Re: CS>DMSO and poke

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:56:51 -0700

Medicinal Properties of Poke Root: Medical qualities which have been linked to Poke are alternative (metabolism balancer), anodyne (painkiller), antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antitumor (cancer fighting), cathartic (bowel evacuation), emetic (induce vomiting), immune stimulant, laxative, and lymphatic decongestant. Quite an impressive list, eh? This is probably why much of traditional Herbalogy is poo-poohed by the medical professions. How can a medicine have so many uses? Certainly the modern refined drugs have only one or two specific indications. Well, this is exactly the reason why many herbs have multiple medical indications. Plants are not refined, single drugs, but a package of many chemical compounds which work together to make that unique plant viable. When one prescribes a whole herb extract, a whole series of extracted components are being given to the patient, not one. Luckily, most of these plant compounds are synergistic and will often improve the medicinal values of the complete plant extract as a remedy. As is the nature of the beast, that extract can have multiple uses and influences on varied metabolic functions. 















         Poke was first judiciously utilized and known in 19th century 
medicine as a emetic and cathartic.  Those were the days when our medical 
physicians highly relied on the process of purging body toxins via both the 
mouth and anus as a routine method of achieving lost health.  Such body 
evacuations have long gone out of fashion which is why I think Poke has been 
dismissed as a valuable medicinal herb.  It was the Eclectics of the last 
century that saw in Poke (Phytolacca) something much more valuable than its 
purging properties.



          John King's American Dispensatory reviews the other virtues of 
Poke.  It says Poke is an important therapeutic aid in skin conditions.  It 
will kill scabies infestations, sooth inflamed skin, and aid in healing 
dermal abscesses/ulcerations/boils.  Phytolacca is indicated in chronic 
eczema, psoriasis, varicose veins, syphilitic types of eruptions, fissures, 
and painful lymphatic enlargements.  It can be employed both internally and 
externally for such conditions.  King's text further praises the usefulness 
of Poke in diseases of the mouth and throat:   laryngitis, tracheitis, 
influenza, diphtheria, tonsillitis, stomatitis, follicular pharyngitis, and 
ordinary sore mouth.  It will stimulate the mucous membranes of the mouth 
and promote glandular activity.  Sore, irritated, inflamed throats have been 
cured by it.  The Eclectics held Poke in the highest esteem in glandular 
conditions of the mammary.  It shines as a remedy in acute mastitis.  It has 
further been shown of value in treating granular conjunctivitis and other 
eye inflammations.  It holds relieve for certain rheumatic conditions.  King 
describes the use of the root and leaves: "The root, roasted in hot ashes 
until soft, and then mashed and applied as a poultice, is unrivaled in 
felons (purulent infection) and tumors of various kinds. It discusses them 
rapidly, or if too far advanced, hastens their suppuration."  He goes on to 
tell that an infusion of the bruised leaves may be applied to indolent 
ulcers with the best of results.  Phytolacca has had a long history as a 
cancer fighting herb.  One of its name is Cancerroot.



          The benefits of Poke Root as an immune stimulant and lymphatic 
decongestant is a more modern revelation.  Simon Mills in his text, 
Principals and Practice of Phytotherapy, describes the immunological 
stimulating properties of Poke.  He cites PWM (poke weed mitogen) as the 
factor which stimulates lymphocyte production and increases the number of 
blood plasma cells.  Poke, also, contains LSF (lymphocyte stimulating 
factors) which induces lymphocytes to differentiate into lgM-secreting cells 
and multiply as such.  Further, LSF causes polyclonal B-cells to 
differentiate into lgM-secreting cells.  Lastly, there seems to be an 
antiviral protein present showing laboratory activity against many plant and 
animal viruses.





     ----- Original Message ----- 
     From: Melly Bag

     To: [email protected]
     Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 8:21 PM
     Subject: Re: CS>DMSO and poke


           Forgive me for butting in, but what is pokeweed good for?



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