Close up of Indian "Ghost" Pipe Plant (Monotropa uniflora) white in color and growing in the Chippewa National Forest, northern Minnesota USA. (Photo by Larry Eiden on Shutterstock)
In a nutshell
- Ghost pipe’s modern use for pain relief (84% of users) represents a significant shift from its historical applications, driven primarily by influential blog posts from the early 2000s rather than traditional knowledge.
- The preparation method has transformed dramatically, with 92% of current users making alcohol tinctures instead of the dried powders or fresh applications common in historical practices.
- Conservation concerns have led 79% of foragers to adopt stewardship practices, including harvesting only aerial portions (97%) rather than roots—another significant departure from historical harvest methods.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Few people outside herbalist circles had heard of ghost pipe a decade ago. These days, however, this strange white plant that lacks chlorophyll has developed an almost cult-like following online, with enthusiasts using it primarily for pain relief—despite minimal scientific understanding of its properties or safety.
From Forest Floor to Facebook Fame
Results of a survey published in Economic Botany reveals how digital media has dramatically transformed the way Americans use ghost pipe, creating what researchers call “digital ethnobotany”—the evolution of plant knowledge through online communities rather than traditional person-to-person teaching.
The Pennsylvania State University researchers write in their paper: “The internet has emerged as an important platform not only for learning and sharing ghost pipe ethnobotany, but also for developing new traditions and practices.” This represents one of the first comprehensive studies on contemporary ghost pipe use.
Their findings show a clear disconnect between historical uses and modern applications. While indigenous cultures and 19th-century physicians primarily used ghost pipe for eye inflammation, nervous system regulation, and treating convulsions, today’s users overwhelmingly consume it as a tincture for pain management—a practice popularized by just a handful of influential blog posts.
New Uses for an Old Plant
The research team surveyed 489 ghost pipe users across 42 U.S. states to create an unprecedented snapshot of this growing herbalist movement. A striking 84% of respondents reported using ghost pipe for pain relief, with older adults most likely to use it regularly for this purpose. Mental health applications followed, with 71% using it for anxiety, 68% for relaxation, and 60% for “psycho-spiritual wellbeing.”
The preparation method has also changed dramatically. While historical records mention consuming dried powder or applying fresh juice, modern users overwhelmingly (92%) prepare ghost pipe as an alcohol tincture—a method prominently featured in those same influential blog posts that sparked the plant’s popularity surge around 2010.
Google search data backs up the digital-driven nature of this phenomenon. Search interest for ghost pipe increased dramatically between 2010 and 2023, with peak interest in 2023 coinciding with rising popularity on social media platforms. When asked how they first learned about ghost pipe, the largest segment of respondents (30%) cited social media or the internet as their primary source.
Ghost Pipe Safety Concerns and Conservation
Half of respondents expressed worry about the lack of scientific information regarding ghost pipe’s chemical compounds and effects. This concern appears warranted, as the only published paper on ghost pipe’s chemistry (from 1889) suggested it might contain toxic compounds—findings that have not been verified in the intervening 130+ years.
Despite these concerns, only four respondents reported experiencing negative effects after consuming ghost pipe. This indicates either relative safety or, more likely, that the typical consumption pattern (infrequent use of small tincture doses) limits exposure to potentially harmful compounds.
Conservation emerged as another key concern, with 45% of respondents worried about the plant’s sustainability. This has influenced harvesting practices, with 79% of foragers implementing some form of stewardship. Most commonly, they limit their harvest quantity (90%) and harvest only aerial portions of the plant (53%), leaving the roots intact—another practice popularized online that differs from historical uses.
The ghost pipe phenomenon demonstrates both the power and potential danger of “digital ethnobotany.” While online communities have revived interest in forgotten medicinal plants and created new sustainable harvesting practices, they’ve also popularized untested applications with minimal scientific validation.
That said, before trying any new remedies or altering your current pain relief regimen, you should always talk to your doctor first.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers conducted a digital survey targeting ghost pipe users across the United States between November 2022 and January 2024. They recruited participants through mixed methods including social media posts, foraging groups, and herbal organization outreach. The survey received 489 responses from 42 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces. Respondents self-identified as consumers (96%), foragers (87%), and/or sellers/prescribers (23%) of ghost pipe. They answered questions about their demographic information, ghost pipe consumption patterns, foraging practices, and how they learned about the plant. The researchers analyzed quantitative data using descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests, while open-ended responses were qualitatively analyzed using grounded theory approaches.
Results
Social media and the internet were the most common sources (30%) where respondents first learned about ghost pipe. Current usage patterns differ significantly from historical applications: 84% of respondents use ghost pipe for pain management, while traditional uses like treating eye inflammation or convulsions were rarely reported. An overwhelming 92% consume ghost pipe as a tincture, contrasting with historical preparation methods. Most foragers (97%) harvest only aerial portions rather than roots, another divergence from historical practices where root usage was common. Conservation concerns influenced harvesting, with 79% of foragers implementing some form of stewardship practice. Despite growing popularity, 38% of respondents had only tried ghost pipe once or twice, with first-time users most likely to express concerns about safety and ecological impact.
Limitations
The study acknowledged potential coverage error in its sampling. While respondent income demographics reasonably matched U.S. populations, other demographic factors showed discrepancies, including a notable lack of minority representation (only 1% Black, 4% Hispanic, 4% Native American, and 1% Asian). The digital survey format may have excluded those without internet access or English proficiency. Additionally, because the survey was self-selected, those with commercial interests in ghost pipe may have chosen not to participate, potentially underrepresenting the commercial trade aspects.
Funding and Disclosures
Research funding came from multiple sources including the Soils, Plants and Consumers cohort Strategic Network and Initiative Program from Pennsylvania State University, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Appropriations under Project #PEN04956 and Accession #7006496, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wild Resource Conservation Program Grant 21633. The authors declared no competing interests.
Publication Information
“Ghost Pipe Then and Now: the Influence of Digital Media on the Medicinal Use of Monotropa uniflora in the United States” by Savannah G. Anez, Eric P. Burkhart, and Joshua J. Kellogg was published in Economic Botany, 2025, pages 1-18, by the New York Botanical Garden.
