Western Herbalism
Poke root
Phytolacca americana
Also known as Poke weed, Poke, Pocan, Pokeberry, Pokeweed, Red Plant, Score, Garget.
Root=dried Berry is anti-rheumatic Plant is emetic w/o preparation Affinity for glands of throat, skin, lymph, buccal, tonsillar, nose, testes, ovaries Likely ineffective to treat rhuematoid arthritis Part of Turska's formula
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Cysts (ovarian)
- Tonsillitis
- Pharyngitis
- Orchitis
- Lymph nodes (hard, painful, enlarged)
- Cysts (breast)
- Mumps
- Abscess
- Lymphadenopathy (axillary)
- Lymphadenopathy (cervical)
- Mastitis
- Inflammation
- Chronic skin conditions
- Metabolic waste accumulation
- Immune weakness
- Recurrent infections
- Rheumatism
- Arthritis
- Joint pain
- Infection
- Respiratory catarrh
- Laryngitis
- Adenitis
- Skin infections (e
Safety
Recognised toxicity. This plant carries a toxicity flag in the record; it is for trained practitioners only.
Low dose botanical. Used in drop doses in the classical practice; not a plant to dose freely.
Pregnancy: Not for use in pregnancy
Breastfeeding: Not for use while breastfeeding
The record lists 5 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Tincture (1:5) | 1-30 gtts TID, acute:10-30 gtts TID | 0.02-0.6 mL |
| Topical oil | Apply w/ heat 2-6 x/day to enlarged lymph nodes | |
| Dried root 0.06-0.3 g as an decoction three times daily | 60-300 mg | |
| (G7) Liquid extract 0.1-0.5 mL (1:1 in 45% alcohol) three times daily .(G7) | 0.1-0.5 mL | |
| The dose may range from one to two fluid ounces three times a day | 29.57-59.15 mL | |
| Fluid Extract of Phytolacca Root | Dose, from five to thirty minims. | 0.31-1.85 mL |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Clinical Notes. Root=dried Berry is anti-rheumatic Plant is emetic w/o preparation Affinity for glands of throat, skin, lymph, buccal, tonsillar, nose, testes, ovaries Likely ineffective to treat rhuematoid arthritis Part of Turska's formula
Therapy. External. A poultice of poke root has given relief to felons and mammary inflammation. If used early resolution may take place; if suppuration occurs it will hasten that process. Locke advised the specific medicine with glycerin (2 fluidrachms to 1 fluidounce) for external use in mammitis.
Therapy. This agent must now have especial attention in its influence in the treatment of acute inflammations of the throat. It makes but little difference what forms of throat disease we have, from the simplest forms of pharyngitis, through all the variations of tonsillitis, to the extreme forms of diphtheria, this remedy may be given in conjunction with other indicated agents.
Properties and Uses. The berries of this plant are relaxant, with a peculiar and not very unpleasant taste, and a slow action. Their chief power is expended on the glandular structures, mildly but persistently securing a better flow of saliva, urine, and perspiration, and freer action of the bowels.
Drawn from Cook's Physio-Medical Dispensatory; King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd); Ellingwood's American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy; Felter's Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
Often paired with
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BurdockArctium lappa
Prickly AshZanthoxylum americanum
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PlantainPlantago lanceolata
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Pointed gourdTrichosanthes dioica
Poison HemlockConium maculatum
PoleoHedeoma oblongifolia
PolygalaPolygala senega
Polygala rootPolygala tenuifolia
PolymniaPolymnia uvedaliaThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
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