Extensive and extraordinary uses
Pokeroot (Phytolacca Americana, Pigeon Berry or Cancer Root) is a perennial member of the Phytolaccaceae, growing up to 4m in rich light soils in Europe and North America. It has purple stems carrying oval, pointed leaves and produces racemes of pink flowers, which become dark purple berries in mid-summer. The plant was used extensively by native Americans for treating some forms of skin cancer and as a remedy for sexually transmitted diseases, which may have given rise to its name.
Pokeroot contains lectins, tannins, triterpenoid saponins and resins, and these are concentrated in the root, which is dried and thinly sliced. The compounds give the plant a wide range of applications, the most prominent being as a lymphatic alterative, parasiticide, anti-neoplastic, fungicide, anti-rheumatic, and anti-inflammatory. Herbalists refer to the plant as ‘vegetable mercury’, claiming that its action on the blood is slow but powerful. The claims made for pokeroot are extensive and extraordinary, it has been applied as a treatment for swollen glands and lymph nodes, mumps, tonsillitis, inflammation of the prostate gland, ovaries and testicles. It is said to give relief in cases of chronic skin ailments such as ringworm, eczema, psoriasis, acne, scrofula, lupus and itching of the genitalia and anus. If this isn’t enough, then consider that it is recommended for internal and external ulcerations, polymyalgia, rheumatism and arthritis. It is highly rated by herbalists as a treatment for breast problems such as mastitis, mammary abscess, fissured nipples, fibrotic nodules and hard lumps that have not been diagnosed as benign.
Medical observations have confirmed that pokeroot halts the erosion of periosteum in bone, and a paper submitted by Dr.W. Dewey claimed that he used the plant to cure a cancer of the lip. A number of early medical practitioners in North America, following native American practice, used the plant to treat skin carcinomas.
It was commonly known among poultry farmers that it was unwise to let their birds feed on pokeroot berries because it caused them to lose most of the body fat. This piece of agricultural history seems to be exercising the minds of some of the major drug companies, I wonder why?
The appearance of pokeroot indicates it is toxic, nearly all the preparations made from it have to be processed to eradicate its toxicity.
Next week Mate
