directors Richard Katz and Patricia Kaminski live at Terra Flora, land where they tend 27 acres of biodynamic organic gardens and prepare flower remedies and plant products. They also protect wildflower habitats, promote pioneering research, and provide training programs to practitioners around the world. The 103 flower essences in their range are prepared from vibrant plants grown in unique and pristine habitats.

Penstemon Genus in Native American Ethnobotany

While no documentation in authoritative ethnobotanical sources specifically records the use of Penstemon newberryi itself by indigenous peoples in a medicinal context, the broader Penstemon genus has a history of use among Native American cultures. Various parts of penstemon have been used for hundreds of years by Native Americans as medicinal plants. Extracts from the roots were applied to gunshot and arrow wounds, inserted into the tooth cavity for pain, and taken internally for consumption and whooping cough. The flowers were boiled to make a sweet tea. Some Native American tribes have used penstemon for treating toothaches and other minor ailments, and penstemon has a history as a native plant in the Americas, often used in traditional medicine by indigenous peoples. The Karuk people, a tribe native to northern California, used blue penstemon (Penstemon cyaneus) to treat depression.

These ethnobotanical records concern the broader genus, not necessarily Penstemon newberryi specifically. No peer-reviewed ethnobotanical literature specifically documenting indigenous medicinal use of P. newberryi was located in the course of this research.

4. Preparation and Forms

Flower Essence Preparation Method

Bach flower remedies are prepared by soaking plant material in water that is then exposed to sunlight; the plant material may also be boiled. A small amount of this liquid is then mixed with distilled water and preserved in brandy. The resulting liquid, called the mother tincture, is filtered and mixed with brandy, which acts as a preservative.

There are numerous different remedies that vary depending on the plant combinations used. Flower remedies are usually so diluted that they contain little or no detectable amounts of active ingredients.

Although Bach Flower Essences are listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) and are prepared at a 5X homeopathic dilution (0.00001 gram of active substance per milliliter of tincture), they are not considered homeopathic medicine. While they are prepared from plant material, they do not fall in the same category as herbal medicine.

Commercial Forms

Mountain pride flower essence is commercially available primarily from Flower Essence Services (FES) and its distributors. The FES product ingredient list is: brandy, water, infusion of mountain pride flowers (gathered wild), 40% alcohol. Products are sold as stock bottles (typically 0.25 oz / 7.5 mL glass dropper bottles). The stock bottle contains a small amount (less than 1%) of brandy to preserve the essence.

The remedies can be taken orally diluted in a glass of water, or applied directly to pulse points such as the wrists, temples, and behind the ears. They can be used individually or in combination with up to seven other tinctures.

Flower Essence Services is dual-certified Organic and Demeter Biodynamic® for its land and wild-harvesting.

5. Intended Use and Attributed Properties (Practitioner Framework)

Within the flower essence practitioner framework, mountain pride is attributed specific psychological and emotional properties. These attributions are part of the practice's internal vocabulary and are not established by pharmacological mechanisms or clinical evidence. They are presented here as a description of the tradition, not as verified health claims.

Mountain pride is classified in the FES repertory according to the following framework attributes:

• Positive qualities attributed: Mountain pride also imparts forces of strength and determination, with a focus directed toward one's courage to speak or take a stand. It is a flower intended to encourage new levels of initiative and authenticity when one is too passive or apprehensive.
• Patterns of imbalance targeted: Vacillation and withdrawal in the face of challenge; lack of assertiveness; inability to take a stand for personal convictions.
• Social applications in case study tradition: Mountain pride flower essence is described by FES as assisting people active in social justice and ecological movements who continually face opposition and hostility, as well as children who need to summon strong will forces to meet adverse circumstances in their personal or social lives.

The FES describes the plant's growth in extreme environments — growing from rock crevices — as visually symbolic of "strength to face adversity, a physical tenacity that translates in the human soul as a strong power of will."

6. Key Phytochemical Constituents

Research into the phytochemistry of the broader Penstemon genus has identified several classes of secondary metabolites. Specific phytochemical characterization of Penstemon newberryi itself is limited in the published scientific literature. The following reflects what has been identified in the species and in closely related members of the genus.

Iridoid Glycosides

Catalpol was identified as the major iridoid glycoside isolated from Penstemon newberryi and P. strictus. Catalpol was also found in the butterflies Euphydryas chalcedona and E. anicia whose larvae consume these plant species. A new iridoid glycoside, 10-bisfoliamenthoylcatalpol, was specifically isolated from P. newberryi.

Phytochemical analysis of penstemons has revealed dominant presence of various types of iridoids and phenylethanoid glycosides across the genus. Previously undescribed iridoid glycosides identified from various Penstemon species include (5αH)-6-epidihydrocornin, 8-epihastatoside, 10-hydroxyepihastatoside, 10-griselinosidic acid, and 10-benzoylcatalpol.

Flavonoids and Phenylpropanoids

From the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of aerial parts of the related Penstemon gentianoides (Plantaginaceae), the iridoid pensteminoside was isolated along with the flavones luteolin and diosmetin, and the phenylpropanoids verbascoside and martynoside. From Penstemon campanulatus, isolated known compounds included three iridoid glucosides, one phenylpropanoid glucoside, one monoterpene glucoside, one monoterpene lactone, and three flavonoids.

Relevance to the Supplement Preparation

It is critical to note that, as a flower essence, the Mountain Pride supplement preparation is prepared at an extreme dilution. Flower remedies are usually so diluted that they contain little or no detectable amounts of active ingredients. Consequently, the phytochemical constituents identified in the plant itself — including catalpol, 10-bisfoliamenthoylcatalpol, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids — are not present at pharmacologically relevant concentrations in the finished flower essence product. Any discussion of botanical phytochemistry, therefore, pertains to the whole plant and not to the finished supplement preparation.

7. Proposed Mechanisms of Action

No pharmacological mechanism of action for the Mountain Pride flower essence as a supplement has been established in peer-reviewed science. The theoretical explanatory framework offered by flower essence practitioners is not grounded in conventional pharmacology or biochemistry.

Understanding how flower essences work, within the practitioner framework, requires a recognition that the human being incorporates more than a physical body, including a "body" of life energy, a "body" of sensitivity and feelings, and a spiritual essence or Self. Flower essences are described in this framework as energetic imprints of the life force of plants which interact with these subtle bodies and evoke specific qualities within us.

Dr. Bach's theory was that plants contain an "essence" that, when given to a person with the appropriately matched personality, would help that person develop an emotional balance that would in turn make him or her feel better. As the patient started to feel better emotionally, Bach observed that some physical conditions also seemed to resolve.

For related genus members, in-vitro and pre-clinical research has documented biological activities. Iridoid monoterpenes, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids present in Penstemon species may all contribute to anti-inflammatory activity, and the observed antioxidant activity in these extracts is correlated with their anti-inflammatory activity. However, these findings relate to concentrated plant extracts — not to highly diluted flower essences — and have not been studied in human clinical trials for Mountain Pride specifically.

8. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

8.1 Emotional and Psychological Well-Being (Primary Claimed Use)

The primary claimed use of Mountain Pride flower essence is to support psychological and emotional states, particularly around assertiveness, courage, and willpower. No clinical trials, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or observational studies have been published specifically on Mountain Pride (Penstemon newberryi) flower essence for any indication. The evidentiary basis for evaluating its effects must therefore be extrapolated from research on flower essences as a category.

Bach flower remedies continue to be popular and their proponents make a range of medicinal claims. A systematic review (Ernst 2010) critically evaluated the evidence for these claims by searching five electronic databases without restrictions on time or language. All randomized clinical trials of flower remedies were included. Seven such studies were located. All but one were placebo-controlled, and all placebo-controlled trials failed to demonstrate efficacy. The review concluded that the most reliable clinical trials do not show any differences between flower remedies and placebos.

A separate systematic review, catalogued in the NCBI DARE database, addressed the broader question of flower remedy efficacy. Four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and two additional retrospective observational studies were identified. Three RCTs of Bach flower remedies for students with examination anxiety, and one RCT for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), showed no overall benefit in comparison to placebo. Due to the number and quality of the studies, the strength of the evidence was assessed as low or very low.

In one double-blind clinical trial of Bach Rescue Remedy for acute situational stress, downward trends in anxiety level measurements were discovered in both the treatment and control (placebo) groups. Statistical analyses indicated that only the high-state anxiety treatment subgroup demonstrated a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores. The scientific evidence supporting the benefits of Bach flowers for anxiety and depression has been characterized as inconclusive overall.

A key conclusion from one systematic review is that Bach flower remedies appear to be an effective placebo for test anxiety but do not have a specific effect beyond placebo.

This does not mean that individuals never feel calmer after taking a flower remedy. The placebo effect is real and measurable, particularly for subjective experiences like stress and anxiety.

8.2 Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Additional randomized controlled trials with a standard regimen are needed to confirm the efficacy of Bach flower remedies on ADHD in children and adolescents. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the use of Bach flower remedies in children and adolescents with ADHD found insufficient evidence to support their use for this indication.

8.3 Other Conditions Cited in Practitioner Literature

Despite Bach's statement that the restoration of balance through flower essence remedies could be used to treat any condition, they are mainly used for stress and psychological problems and also as adjuvants in the relief of pain. Several authors have suggested that flower essence formulas can be applied to back pain, hypertension, ADHD, migraines, drug and alcohol addictions, eczema, temporal-mandibular joint dysfunction, motion sickness, allergies, insomnia, asthma, bed-wetting, difficult teething, and stuttering — although these remain largely unverified claims.

Overall evidence characterization: To be sure, there are not a wealth of double-blind scientific tests on flower essences, and by and large, practitioners rely on the clinical reports of other practitioners and the observable results they see. No peer-reviewed clinical evidence specifically for Mountain Pride flower essence exists. All evidence is at the level of the flower essence category, and systematic reviews of that category consistently fail to show benefit beyond placebo in controlled conditions.

9. Body Systems and Health Areas Associated with Mountain Pride

Within the flower essence tradition, Mountain Pride is associated entirely with psychological and emotional domains rather than physiological body systems. The practice does not claim to target specific organ systems, tissues, or biochemical pathways. The areas described in the practitioner framework include:

• Psychological/emotional: Willpower, assertiveness, courage, confronting opposition, overcoming passivity.
• Social/relational: Capacity to speak out, stand up for convictions, take initiative in social situations.
• Developmental (children): FES practitioners describe Mountain Pride as helpful for children who need to summon strong will forces to meet adverse circumstances in their personal lives or social circumstances.

No peer-reviewed evidence establishes any connection between Mountain Pride flower essence and specific physiological body systems or organ functions.

10. Dosage Forms and Reported Dosages

The following dosage information is drawn from product labeling and practitioner guidelines, as no clinical trial dosage protocols specific to Mountain Pride exist.

• Stock bottle use: Add 4 drops to water and take four times daily, according to FES product labeling.
• Dosage bottle preparation: To make a dosage bottle, fill a clean 1 oz. glass dropper bottle with pure spring or distilled water and add two drops of each selected flower essence.
• Standard Bach protocol (for reference): Add 2 drops of each remedy (up to a maximum of 7) to a mixing bottle containing spring water. Take 4 drops of your personal blend a minimum of 4 times a day.
• Alcohol content: The FES product contains 40% alcohol, as the base is brandy and water.
• Dilution level: Bach flower essences, including FES products, are prepared at a 5X homeopathic dilution (0.00001 gram of active substance per milliliter of tincture).

11. Safety Considerations and Interactions

Given the extreme dilution of flower essence preparations, the safety profile of Mountain Pride flower essence is dominated by the properties of its carrier and preservative agents rather than any pharmacologically active botanical component.

General Safety

Bach flower remedies (BFRs) do not contain pharmacologically relevant remnants of the original flowers and are generally considered safe to use in combination with other medications, as well as by pregnant women, children, babies, and the elderly. Most available evidence regarding the safety of BFRs has a high risk of bias; however, based on the reported adverse events in six trials reviewed, BFRs are probably safe.

Alcohol Content

Bach flower remedies and equivalent FES preparations are possibly safe when used in moderation. Since most contain little or no active ingredient, these products are not expected to cause harm. However, they are preserved in brandy and therefore contain alcohol. It has been suggested that BFRs could be dangerous for recovering alcoholics due to their alcohol content. Flower remedies contain alcohol. When metronidazole is taken with alcohol it may cause a reaction.

Alcohol-Sensitive Populations

For those who are pregnant, in recovery from alcohol dependence, or giving the product to a child, alcohol-free versions (glycerin-based) address this concern. Alcohol-free formulations preserving the essence in vegetable glycerin are commercially available.

Regulatory Status

Bach Flower Essences are listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS), have been issued with National Drug Code (NDC) numbers by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are sold as over-the-counter homeopathic products in the United States. Claims made for these products are based on traditional homeopathic practices used for centuries, not by accepted medical or scientific evidence, and are not FDA evaluated.

In the United Kingdom, the regulatory situation for Bach and similar flower remedies has undergone scrutiny. These products were historically given product licences of right (PLR) over 40 years ago; like homeopathy, the manufacturers have not been required to provide any evidence for the claims made for these products.

Phytotoxicity of the Raw Plant

Penstemon is generally considered non-toxic to humans; however, as with all plants, it is advisable to avoid ingestion unless certain of its safety. Handling the plant typically does not cause irritation. No peer-reviewed toxicological studies specifically on Penstemon newberryi were located.

12. Summary of Evidence Quality

The evidence base for Mountain Pride as a dietary supplement or natural health product is fundamentally limited by several structural factors:

• No specific clinical trials: No published human clinical trials, observational studies, or case series exist specifically for Mountain Pride (Penstemon newberryi) flower essence.
• Category-level evidence is negative: All placebo-controlled trials of Bach flower remedies failed to demonstrate efficacy, and systematic review concludes that the most reliable clinical trials do not show any differences between flower remedies and placebos.
• Preclinical data on genus: In-vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity has been reported for concentrated extracts of Penstemon species, but these findings have no direct relevance to the finished flower essence product due to extreme dilution.
• Iridoid chemistry identified in the species: Catalpol was identified as the major iridoid glycoside in Penstemon newberryi, and 10-bisfoliamenthoylcatalpol was identified as a new iridoid glycoside unique to the species. These chemical findings pertain to the botanical source, not to the supplement preparation.
• Placebo effects likely account for reported benefits: The most reliable clinical trials show no difference between flower remedies and placebos. A separate systematic review reached a similar conclusion. This does not mean people never feel calmer after taking such a remedy — the placebo effect is real and measurable, particularly for subjective experiences like stress and anxiety.

References

• Wikipedia — Penstemon newberryi
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Mountain Pride (Penstemon newberryi)
• Calscape — Mountain Pride (Penstemon newberryi)
• Flower Essence Society — Mountain Pride: Developing Vibrant Will Forces
• Flower Essence Services — History of the Bach Flower Essences
• Flower Essence Society — About FES
• Flower Essence Society — Penstemon: Building Inner Stamina & Resilience
• NCBI/DARE — Ernst E. Bach flower remedies: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Swiss Medical Weekly 2010; 140:w13079
• NCBI/DARE — Ernst E. "Flower remedies": a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2002; 114(23-24):963-966
• PMC — Bach Flower Remedies for psychological problems and pain: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2009
• ScienceDirect — Use of Bach flower remedies in children and adolescents with ADHD: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2023)
• ResearchGate — Penstemon: A short characteristic of the genus with a special consideration of its chemical composition and a role in ethnomedicine
• ScienceDirect — Chemical analysis of Penstemon campanulatus: Antimicrobial activities
• ResearchGate — Effects of extracts, flavonoids and iridoids from Penstemon gentianoides on iNOS and COX-2 inhibition
• ResearchGate — Catalpol as the major iridoid glycoside from Penstemon newberryi; new iridoid 10-bisfoliamenthoylcatalpol
• WebMD — Bach Flower Remedies: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing
• PubMed — Maternal and perinatal effects with the use of floral therapy in childbirth: randomized clinical trial
• Oregon State University — Ethnobotany in Native American Cultures
• Rhode Island Wild Plant Society — Penstemons: Cultivation Notes and Native American Uses
• BachFlower.com — An Overview of the Bach Flower Essences (regulatory and pharmacopeial status)
• ASA/CAP (UK) — Health: Bach and other flower remedies (regulatory guidance)