POKE ROOT, POKEWEED or SCOKE (Phytolacca decandra; P. vulgaris americana; CHENOPODIACEAE; PHYTOLACCACEAE)

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P. lanceolata; PLANTAGINACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_red_clover.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RED CLOVER, WILD CLOVER or TREFOIL (Trif">RED CLOVER, WILD CLOVER or TREFOIL (Trifolium pratense; PAPILIONACEAE; LEGUMINOSAE)</A></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">POKE ROOT, POKEWEED or SCOKE (Phytolacca decandra; P. vulgaris americana; CHENOPODIACEAE; PHYTOLACCACEAE)</B></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_burdock_root.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BURDOCK ROOT (Arctium Lappa Lappa minor ">BURDOCK ROOT (Arctium Lappa; Lappa minor; COMPOSITAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_chaparral.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CHAPARRAL or CREOSOTE BUSH or GREASEWOOD">CHAPARRAL or CREOSOTE BUSH or GREASEWOOD (Larrea tridentata; L. divaricata; ZYGOPHYLLACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_oregon_grape.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OREGON GRAPE or MOUNTAIN GRAPE (Berberis">OREGON GRAPE or MOUNTAIN GRAPE (Berberis aquifolium: Mahonia aquifolium; BERBERIDACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_blue_flag.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BLUE FLAG, FLAG LILY or WATER FLAG (Iris">BLUE FLAG, FLAG LILY or WATER FLAG (Iris versicolor; IRIDACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_sassafras.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SASSAFRAS (Sassafras officinale S. varif">SASSAFRAS (Sassafras officinale; S. varifolium; Laurus sassafras; Lauraceae)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_sarsaparilla.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SARSAPARILLA (Smilax officinalis: S. orn">SARSAPARILLA (Smilax officinalis: S. ornata; S. medica; S. papyracea; SMILACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_echinacea.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ECHINACEA, BLACK SAMPSON or CONEFLOWER (">ECHINACEA, BLACK SAMPSON or CONEFLOWER (Echinacea angustifolia; Brauneria angustifolia; B. pallida; COMPOSITAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_purple_loosetrife.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum salicaria: L">PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum salicaria: LYTHRACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_yellow_dock.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="YELLOW DOCK, CURLED DOCK or SOUR DOCK (R">YELLOW DOCK, CURLED DOCK or SOUR DOCK (Rumex crispus; R. obtusiolius; POLYGONACEAE)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="snh_garlic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GARLIC (Allium sativum LILIACEAE)">GARLIC (Allium sativum; LILIACEAE)</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=366 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="102" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <head> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </script> </head> <A HREF="javascript:myprint()" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="javascript:myprint()">Print this Page</A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <I><B>POKE ROOT, POKEWEED or SCOKE (Phytolacca decandra; P. vulgaris americana; CHENOPODIACEAE; PHYTOLACCACEAE)</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Common names:</B></I></div> <div> Poke root, pokeweed, scoke, pigeon berry, garget, ink-berry, red ink plant, American spinach, crow berry, jalap, cancer-root, cancer jalap, American nightshade, cokan, pokan bush, chongras, Virginia poke, poke berry branching phytolacca; Mechoacan du Canada, Raisin d'Amerique, Morelle a Grappes, Herb de la Laque (French), Amerikanische Scharlachbeere, Kermesberro (German).</div> <div> <I><B>Identifying characteristics:</B></I></div> <div> Stem                Round, smooth, stout, pithy, erect, branching, green when young and red or purple toward the end of summer.  Four to ten feet high, about one or two inches in diameter.</div> <bR> <div> Leaves             Scattered, alternate, oblong to lanceolate and tapering at both ends, five or more inches long and about three inches broad, smooth on both sides, rich-green, entire, petiolate.</div> <div> Flowers            Numerous and small in racemes, white with a green center pink tinted outside, about one-fourth inch across, bracted racemes two to eight inches long, calyx of four to five rounded persistent sepals simulating petals, no corolla, conspicuous green ovary, curved styles.</div> <div> Fruit                 Round berry, very juicy, dark purplish, one-third inch thick, hanging in long clusters from reddened foot stalks, ten-seeded (glossy, black-purple) purplish-red juice.</div> <div> Roots                Large, cylindrical, one to three inches thick, frequently fleshy and fibrous, easily cut or broken, annulate (ringed), longitudinally wrinkled, covered with a thin yellowish-brown or brownish-gray bark, internally whitish, fibrous fracture.</div> <div> Powder            Brownish-yellow.</div> <div> Taste                Sweetish, acrid.</div> <div> Odor                Slight.</div> <div> <I><B>Part used:</B></I></div> <div> Fresh root (most potent); berries, also leaves.</div> <div> <I><B>Therapeutic action:</B></I></div> <div> Relaxant, alterative, cathartic, emetic, resolvent, deobstruent, detergent, antisyphilitic, antiscorbutic, nutritive leaves, anodyne, cardiac-depressant.</div> <div> The poke root is one of the most powerful botanical alteratives.  It is very beneficial where the glands (especially the thyroid and spleen) are hard swollen or enlarged.  Poke root is excellent for all skin problems, and is also especially useful for hardened liver and scanty flow of bile.  It has almost magical effects upon new abnormal growths, as well as bony enlargements from direct injury (even in a chronic state).  It is healing to inflamed kidneys and enlarged lymphatic glands, is an effective and rapid anti-cancer agent.  Both the root and the tender leaves make an excellent spring tonic, and the tender leaves may be used as greens for the dinner table (boiled in two waters).  Poke root has a slow, but persistently powerful action.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 59</div> <div> <I>Dyspepsia: </I></div> <div> Poke root has been considered as a valuable remedy for this problem.</div> <div> <I>Rheumatism: </I></div> <div> Poke root has been used very successfully in treating the various forms of this problem.</div> <div> <I>Cancer:</I></div> <div> Poke root is a valuable remedy for treating cancer.</div> <div> <I><B>Medicinal uses:</B></I></div> <div> Chronic rheumatism, skin diseases, syphilis, ulcers, scabies, eczema, tonsillitis, diphtheria, feverish conditions (babies), goiter, cancer, mammary abscesses or gatherings, enlarged lymphatic glands, malignant tumors, granular conjunctivitis, dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea, paralysis of the bowels, headaches (of many sources), felons, hard liver, biliousness, nephritis, scrofula, itch, chronic pharyngitis, obesity (adipose tissue), hemorrhoids.</div> <div> <I><B>Preparation:</B></I></div> <div> Fluid extract, tincture.  </div> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="dosage"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>Dosage:</B></I></div> <div> <I>USE ONLY THE PRESCRIBED DOSAGES:   THE HERB IS POTENT.</I></div> <div> Fluid extract      (root) 1/4 - 1/2 fluid teaspoon</div> <div> Fluid Extract     (berries) 1/2- 1 fluid teaspoon</div> <div> Infusion          1 teaspoonful - 1 tablespoonful 3 times daily, before or after meals; children 1/2 - 1 teaspoonful according to age.</div> <div> Tincture     3-10 drops</div> <div> <I><B>Administration:</B></I></div> <div> It is unadvisable to use large doses of poke root as an emetic, as the action on the system is too potent.</div> <div> <I><B>Anal:</B></I></div> <div> <I>Hemorrhoids:</I></div> <div> Use the fluid extract as a wash and injection.</div> <div> <I><B>Oral:</B></I></div> <div> <I>Goiter, mammary abscesses or gatherings (mastitis), enlarged lymphatic glands (especially of the neck):</I></div> <div> Use 1/2 - 1 teaspoonful of the fluid extract in 1 glassful of water, give 1 teaspoonful of the mixture every 2-3 hours; or 10 drops of the tincture every 4 hours.</div> <div> <I>Feverish condition (babies):</I></div> <div> Give 1 drop of the tincture in 1 teaspoonful of water every 3 hours.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 60</div> <div> <I>Chronic rheumatism:</I></div> <div> Use the infusion in teaspoonful dose alone or the extract as indicated; or in the infusion in compound with black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens).</div> <div> <I>Obesity (adipose tissue):</I></div> <div> Use an infusion of the berries.</div> <div> <I>Cancer of the breast:</I></div> <div> See "<A HREF="#formulas" TITLE="POKE ROOT, POKEWEED or SCOKE (Phytolacca">Formulas</A>".</div> <div> <I>Goiter:</I></div> <div> Use the fluid extract externally as a liniment, and drink internally in very small doses (as indicated in "<A HREF="#dosage" TITLE="POKE ROOT, POKEWEED or SCOKE (Phytolacca">Dosage</A>.")</div> <div> <I>Skin diseases, syphilis, scrofula, eczema:</I></div> <div> Use the liniment or the infusion as a wash, and drink internally.</div> <div> <I>Gathering of the breasts (caked breasts, mastitis):</I></div> <div> Take the fluid extract internally, and apply the liniment or solid extract locally to the seat of the impending inflammation.</div> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="formulas"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>Formulas:</B></I></div> <div> <I>Infusion of poke root:</I></div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Poke root, cut or finely ground (phytolacca decandra)</div> <div> 1 1/2 pints     D-cell or distilled water</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Bring the water to a boil and pour boiling hot over the herb, steep for 3-4 minutes; strain, allow to cool, bottle and keep in a cool place.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 teaspoonful - 1 tablespoonful 3 times daily, before or after meals.  Children: 1/2 - 1 teaspoonful according to age.</div> <div> <I><B>Fluid extract of poke root:</B></I></div> <div> 1 ounce     Poke root, cut into thin sections and bruise thoroughly into a pulp (Phytolacca decandra)</div> <div> 6 ounces     70% alcohol</div> <div> 12 ounces     D-cell or distilled water.</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Pour the menstruum of alcohol and water over the herb, cover closely and let stand for 5 days; press off the liquid under the heaviest pressure possible, strain, place in a tinted bottle and keep in a cool place.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 3-10 drops, well diluted with warm or cold water (best given alone).</div> <div> <I><B>Tincture of poke root:</B></I></div> <div> 1 pound     Poke root, fresh and coarsely ground (Phytolacca decandra)</div> <div> 1/2 gallon     40% alcohol</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Macerate the herb in the alcohol solution for 2 weeks; filter.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 10 drops every 4 hours (adult); this can be increased somewhat until the patient becomes relaxed.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 61</div> <div> <I><B>Compound poke root liniment:</B></I></div> <div> 3 ounces     Poke root, fluid extract (Phytolacca decandra)</div> <div> 1 teaspoon     Bayberry, powder (Myrica cerifera)</div> <div> 1 teaspoon     Sassafras, oil (Sassafras officinale)</div> <div> 1/2 teaspoon     Bay or laurel (Laurus nobilis)</div> <div> 2 ounces     Tragacanth, thick mucilage of gum (Iasragalus gummifer)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Mix the first 4 herbs well, then add the mucilage (this makes 6 ounces); shake well together.</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> Apply to affected parts 4-5 times daily.  For tumors and enlargements, use plenty of friction or kneading.</div> <div> <I><B>Cancer compound:</B></I></div> <div> 2 ounces     Poke root, fluid extract (Phytolacca decandra)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Gentian root, fluid extract (Gentiana Lutea)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Dandelion root, fluid extract (Leontodon taraxacum) </div> <div> <I><B>Simple syrup</B></I></div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Mix the fluid extracts together and add sufficient simple syrup to make 1 pint.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 teaspoonful after each meal.</div> <div> <I><B>Cancer of the breast (poultice):</B></I></div> <div> Poke root      fresh and ground fine (Phytolacca decandra)</div> <div> Poke root      fluid extract (diluted to 1/16 strength); or use infusion of the fresh root</div> <div> Bayberry        powder (Myrica cerifera)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Use the fresh root each time and grind sufficient only for one use; roll this on a piece of muslin, cheesecloth or other thin material, large enough to cover the breast entirely (cut a hole large enough for the nipple).</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> Apply the poultice to the breast, moisten once daily with the fluid extract, cover with plastic to help retain moisture; leave on 3 days, then apply fresh poultice.  In 2 weeks, the surface of the breast will break out in pustular sores; in about 4 weeks from the beginning of treatment, all hardness will be gone from the breast area, leaving it soft, then wash carefully with diluted apple-cider vinegar and cover with bayberry powder and allow the entire breast surface to dry; in 7-10 days thereafter the entire surface will be healed.</div> <div> <I><B>Cancerous sores (ointment):</B></I></div> <div> 1 part      Poke root, fluid extract (Phytolacca decandra)</div> <div> 1 part     Yellow dock, fluid extract (Rumex crispus)</div> <div> 1 part     Blood root, fluid extract (Sanguinaria canadensis)</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 62</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> Apply the ointment 3 times daily, and before each fresh application wash affected area with a good brandy.</div> <div> <I>Note:  As an excellent internal alterative tea for this condition, drink 3 teacupfuls of walnut leaf tea (Juglans nigra).</I></div> <div> <I><B>Chronic rheumatism:</B></I></div> <div> 4 ounces     Poke berries (Phytolacca decandra)</div> <div> 4 ounces     Elder berries (Sambucus canadensis; ebulus)</div> <div> 4 ounces     Sumac berries (Rhus glabra)</div> <div> 4 ounces     Blackberry or bramble root (Rubus villosus)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Simmer the herbs for 20 minutes in 2 quarts of water; add sufficient sugar or honey to make a syrup.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 teaspoonful 3 times daily.</div> <div> <I><B>Growth characteristics:</B></I></div> <div> Perennial root; found quite widely in the eastern part of the United States, also in Europe and northern parts of Africa; grows in dry, waste soils (especially in burnt-over districts), roadsides, thickets, field borders, hillsides; flowers June-October.  Dr. Nowell commented that "the physician will be well advised to grow his own roots and make his own preparation.  It grows very quickly; seed sown in the fall will come up in the spring and will produce in the summer a root one foot long and some two inches thick.  The berries on the ground will, if gathered, provide seed for the sowing of another crop."</div> <div> <I><B>Collection:</B></I></div> <div> There is probably no other medicinal herb that deteriorates as rapidly and completely with age as poke root; therefore, it is recommended that the fresh root be dug and used for each preparation, or that it be made into a fluid extract or tincture promptly after gathering and cleaning.  The young and tender shoots gathered in spring may be prepared and eaten similar to spinach, asparagus, etc.  The leaves should be gathered just prior to the maturing of the berries, and the berries are collected when fully mature or ripe, August-October.</div> <div> <I><B>Drying and preservation:</B></I></div> <div> Poke root is best preserved in fluid extract and tincture forms.  The fluid extract sold by pharmaceutical concerns is improperly prepared from old and dried roots and is not a reliable agent, so the herbalist should prepare his own.</div> <div> <I><B>Sister plants:</B></I></div> <div> (Phytolacca octandra; CHENOPODIACEAE); root: similar medicinal characteristics and uses to poke root; the young and tender shoots may be used as vegetable greens in the springtime; found in Central and South America. (Phytolacca acinosa; CHENOPODIACEAE); root: similar medicinal characteristics and uses to poke root; the young and tender shoots may be used as vegetable greens in springtime; found in northern India.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 63</div> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=24 BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="cc203181eearkz.gif"> <div>  <A HREF="snh_red_clover.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RED CLOVER, WILD CLOVER or TREFOIL (Trif">SNH Red Clover</A> < Previous  |  Next > <A HREF="snh_burdock_root.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BURDOCK ROOT (Arctium Lappa Lappa minor ">SNH Burdock Root</A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>