Guest guest Posted February 7, 2005 Report Share Posted February 7, 2005 Hi folks, This week, February 7 - 13th, we will be discussing the herb Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). I consider this one interesting to learn about with early Spring on its way. You can only harvest the young leaves in early spring, and you have to cook it properly, otherwise it is toxic .... Also the roots and berries are toxic and are never to be eaten! But those young spring leaves are considered to be a wonderful must have delicacy in many places throughout Europe (where it is grown as a crop), the Southern US, and even sold canned! Anyway, you'll get to know the pokeweed plant (a.k.a. inkberry) a lot better this week as I'll be posting lots of info and articles about it. I hope anyone who has personal experience with it will also jump right in *Smile* Chris (list mom) http://www.alittleolfactory.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 I haven't eaten it in years but when I was a child and lived in the south we had it all the time. They called it poke salad. I remember it was good. Paws and Smell the Flowers: Evelyn www.alternasense.com<http://www.alternasense.com/> - Christine Ziegler<chrisziggy < > Monday, February 07, 2005 3:04 PM Herb Of The Week - Pokeweed Hi folks, This week, February 7 - 13th, we will be discussing the herb Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). I consider this one interesting to learn about with early Spring on its way. You can only harvest the young leaves in early spring, and you have to cook it properly, otherwise it is toxic ... Also the roots and berries are toxic and are never to be eaten! But those young spring leaves are considered to be a wonderful must have delicacy in many places throughout Europe (where it is grown as a crop), the Southern US, and even sold canned! Anyway, you'll get to know the pokeweed plant (a.k.a. inkberry) a lot better this week as I'll be posting lots of info and articles about it. I hope anyone who has personal experience with it will also jump right in *Smile* Chris (list mom) http://www.alittleolfactory.com<http://www.alittleolfactory.com/> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 Hi, my name is Vicki and I am one of the lurkers here. I can't contribute much regarding much of what everyone discusses...but boy, am I learning about things that I never knew before so maybe by summer time I can join in on some discussions. I do know something about the subject of this email...pokeweed. I grew up in the South where people consider it a wonderful dish called poke salad. We always carefully picked the young tender leaves. My Mom would never used the older plants with the tough leaves or berries. She would boil them for around 30 min, drain the water off. Then more fresh water and boil again. She did this 3 or 4 times. When she felt they were done (I remember her talking about the color the water turned when she was boiling them need to be fairly clear), she mixed them in with eggs for an omelet for my Dad. Of course, being a kid back then something like that never appealed to me. Now I can't wait for the garden time again and all those fresh veggies...plus the collard, turnip and mustard greens.... Thank you for letting me be a part of your group. It is very educational. Vicki ---------- Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.5 - Release 2/3/2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 We have this grow naturally at the edge of our woods but I've been leery of messing with cause I had different things about it. I noticed that even the goats & chickens didn't mess with it. Penny E East Tennessee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 I love poke root. I know none of you care to hear this but, I made a poultice of this along with some other herbs to treat a really bad case of mastitis. I don't really know to many people that really use the plant, so this was interesting being herb of the week. Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 Just a few words of caution over Pokeweed. It is a plant I love the look of, and indeed years ago I was one of the first in the UK to grow and supply it in commercial amounts to a herbal supplies producer. However, there is no doubt about its toxicity or possibly worse, carcinogenicity. I know that in the UK herbalists are restricted in how much they may give, and it is now down to close to homepathic dilutions. It is vital to remember that although a herb may have been used as a food for generations, that does not mean it is safe. Don't forget, in the past, lifespans tended to be lower than now and so some diseases never manifested themselves before you were under the ground! Also, things were used in the diet because they had no alternative. We know that some plants used as foods for generations have caused cancer epidemics in some societies and therefore caution is needed. My advice is if you do not need such a plant for your dietary needs then do not use it. Cooking may well destroy the toxins in Pokeweed shoots, but that does not necessarily mean it has broken down the carcinogens. In this case I just do not know. I know a heck of a lot of research has been done on this plant and published in the many phytochemical and traditional medicine publications, but I don't have it to hand. You might try a Google search which may throw up more. Martin ==================================== , " Evelyn Millican " <edandevmil@m...> wrote: > I haven't eaten it in years but when I was a child and lived in the south we had it all the time. They called it poke salad. I remember it was good. > Paws and Smell the Flowers: > Evelyn > www.alternasense.com<http://www.alternasense.com/> > - > Christine Ziegler<chrisziggy@e...> > To: < > > Monday, February 07, 2005 3:04 PM > Herb Of The Week - Pokeweed > > > Hi folks, > > This week, February 7 - 13th, we will be discussing the herb Pokeweed > (Phytolacca americana). I consider this one interesting to learn about > with early Spring on its way. You can only harvest the young leaves in > early spring, and you have to cook it properly, otherwise it is toxic > ... Also the roots and berries are toxic and are never to be eaten! But > those young spring leaves are considered to be a wonderful must have > delicacy in many places throughout Europe (where it is grown as a crop), > the Southern US, and even sold canned! > > Anyway, you'll get to know the pokeweed plant (a.k.a. inkberry) a lot > better this week as I'll be posting lots of info and articles about it. > I hope anyone who has personal experience with it will also jump right > in > > *Smile* > Chris (list mom) > http://www.alittleolfactory.com<http://www.alittleolfactory.com/> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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