Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, is a poisonous plant but if it is prepared properly it can be edible. It has been used by both American Indian’s and in western herbal medicine as an emetic, cathartic, narcotic and alternative. The berries were used to make dyes, ink and necklaces.
Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry.
Pokeweed Sources:
Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.
Brill, Steve. Wild Edibles Plus. Computer Software. WinterRoot LLC. Version 1.5. 2012. Web. Feb. 15, 2014.
Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 1471-1475
Fernald, Merritt Lyndon & Alfred Charles Kinsey. Edible Wild Plants of Eastern North America. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1996. Print. pg. 185-187
Foster, Steven and James A. Duke. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America. 2nd. ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000. Print. pg. 65-66
Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 50
Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 142
Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 397-398
Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 200-201
Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 46-47
United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.
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Thank you for the kind words. I put a lot of time and effort into my work.
The seeds possess known hallucinogenic alkaloids, especially harmine and harmaline. The esteem in which the peoples of Asia hold the plant is so extraordinary that it might indicate a former religious use as an hallucinogen, but the purposeful use of the plant to induce visions has not yet been established through the literature or field work.
That’s very interesting and insightful. I had not looked into the Asian perspective of this plant species and I’m glad you brought that up, that is something I should look into more. I appreciate the information, thank you.
Thank you for the very comprehensive information. I would love to keep this volunteer weed in my garden with all of it’s medicinal properties , and try some of my ancestors cures; but alas with my baby granddaughter I think it’s best if I remove it. Do you have any know of any precautions I should take while removing it?? Thank you and many blessings
I’m glad you liked the info. I don’t know of any other precautions to be concerned about, but I would use garden gloves just incase.
Thanks so much for the timely informative response!
Gustavo : My plant grew wildly in my yard next to my Black Berry plant. How can I use this plant for chronic pain that I suffer with for 30 years. Its stated that the seeds are poisonous. Thank you for your work.