Squaw Vine (Mitchella repens) has a long history of use in North American Indigenous and traditional Western herbal medicine, particularly for women’s reproductive health. Historically, it has been used as a parturient, meaning it was administered to prepare for childbirth and to ease labor and postpartum discomfort, including afterbirth pain (uterine cramping and discomfort following delivery). Herbalists in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in North America, often included Squaw Vine in formulas intended to tone the uterus and alleviate postpartum pains, sometimes alongside other herbs like raspberry leaf and blue cohosh. The rationale for its use was largely empirical and based on observed effects within these communities.

However, there is a lack of modern scientific studies or clinical trials validating the effectiveness of Squaw Vine for afterbirth pain. Phytochemical analyses have identified constituents such as tannins, saponins, and glycosides, but their specific actions on uterine muscle or pain relief have not been systematically studied. Major herbal reference texts continue to cite traditional uses, but generally with the caveat that evidence is anecdotal and not scientifically substantiated. As such, its use for afterbirth pain is justified primarily by tradition rather than scientific validation.