Phytolacca americana

[‚fīd·ō‚lak·ə ə‚mer·ə′kän·ə]

(botany)

poke

WARNING- POISONOUS RAW ! Poisonous raw, but powerful healer when used right. Poke contains a compound, known as poke activating factor (PAF), which is structurally similar to interferon. PAF also functions like interferon, but unlike pharmaceutical interferons, PAF is not tissue specific. Therefore PAF works on multiple tissues, including the liver. but note it can be dangerous at higher levels. WARNING- all parts of this plant are poisonous if eaten raw. Boil the young leaves and stems at least twice or three times, throwing away the water from each boiling. The dark shiny berries are also edible if cooked. Do not eat the roots, they are poisonous, or any of the plant if red or purple is anywhere on the plant. Also only eat young leaves, not old ones. Know what you are doing with this plant!

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Pulsatilla - a flower derivative - and phytolacca americana were prescribed for the arthritic condition, together with formica rufa - derived from red ants - injections into her limbs.

The Big Question: Homeopathy does it work?; SOME SWEAR BY THIS NATURAL THERAPY, WHILE OTHERS SCOFF. ANDREA KON TALKS TO TWO CONVERTS

The gap became dominated by Rubus allegheniensis Porter and Phytolacca americana L.

Because broken, empty seed coats of Rubus allegheniensis and Phytolacca americana are often found at the study site, we suspect that small mammals are the most important granivores.

Differential postdispersal seed predation in disturbed and intact temperate forest

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.