Herbal Lore: Poke Weed

Herbal Lore ~ Poke weed

PokeWeed
" Poke " (Phytolacca americana)

That strange-looking weed with the drooping black berries that towers over
gardens and roadsides throughout much of eastern North America is
pokeweed—an old favorite of wise women dealing with breast lumps and breast
cancer. If I felt a suspicious lump, I'd reach for poke root oil. It reduces
congestion, relieves swelling, and literally dissolves growths in the
breasts.

My good friend, Jethro Kloss, author of the classic herbal Back to Eden,
uses freshly grated raw poke root poultices to burn away breast cancer.

Caution : : Fresh poke placed directly on the skin is strong enough to
damage healthy tissues as well as cancerous ones.

The infused oil is also effective and far safer. A generous amount is gently
applied to the lump, covered with a flannel cloth and then with a hot water
bottle (no heating pads), and left on for as long as you're comfortable.
This is repeated at least twice a day. Poke root oil is too powerful for
regular preventive care. Caution: Poke oil can cause a rash on sensitive
skin. Ingestion of poke oil can cause severe intestinal distress.

Poke root tincture can be used instead of poke root oil. The properties are
quite similar, though the oil is absorbed better and may be considerably
more effective.

Other Names: Cancer root, kermesberro, skookum, ink berry
Type: Potentially poisonous

Found in: Gardens (as a weed) and roadsides of northeastern North America;
easily cultivated; naturalized in Europe, Australia.

Part Used: One- or two-year-old roots, dug after first frost, fresh only;
berries, before frost, fresh or dried—do not chew.
Actions & Uses: Resolves cysts, lumps, and some in situ breast cancers;
stimulates immune system; counters infection (especially pneumonia);
protects lungs; relieves lymph congestion; antiviral; antiseptic;
anti-tumor; anti-cancer. Used externally and internally.

Important Constituents: Acids, antioxidants, alkaloids, carotenes,
phytosterols, pokeweed-antiviral-protein, saponins, tannins, resins (root
only).

Preparation & Daily Dose: Used with caution for short periods; rarely for
more than 10 months.

Tincture of fresh (not dried) root: 1–20 drops.

Fresh berry juice preserved with honey: 4 teaspoons/20ml.

Dried berries: 1–4 swallowed whole. Seeds are poisonous.

Oil/ointment/poultice of fresh roots: with care.

Toxicity: Caution! All parts of fresh or dried poke—except berries with
unbroken seeds and well-cooked young leaves—can cause such intense vomiting,
diarrhea, and pain that you don't know which end to point at the toilet.
This is frequently accompanied by out-of-the-body sensations, but rarely
leads to death.

The numerous seeds are only toxic if crushed, and are too hard for children
(and most adults) to break. I've read of skin rashes caused by handling
fresh poke, but have never personally experienced such problems.

Alkaloids in poke root tincture can accumulate in the kidneys, making
extended use risky, though some people have taken doses of 15 drops a day
for a year or more without apparent harm.....

Works Well With: Echinacea.

Results & Notes: Poke root tincture kicks the immune system into gear
incredibly fast. There are numerous reports of chronic infections of many
years' standing begin to resolve after only one dose, and acute infection
subside in a matter of hours.

Poke's effect seems to be focused on the lymphatic and glandular tissues of
the breasts, ovaries, throat, and uterus, where it reliably resolves cysts,
growths, infections, and swellings.

First-hand reports attest to the ability of fresh poke root poultices to
burn away tumors, including breast cancers. Phytolacca is a standard
homeopathic remedy against breast cancer.

Women at high-risk of developing breast cancer may wish to follow advice
from Traditional Chinese Medicine and use one drop of poke tincture daily
from the beginning of May until mid-June yearly as a preventive.