The poke plant is an incredibly misunderstood and underappreciated creation.

If you google this plant, you will more than likely read that it is dangerous and that you should avoid it. We don’t listen to google around here - or ai. 

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding Pokeweed. Some people have been taught to fear the plant so completely that they won't even touch it. Others see its long history of traditional use and assume that means it can be approached casually.

I have spent time getting to know poke. I have watched how it grows, where it chooses to live, how it changes throughout the seasons, and how the land around it responds to its presence. I have harvested it with intention. I have worked with it carefully. And perhaps most importantly, I have learned to respect the boundaries it carries. The medicine I offer to you here was harvested, cleaned, and prepared by me (& kind helpers) - 100% organic, ethically harvested, and made with so much love.

Poke is a powerful plant - and I am excited to share much of what I have learned with you. There are resources linked at the bottom of this article. As always, I encourage you to READ, learn, think, and explore this and all plants on your own, for yourself. 

This information is for educational purposes only.

This is not medical advice. 

When I work with poke, I can feel the medicine coursing through the veins, vessels, and metabolic pathways in my body. This is what poke does - she works to clean and clear the blood, the lymphatic waters, and the intra and extracellular fluids of the body. 

She “cleans up” the mucus membranes that line the various tissues throughout our bodies. She has the potential to regulate the microbial worlds that exist within us. 

We have more bacterial cells within us than we do human cells! These are living organisms within our living organism, and these organisms form the thoughts we think, the feelings we feel, and ultimately - the quality of the life that we live.

Pokeweed contains biologically active compounds with antimicrobial properties, meaning they can influence the growth and survival of certain microorganisms. Laboratory research has shown that some pokeweed extracts can inhibit particular bacteria and fungi.

This is where pokeweed's relationship with the microbiome becomes especially interesting. Our microbiome is not simply a collection of “good” and “bad” bacteria - it is an entire living ecosystem - or more like many ecosystems. When compounds affect certain microorganisms differently than others, they have the potential to influence the relationships within that ecosystem.

I have witnessed this plant reduce chronic edema by 90% in less than 3 days. Poke reduces swelling, inflammation, and pain. It can help to reduce pain and swelling around arthritic joints.

Great for clearing cysts, boils, and other conditions of dampness and heat. 

Many sources teach us that poke oil & tincture helps to combat various cancers - especially breast cancer. 

All parts of the plant have traditionally been appreciated as food and/or medicine. The berries can be swallowed whole (chewing the seeds tastes bad AND can cause stomach upset in some).

The recommended dose is 3 berries a day, 3 days a week. 

I work with the root of this plant the most - so that’s what I am focusing on in this article. 

Poke root has potent anti-viral properties against plant and animal viruses. 

Pokeweed contains powerful compounds that have been shown in laboratory studies to stimulate parts of the immune system. Some of these compounds can activate T cells and B cells (important immune cells that help the body recognize and respond to potential threats) and encourage them to multiply. I prefer to describe pokeweed as immune-active rather than simply “immune-boosting.”

Recommended Usage: 

If you haven’t read my article on the importance of drinking hot lemon water, read it after this one by clicking HERE. 

Before you reach for the coffee in the morning, treat your body to a cup of fresh-squeezed, hot lemon water. As you begin to sip on your hot lemon water - put recommend number of drops under your tongue. 

First week: 1 single drop under your tongue each morning

Second week: 2 drops under your tongue each morning

Third week: 3 drops under your tongue each morning

Break for 1 week

After your one week break, you may start again at 1 drop, 2 drops, or 3 - as desired, each morning.

DO NOT EXCEED MORE THAN 10 DROPS AT A TIME. 

As you spend time with and develop your relationship with this plant, you will adjust your dosage to suit your needs. To work with me while using this plant, book a session [HERE] 

If you have any questions or concerns, send an email to:

realmedicine@communitynourishment.org

Resources: 

Materia Medica for Poke

Christpher Hobbs on Poke

The Naturopathic Herbalist on Poke

PubMed on Poke

Todd Caldecott on Poke

There are many more resources available for this wonderful plant, especially YouTube videos. Stay tuned and I will post more, and make my own!