Pokeroot Uses & Preparation

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Pokeroot Uses & Preparation

Pokeberries are useful not only as a body paint - which is

quite safe; it's only the seeds that are toxic, and then only when chewed. In

Appalachian folk medicine, the berries are swallowed as a treatment for

arthritis and for immune stimulation - one berry (either fresh or dried) is the

equivalent of one drop of root tincture.

Pokeroot has traditionally been used in tiny doses as an

immune stimulant. This powerful plant actually has a wide range of medicinal

uses. But you have to treat it with respect or risk unpleasant side effects.

There's a long history of using this common " weed "

as a potherb. But don't make the all-too-common mistake of confusing " poke

sallit " (the English word for cooked greens) with " poke salad. "

DON'T EAT POKE IN A SALAD! It's ONLY considered safe when boiled in three

changes of water (traditionally with some pork or " fatback " ). For

cooking greens, ONLY harvest when the plant is less than a foot tall.

Herbs can rival the effectiveness of antibiotics, and

they're generally much gentler on the body. Make a tincture from the root for

stimulating the immune system. Many herbalists turn to goldenseal for this

purpose, but it's an endangered species. Poke, on the other hand, is a weed -

the problem is not having too little of it, but too much. And for most

purposes, poke is at least as good, if not better.

Pokeroot is best dug in the fall, after the plant has died

back. This is when the plant is the most medicinal and the least toxic. The

next best time to dig the roots is in the early spring, when the leaves are

just coming out (as long as you're sure what you're digging!).

Wash the root, chop it into small pieces, fill a jar with

the plant material, and then add enough 100-proof alcohol to cover the roots. Leave

for six weeks, than strain out the roots. The resulting milky liquid is

remarkably mild looking and tasting, considering the punch it packs.

Poke is so powerful that it's taken by the DROP. Begin with one to three

drops. Wait 24 hours. If that doesn't seem to help, add one drop per day to the

dosage (drops, not droppersful!).

Individuals show widely varying tolerance for poke. Some

people can't handle more than three to five drops per day, while others can

take 25 - 50 drops with no adverse effects. The side effects of poke include

mental unclarity, spaciness and out-of-body feelings. If you notice such

feelings, it means you've found your tolerance level, so back off to a lower

dosage. If you take too much (such as mistaking dropperfuls for drops), you may

encounter more severe side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Poke is invaluable as an herbal alternative to antibiotics

when immune or lymphatic stimulation is needed. For many generations, this

plant has helped people with immune issues ranging from sore throat to breast

cancer. There are times when antibiotics are called for - so when in doubt,

consult your doctor or herbalist.

Poke tincture is a favorite for sore throats, strep throat,

severe colds and respiratory infections, Lyme disease, infected gums, swollen

lymph glands, breast cysts etc. Studies in Germany and the United States are

even finding positive results with HIV, cancer and lymphoma. In addition, it's

very effective in treating genital herpes - taking just a few drops when the

tingling begins usually prevents the blister phase entirely and reduces the

frequency of outbreaks.

Pokeroot can also be made into an oil simply by substituting

oil for alcohol - preferably olive or coconut oil. You can also melt in some

beeswax (which gives it a creamy consistency) and the oil can be made into a

balm or salve – the more beeswax the harder the salve. Both the salve and the

oil are used externally to dissolve lumps, bumps, growths and tumors. Many

people find them helpful when applied externally to swollen lymph glands, sore

throats or breast lumps.

Eating the berries

Since the seeds are the toxic part, just spit them out. Even

if you swallow some seeds, don't worry - they're extremely difficult to break

open with your teeth and will come out the other end intact.

That's how poke spreads, birds eat the berries, and then the

seeds spread through their droppings. Although poke proliferates by seed, the

plants are perennial, and the roots will grow larger every year.

 

 

 

 

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