Dorothy FarrarIndian Kermesbeere
Pokeweed has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat and prevent various diseases. In naturopathy it is only used occasionally today. The safest, however, are homeopathic pokeweed remedies.
General overview
The pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa) is a Southeast Asian plant from the pokeweed family (Phytolaccaceae). It is therefore also called Asian pokeweed. All plants in this family are poisonous to a greater or lesser degree, so great care must be taken when using them medicinally. The Indian pokeweed is a perennial, bushy plant with a maximum height of 150 cm.
It has stalked oval leaves that are about 30 cm long. From May to August, small greenish or white flowers are formed on their bulbous and erect inflorescences. They later turn into blackberry-like purple-purple to black berries and are filled with small shiny black round seeds. The root of the pokeweed is shaped like a turnip.
The most toxic parts of the shrub are the seeds and roots. They may not be used under any circumstances. The very young shoots and young leaves are high in protein and can be eaten like vegetables . The berries (without seeds!) are harmless in small quantities if they have been ripe for a long time. The young shoot tips and leaves of the pokeweed are best collected in spring, the berries in autumn.
occurrence and cultivation
The Indian pokeweed is at home in many tropical and subtropical regions. It occurs in Asia (Japan, China, North and South Korea, Vietnam, Bhutan, Myanmar, India), Africa and North and South America. In Europe, the attractive shrub is used as an ornamental plant in the garden. The undemanding plant prefers sunny locations and moist, well-drained soil. If you want to grow the Indian pokeweed in your garden, it is best to use it as a seed in a pot.
Since the plant is a cold germinator, the seeds must be kept in the fridge for about 4 weeks before sowing them in the pot. If the pot is then placed in a room with a temperature of 22 degrees and the substrate is kept constantly moist, the seeds will germinate within 3 to 6 weeks. In spring you can plant them out in the garden. Since the pokeweed loves warmth, you should overwinter it indoors or provide it with winter protection.
application and effect
Pokeweed contains triterpene saponins , alpha-spinasterol, enzymes , cyan dyes, tannins , oils, resins, gamma-aminobutyric acid, lignans, histamine , lectins, saponin glycosides, pokeweed mitogens, phytolaccagenin, phytolaccanin, phytolaccatoxin, phytolaccasaponin, and phytolaccasides. The usable parts of the plant have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory , antibiotic , immune-boosting, diuretic , expectorant and cholesterol-lowering effect.They can be used internally and externally if the user strictly follows the prescribed dosage and preparation. If you still have concerns, choose the homeopathic medicine. For a rheumatism tea, the patient pours 1 teaspoon of dried young leaves and shoot tips with 250 ml of boiling water and leaves the whole thing covered for 5 minutes. Poultices with pokeweed tea help with skin diseases.
If he wants to consume them as a vegetable, he boils the tender young leaves and shoot tips for 15 minutes and boils them again in fresh water for 15 minutes. He can also benefit from the draining and blood-cleansing effect of the pokeweed. Excessive doses of Phytolacca acinosa can cause slight symptoms of poisoning such as vomiting , dizziness , diarrhea and gastrointestinal cramps. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking pokeweed.
What does the Indian pokeweed help against?
importance to health
Pokeweed is still used today in traditional Chinese medicine. It is primarily used to treat patients with cancer, edema, inflammation and respiratory diseases. In addition, the ancient remedy is used to prevent these diseases. Since the components of the pokeweed have immune-boosting and antioxidant properties , they prevent the division, growth and spread of cancer cells.
The immune system activates T lymphocytes and killer cells, which eliminate the tumor cells. The user can even use the pokeweed as a preventive measure against (intestinal) cancer. The saponins of the medicinal plant bind the cholesterol taken in with food in the intestine , so that it is excreted unprocessed with the stool. In this way, the patient’s cholesterol level is lowered.Thanks to its antibiotic substances, the traditional medicinal plant also helps with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism, infectious diseases and – when used externally – skin diseases. The diuretic effects ensure the drainage of inflammatory substances and excess water from the tissue. In homeopathy, the remedy Phytolacca, obtained from the Indian pokeweed, is used to treat angina, flu-like infections and inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.