Poke (Phytolacca Americana) Plant ally and friend

This year the poke in our yard is tall and productive. We’ve harvested enough berries to freeze for the year. I eat 5 to 15 of these on days when I need the lymph support. (comes and goes a lot with the systemic infections I’m clearing).

Poke is a plant that many fear. The berries can indeed kill dogs and children and make adults quite ill. They are potent detoxifiers. Birds love them. The roots make wonderful tinctures and balms. The balm helps move out tumors and other “bumps and lumps.” A wonderful ally for breast support and all infections, really. I use the roots in balms and oils. I’m not tolerating alcohol these days, but when I have, the tincture too has been helpful. The greens are cooked into what is called “poke salad” … I’ve not eaten them. You have to know what you’re doing and cook them 3 times. The locals in Appalachia where I first learned about the plant eat them. The locals here in Arkansas seem to have heard of it but not actually eaten them…like it’s lore…things they heard about from their grandparents. Really it was like that in Appalachia too but I knew people who were into herbs there so more people had eaten them.

Poke took me under her wing and taught me how to utilize her potency productively and safely. Plant spirit medicine is real. It is a sad reality that so few understand how to commune with our plant friends in this way. I would be dead without her and many other plants who have helped me along the way.

To learn more about Poke and how to make your own tinctures etc. Visit Corinna Wood’s website.

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