Pokeweed: an herb for all things pokey.
Now that I’m living on my home ground again, I’ve been feeling like writing about some real traditional Appalachian herbs. So for July’s berry-themed blog party, I chose a classic of Appalachian herbalism: pokeberry (Phytolacca americana).
A while back on the Herbwifery Forum, a few of us were reminiscing about growing up in West Virginia and North Carolina. From our informal survey, it seems like covering oneself in pokeberry juice and running around like a little demon is an essential part of an Appalachian childhood. And it’s no wonder. Pokeweed is everywhere in Southern Appalachia, and the ripe berries hang in shiny, inky purple-black clusters. Squish them in your hands, and they turn bright pink. What could be more fun?
Of course, we all knew that pokeberries were “poison,” so we didn’t eat them. (Unless someone said “I dare you,” that is. And even then we’d spit them right out again. I never knew anyone to get sick on them.)
The truth is, poke is strong stuff. It can be toxic even in moderate doses. Some herbalists stick to diluted homeopathic preparations of the plant, just to be on the safe side. But I prefer the old-fashioned way: drops of the tincture, spoonfuls of the decoction, sips of the wine, or a berry at a time. (Fresh plant only. Poke doesn’t take well to drying.)
So you might be asking, like my ten-year-old niece always does, “What’s it for?” Well, poke is for all things, um, pokey. Poke gets things moving in the body, especially the lymphatic system, the joints, and the metabolism. In other words, it’s an “alterative.” Used externally, it kills things (scabies, ringworm, etc.).
The most common indications for pokeberries in old-time Appalachian herbalism were “rheumatism” and “bad blood.” These days I’d call those “chronic joint pain” and “lymphatic sluggishness.” The usual prescription was to eat one berry a day for a week (without chewing the seeds), stop for a week, and repeat. Three berries, three times a week was another classic dose.
This tradition of on-and-off dosing is interesting. Perhaps poke inspires a reaction in the body—maybe in the immune system—that is triggered only by withdrawal of the dosage? Poke is often called an “immune stimulant,” but I imagine it’s more complicated than that. I often wonder about poke’s effects on autoimmune conditions, since many of the conditions associated with the symptoms of “rheumatism” turn out to have links to autoimmunity.
Modern herbalists sometimes use pokeberries to help stimulate an underactive thyroid, and old texts often mention goiter and obesity as important indications for the plant. It’s possible that poke acts directly on the thyroid, or indirectly on the metabolism through its general stimulation of “movement” in the body.
Poke’s movement-stimulating properties, combined with its affinities for the lymphatic system and “glands,” have led to its traditional use for many conditions involving hard, swollen masses in the body, including simple swollen lymph nodes, mumps, tonsillitis, adenitis, orchitis, mastitis, goiter, and cancer.
In my experience, poke root is one of the best things out there for inflammations of the breast, including mastitis. Fresh root poultices are traditional (though they can cause skin irritation), but tincture of the fresh root or a plaster of fresh berries will work, too, along with drop doses of the tincture internally. (Poke is contraindicated during pregnancy, but okay for nursing moms—in small doses, of course.)
One of poke’s many folk names is “cancer root,” and (like many other lymphatic herbs) it has a reputation as an old-time cancer remedy—especially for breast and skin cancers. It’s interesting that the old authors are split on its effectiveness. I’ve noticed that those who recommend poke for cancer support tend to emphasize using the fresh plant, rather than dried. This fits with what I’ve been taught. Always use fresh poke.
Whiskey tincture of the fresh root and fresh berry wine are the traditional Appalachian ways to preserve the plant for internal use. Traditional preparations of poke for external use often involved extraction in kerosene. This is one tradition I don’t follow. Poke-infused olive oil works just fine, thanks.
My favorite saying about poke comes from Tommie Bass. Talking about the old-time use of poke whiskey as a tonic, he said “It just straightened you out.”
An herbalist’s cheat-sheet for poke:
Parts used: fresh root, fresh berries (young shoots and leaves are also a “spring tonic” food, boiled in two changes of water).
Actions: alterative, lymphatic, antifungal, possible thyroid stimulant.
Affinities: lymph, breasts, testes, skin, joints.
Taste: acrid, slightly sweet, root slightly bitter.
Vitalist energetics: root slightly cooling and drying; berries slightly warming.
Michael Moore energetics (highlights): lymphatic, immune, skin/mucosa, hepatic, parasympathetic stimulant; cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, CNS sedative; berries for thyroid depression, root for adrenalin stress.
Tongue indications: swollen, with a white coating; sometimes foamy saliva (Michael Moore).
Specific indications: Hard, swollen lymph nodes. “Hurts to stick out tongue” (Matthew Wood).
Homeopathic mental indications: “Loss of personal delicacy, disregard of surrounding objects. Indifferent to life” (Boericke).
Have fun “poking” around!
PS: I’m going to post this month’s blog party on August 2nd—mainly because that’s the day we get real internet access at our new house, but also because it gives busy-in-the-summer folks an extra day to make a blog party post!
The Herbwife’s Kitchen » Blog Party: Berries! said,
August 30, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
[...] wrote about Pokeberry, one of the classic Appalachian [...]
David Pleshe said,
October 17, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
I was introduced to the Poke Berry just last week while visiting a relative in Kentucky. He’s been eating the fresh ripee berries daily—about three a day. He just swallows them and claims that it has help his arthritis.
He offered me some and I actually did what most blogs say you shouldn’t do—crunch the seeds. I haven’t had any ill effects from doing it that one time; however I now realize that that was not a good idea according to most reports I have read on the subject. I take three whole berries a day swalling them whole and have had no ill effects. Seems to help sore joints.
THERESA said,
March 11, 2008 @ 6:07 pm
A little while back I saw a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a magazine that included a berry called “rosy-stemmed caribbean varga” berry. when looking this up online, I couldn’t find such a thing… hence the search for a “pink stemmed berry” and this is what I found, the POKEBERRY seems to be what I was looking for
I am getting married and would like to just use it in a bouquet like the magazine, but I don’t know who or where to buy it from fresh in it’s natural state.
can you help?
crabappleherbs said,
March 11, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
Hmmmm.
I don’t know if any florists carry pokeberries — you could ask around. If you’re getting married in the right season (August – September), you could probably find some wild ones, depending on where you live.
Good luck!
darci said,
April 3, 2008 @ 7:43 am
At one time in history tomatoes were considered extremely poisonous. I’m always amused (and irritated) when I see where people treat Poke as if it were something lethal. I’ve lived in the South all my life, and every spring I hunt Poke, boil the leaves (once) and eat them. It’s like my spring tonic. I don’t want it more than once or twice a year, but my mother freezes it and eats it all year long.
There’s a famous herbalist, has a magazine, a forum and everything, to whom I told this, and she responded as if my family and I belonged to some illiterate, mutant enclave, probably living in the backwoods, eating poke and selling moonshine, and that over the decades we had built up a resistance to the poisons within the plant……….not quite. I have 3 college degrees, have taught and counseled in public school and college, and am a digital artist and freelance writer. I won’t say more because Darci isn’t my name, and some would know me if I told what all I’ve done. Anyway, I’m not an illiterate mutant, and I did just want to say that I’ll be glad when “herbalists” stop treating the plant and those who eat it with condescension and fear. My grandmother was a true herbalist and could walk through the woods and pick a whole salad from the wild plants growing there. I’m not as good as she, but I take after her herbal ways.
crabappleherbs said,
April 3, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
Hi “Darci.”
Yes, I get irritated about that too. This post was about the berries, though, not the leaves. I eat the young leaves whenever I can get my hands on them. (Soon it will be the season!)
(It sounds like the herbalist you talked to had a serious case of anti-Appalachian prejudice. It’s way too common, as I’m sure you know.)
Susan Marynowski said,
April 25, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
I’ve been trying to find out if it is OK to make a poke berry tincture. Didn’t get much response on the herb discussion list. What do you think? I was mainly wondering if it was necessary or advisable to remove the seeds before tincturing, as the alcohol would surely extract those alkaloids. I am NOT poke-phobic…just want to make the best preparation to get the benefit of the berries year round! Do folks traditionally remove the seeds when making wine or jelly?
TIA, Susan in Florida (April 2008…my poke is 6 feet tall already!)
crabappleherbs said,
May 4, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
Hi Susan.
I’ve never tinctured the berries — just the root. I generally use the berries fresh or make wine. Pokeberry wine is usually fermented with the seeds for a while and then strained off. I know some traditional herbalists who soak the berries in wine instead of making wine with them — and they don’t remove the seeds. Wine, of course, is a much weaker solvent than straight ethanol.
I’m not sure about the actual sources for the warnings about the seeds — I’ve always been told not to chew them, but other than that I don’t really have any good information.
Have you found any useful information since you posted here?
Susan said,
May 6, 2008 @ 11:56 am
I haven’t gotten any more information, except that most people don’t bother removing the seeds when they are making jam or wine, as you say. I also read that some folks just dry the berries and then swallow one or two berries whole for arthritic complaints (in the winter, for example, when fresh berries are not available). Maybe drying the berries is the most natural solution to having them year round. Thanks for your reply! -Florida Susan
crabappleherbs said,
May 6, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
Thanks for posting, Susan.
Drying the berries is indeed an option, though I imagine you’d need to do it in a dehydrator or the oven — the dang things are really juicy.
MARY said,
May 11, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
Being an Alaskan, I can’t really say I know much of anything about Poke Weed, though I do remember my mother talking a bit about it (she is from Missouri). Trying to live with arthritis pain makes me ever on the look out for relief. Where would I find acceptable Poke Weed? I am now living in Washington State for the summer.
crabappleherbs said,
May 16, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
Hi Mary.
I think poke grows in Washington state. If you want to find it, watch for the dark purple berries late in the summer — see if you can find a local herbalist to help you identify it.
Herbwifemama said,
August 26, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
Hmmm, poke season is nearly here, and I’m interested in poke’s effect on the thyroid. Do you have any other sources on this?
geneva said,
September 8, 2008 @ 9:16 am
I AM NEW AT MAKING OILS OR TINCTURES FROM POKEROOT.
CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME STEP BY STEP PLEASE
crabappleherbs said,
September 9, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
Herbwifemama: I don’t use poke specifically for thyroid problems, but many of the old herbalists used it specifically for goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland. I would go to Henriette’s site and search for poke in the old herbals she has there.
Geneva: I would suggest checking out the directions for oils and tinctures on Henriette’s site.
willowsprite said,
September 11, 2008 @ 3:28 am
Hi Herb Lady
I was pulled up short while out on a run about 6 years ago when I came upon some brilliantl fuscia bushes with deep purple berries. I just! found out what they were two days ago. I was delighted to discover a bush growing i my back yard.
Now,
What is the best way to juice the berries or make wine from them? I’ve had a swollen lymph node since about the same time I discovered the bush.
Serendipitious! in a funny way…
Thanks!
crabappleherbs said,
September 15, 2008 @ 8:57 am
Hi Willowsprite.
You can make wine from them using any wine recipe. To juice them, you can just crush the berries and strain out the seeds. Careful not to take too much at once!
Lynn said,
October 2, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
My Grandfather always told me to make wine or to eat Poke Berries. It must be after the first frost. Is this true or not.
herbanchica said,
May 9, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
I love your blog spot! Thank you for sharing your wonderful information.
debbie said,
August 25, 2009 @ 11:28 am
Hi,
My email has been provided.
Not sure how or where to ask, but is it possible to get permission to cite a few lines of this information on phytolacca Americana in a narrative non fiction book that will be out early 2010? Your info is right on the money, It would be wonderful in the chapter regarding pharmaceutical companies and seed company (Monsanto of course must remain nameless) where I relate that I have been using a pokeweed tincture myself, 1 tblsp. fresh berry juice per 2 ounces 100% proof alcohol, 2 drops a day 3 days on 3 days off. I did not learn about the alternating off on dosing I just felt it was right and went with it. This was after 10 years of doctors, and a lot of blah blah blah. This is a valuable plant and will be destroyed commercially in no time, like so many others. I feel sorry for grocery store shoppers trying to find a good tomato or cucumber. Many do not even remember or know what a Good one taste like anymore. Anyway, yes I would love to correspond with you further regarding
T.Y.
Debra
debbie said,
August 25, 2009 @ 11:33 am
P.S. I have also prepared Fresh sliced root by soaking for 2 weeks in 100 proof, shake well each day, until liquid looks like milk, then strain. Root Used more specifically for rheumatism and arthritis, can dry, and grate and make paste later for poultices as well. The berry tincture seems to have a wider variety of ills improved upon, such as sore throats for example, to body aches, and joint pain, and seems to increase energy levels. IMHO:)
Vickie Purvey said,
August 25, 2009 @ 8:14 pm
Hello I am looking for fresh poke weed root. I despartely need to find some.
If you can help me I would be greatly appreciate any information you could pass on to me. I live in Seminole Fl. 727-399-9127 or you can email me.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Vickie Purvey
Kristy Zuur said,
August 26, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
I have tons of Poke growing in the woods and fields near wear I live in Southern New Jersey. This past spring. I made a quart of tincture, and my Mother inadvertently threw it out because she is older and did not know what it was–it was in an old bell jar. I was planning on doing it again, but I am not sure if summer is a good time to harvest the root.
Anyone know?
Vickie, if you would like, I can dig some up for you too when I do it. My e-mail is itzkristy@gmail.com
Kindest,
Kristy
Darryl said,
September 11, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Vickie,
You should have plenty of Poke in your area. It is common in Florida. Kristy, Poke can be dug any time of the year you find it. Some people get their nose bent out of shape over the controversy of fresh vs dried root but it in actuality doesn’t matter. Either way is going to work fine.
Darryl
thesouthernherbalist.com
Kristy Zuur said,
September 24, 2009 @ 9:35 am
If anyone would like some Poke root, contact me, pay shipping and I will send you some. I went wild the other day while in the woods (after a rain) and pulled up about 20lbs of it! Contact me at .
Kris
S. C. DIXON said,
October 7, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
I’m from Kansas, my dad was from Arkansas. I’ve eaten poke greens every springtime of my life, a bit later we harvest the stalks, “peel” them with a potato peeler, (they look kinda like rhubarb), slice them then, roll them in salt, pepper, and flour and fry them like okra, which they kind of taste like. Use any cooking oil, but of course bacon greese is best.
Delicious with ham and beans, some fried taters and sliced ‘maters…Mmmm.
I have, for the first time, made an external tincture from berries using isopropyl alcohol in a decorative bottle (beautiful color in the liquid) to apply topically and tonight I’m steeping some seeds in vodka for internal use. I’ve been told a teaspoon a day to help with the arthritis in my hands.
Whether or not the seeds work, I’m here to tell you that young leaves and stalks are a culinary treasure…let the others fear it while we enjoy it to the max. Bon apatite!
Victoria I. said,
November 3, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
I am from Alabama and have seen these everywhere all my life! There is actually one growing around my mailbox right now. Its interesting to now know they are not poisinous like i have been told my whole life.
One question I have is can it be used topically for swollen lymph nodes. I have had these semi hard knots under my arms for 4 yrs now and the doctors tell me they are harmless and not to worry about them. But they are tender and get much more tender during pregnancy. I am pregnant right now and saw in the post not to take it right now but was wondering if there is any benefit to topically applying the berries(smashed and applied to the areas).
Captain's Wife - Jennifer said,
November 5, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
Very interesting! I have pokeweed growing wild all over the place on our farm! I had heard it was poisonous too, which made me think I should chop it down, now I am glad I didn’t! Might have to try a berry.
It is a gorgeous plant. Thanks for the info!
Ulrike said,
November 8, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
My father has told us stories of pokeweed and how they use to eat it when the plant was small. My grandmother (who is 92 this year) would make a poke salad or cook it just like spinach. Thank you so much for the other info too. I wonder if it could be used for gallbladder stones. The doctor has said that is what I have, and I would like to get rid of them other than their yanking the gallbladder out of me! If anyone has any good suggestions please let me know!
Thanks!!!
Ulrike