Phytolacca americana. Illustration by Michelle Enemark.
Poke
For the medicine of poke (Phytolacca americana), we will not start with the recipe. But with a warning. All parts of Phytolacca americana contain potentially toxic elements. If you need its medicine and you are not an herbalist yourself, I recommend finding a trusted herbalist to guide you. I sat with the poke plant for ten years before I ever tried her root medicine.
MEDICINAL USE:
Poke root tincture is a powerful lymphatic cleanser. It works especially well on the lymph nodes of the neck and the breast. I know many mothers who have safely used poke to clear mastitis. There are also many accounts of women who have used poke root tincture and poke root salve to clear breast lumps. Poke root tincture also works wonders on sore throat accompanied by swollen neck glands. Some of my herbalist friends have used poke root tincture to treat especially difficult cases of Lyme disease. Again, I recommend the guidance of a trusted herbalist for treating such a condition.
There are much gentler lymphatic cleansers that one might prefer to poke root. Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a wonderful alternative that is gentle enough for children. I would not use poke root medicine with a child.
Poke was used by many Native American healers and was also quite popular with the Eclectic physicians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If poke grows where you live and you find yourself drawn to it, it is well worth exploring its many historical uses and getting to know the plant better.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH POKE & MASTITIS:
I've only taken poke root tincture for one condition in my life. When my newborn infant was about two weeks old, I developed a mild case of mastitis. A clogged milk duct and tender breast was accompanied by fever and body aches and chills like the flu.
Mastitis is a bacterial infection, and I've had bacterial infections before. My body's reaction felt very similar to those. I started with one drop of poke root tincture and worked my way up to ten drops on the third or fourth day. I watched my body very closely as I increased the dose and I never had side effects. For me, the mastitis cleared after two days of taking ten drops, once a day. But that is just my experience and cannot be used as a guide for others.
(I should also mention that it was essential that I got back into bed with the baby and was resting. My symptoms erupted as I was out of bed trying to do housework. I found that being overtired and stressed led immediately to a flare up of inflammation. Housework, returning to work, having visitors, or going into the world can be very physically stressful for a new mother. In the first few weeks of your new baby's life, do every thing in your power to find extra support so that you may rest and be with the precious little child you have worked so hard to bring down to earth.)
CAUTIONS/POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS:
A low overdose of poke root tincture might make you feel spacey or fuzzy headed. A high overdose of poke root tincture might make you nauseous and lead to diarrhea or vomiting. If poke seems to be having a negative effect, stop taking it. Always listen to your own body.
***DO NOT use poke plant medicine if you are pregnant. It is too powerful for the unborn fetus and could cause birth defects.***
And finally… the recipe…
POKE ROOT TINCTURE
INGREDIENTS:
Freshly dug and blessed poke root
80 proof or higher liquor (vodka recommended)
Find your poke bush in the late fall or early spring when the aerial parts have died back. Bless it, pray with it, feel its message, see what medicine it has for you. I recommend visiting the plant a few times before you harvest.
Dig your root with shovel and hand, trying to be careful to leave the mother root. I use gloves when handling the actual root because my skin is quite sensitive.
Rinse the dirt off of the freshly dug root. Chop it into pieces. Fill a jar 3/4 full and then cover with the liquor. This needs to brew at least 6 weeks. I never strain my roots. I just let them continuously brew. If you're in a situation where you need the medicine quickly, you may start using it earlier than 6 weeks. It just won’t be as potent.
Blessins, friends.
*Disclaimer*
This material is intended for educational purposes only. This recipe does not provide specific dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner.