20 Jul Sun 2014
HERBS THAT JUST ARE NOT SAFE TO USE AS MEDICINE. THIS THE THIRD ENTRY
POKEWEED Scientific Name(s):Phytolacca americanaL. Family: Phytolaccaceae
Common Name(s):American nightshade , cancer jalap , cancer root , chongras coakum , common pokeweed, pokeberry , poke root, poke salad (or poke sallet), crowberry , garget , inkberry , pigeon berry , poke , red ink plant , scoke, Virginia poke,
USES: to make a great mess of greens, treat cancer, AIDS, herpes
Pokeweed berries are one of the ingredients in the Hoxsey formula
Pokeweed isUNSAFEto use. All parts of the pokeweed plant, especially the root, are poisonous. The leaves and stems are next in toxicity, and the berries have the smallest amount of poison. However, children have been poisoned by eating raw pokeweed berries, and some have died. Severe poisoning has been reported from drinking tea brewed from pokeweed root and pokeweed leaves. Poisoning also has resulted from drinking pokeberry wine and eating pokeberry pancakes. Eating just 10 berries can be toxic to an adult.At doses of 1 g, dried pokeweed root is emetic and purgative.
The practice of brewing pokeweed plant parts with hot water to make tea has caused poisoning.
THE EFFECTS of eating the uncooked or improperly prepared plant can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches, blurred vision, confusion, dermatitis, dizziness, stomach pain and weakness, difficulty controlling urination (incontinence), thirst, convulsions, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, heart block (a blockage of the electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to contract), and death may occur. Animals can also die of toxic effects from eating pokeweed, although it does not happen often.
Thetoxinsin Pokeweed, are usually concentrated in the roots, berries and seeds and include an alkaloid (phytolaccine), a resin (phytolaccatoxin), and a saponin (phytolaccigenin). Their effects can range from embarrassing to very nasty, including diarrhea, vomiting, internal bleeding, rapid heartbeat, convulsions, and much more, up to and including death.
Don’t touch pokeweed with your bare hands. Chemicals in the plant can pass though the skin and affect theblood. If you must handle pokeweed, use protective gloves.
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RHUBARB Rheum Rhaponticum of the Buckwheat Family
This is the rhubarb that many of us are familiar use for making pies, sauces, and jams. However, use only the stalks.
During World War I in Britain, as well as the United States, rhubarb leaves were recommended as a substitute for other veggies that the war made unavailable. Apparently there were cases of acute poisoning and even some deaths. Some animals, including goats and swine, have also been poisoned by ingesting the leaves. Rhubarb leaves containpoisonoussubstances, includingoxalic acid, which is anephrotoxicandcorrosiveacid that is present in many plants. Humans have been poisoned after ingesting the leaves. Cooking the leaves with baking soda can make them more poisonous by producing solubleoxalates. However, the leaves are believed to also contain an additional, unidentified toxin, which might be ananthraquinoneglycoside(also known assenna glycosides).
Although most of my research came up with information on leaves and very little on the roots themselves, I don’t think that with this particular species (grown in the United States for pies, jams, etc) the roots would be safe to consume.
SYMPTOMS OF RHUBARB POISONING:BODY: general weakness, burning in the mouth, death from cardiovascular collapse. THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: difficulty breathing. WITH THE EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT: burning in the throat. THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM : abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; and THE NERVOUS SYSTEM : Convulsions, coma.
RUERuta graveolens (LINN.)from the Family of N.O. Rutaceae
A/K/A herb of grace; herbygrass, Ruta, rutae herba, vinruta.
In the Middle Ages and later, it was considered - in many parts of Europe - a powerful defense against witches, and was used in many spells. Talk about superstitious! This herb goes way back in ancient history, which is where it belongs.
It was used for a very long list of ailments such as: digestion problems, including loss of appetite, upset stomach, anddiarrhea, heartand circulation problems including heart palpitations, hardening of thearteries (arteriosclerosis), breathing problemsincluding pain and coughing due to swelling around thelungs(pleurisy),
headache,arthritis, cramps, and muscle; nervous systemproblems ,epilepsy, multiple sclerosis , andBell's palsy, fever, hemorrhage,hepatitis, “weakness of theeyes,” water retention, intestinal worm infestations, andmouth cancer. Rue was also used for snakebites, pinworms, tapeworms. Rue is also used to kill bacteria and fungus. Some women use Rue for menstrual problems, to stimulate the uterus, and to cause anabortion. Rue is sometimes applied directly to theskinto treat arthritis, dislocations, sprains, injuries of the bone, swollen skin,earaches,toothaches, headaches, tumors, and warts; and as an insect repellent. WOW! Did we leave anything out?
According to WEBMED: “Rue isUNSAFEwhen used as a medicine. When taken by mouth, it can cause side effects such as stomach irritation, changes in mood,sleepproblems,dizziness, spasms, seriouskidneyand liverdamage, and death. When applied to the skin, it can causerashand increased sensitivity to the sun.”
It isUNSAFE for anyone to use rue in medicinal amounts, but people with the following conditions are especially likely to experience dangerous side effects:
Pregnancyand breast-feeding: It isUNSAFE for both mother and unborn child to take rue during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Rue can cause uterine contractions, which can cause amiscarriage. That’s why rue is used to cause an abortion. But it also has serious effects for the mother; she can die using this stuff!
Stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal, GI) problems: Rue can make existing GI problems worse
Kidney and urinary tract problems: Rue can harm the kidney and irritate the urinary tract.
Liver problems: Rue can make existing liver problems worse
RUE is used as an insect repellant. Topical use of Rue can cause the skin to blister. Rubbing fresh rue leaves on the forehead to cure a headache, if one is exposed to the sun will bring on a dermatitis condition that will be much worse than the headache!
De Milto, Lori; Frey, Rebecca."Foxglove."Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (December 27, 2013). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3435100319.html
webmd.com
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants
The Honest Herbal by Varro E. Tyler
http://www.encyclopedia.com/
The Complete Guide to HERBAL MEDICINES BY Charles W. Fetrow and Juan R. Avila
Know Your Poisonous Plants by Wilma Roberts James
An Illustrated Guide to 101 Medicinal Herbs by Steven Foster
http://nadiasyard.com/our-native-plants/american-pokeweed
You are incorrect about the use of poke berries. Quit an exaggeration there, lol. and btw no one has ever died by eating poke berries, not even children. Why do you lie?
it looks like you are the one not doing the research! Google : "how many people in the USA have died eating poke berries" and see what the research from the American Cancer Society ; WIKIPEDIA; MEDLINE PLUS; and a host of others!
If you want to eat the berries, roots, leaves, even stems, go ahead! Take chances on your life! After all, it is YOUR life!
Trust me, the poke plant is very toxic. I've learned this first hand.
I've had this growing around my pool for three years. The poke plant can grow at least ten feet tall and can look like an ornamental plant creating privacy.
As I changed the filter on my pool the backs of my arms came in contact with the leaves and rubbed against my arms. It caused an outbreak looking and feeling like shingles.
Two ER visits and a dermatologist visit, not to mention 40 mg of prednisone for a week to get my sedrate down from 114 to 50, normal is 30. Now trying to come off the prednisone without going into adrenal failure has been a nightmare.
There are reasons they say to eradicate this plant........it's very toxic and harmful.