The interesting thing is that I found a lot of poison oak or ivy growing in among the poke. I suspect its photoperiod, temperature, rainfall and other factors all working together. It has a smooth, stout, purplish stem that branches extensively and can reach up to 2 inches in diameter. You might notice pokeweed on your property and need to remove it. Ive been researching this berry for a while, and I was wondering if the berries could be refined into a juice. I came up with three possibilities- high potency vinegar, boric acid solution or borax solution. Applying cool compresses to the skin can ease inflammation that is common with pokeweed rash. Thinking there was a connection I rubbed crushed Polk stalk on another area. The root of this plant can be very large and the plant can be hard to pull, especially since the skin can slip off when you try. I never boil more than once.. My Apache stepdad taught me to strip all of the red from it and batter and fry stems and leaves.. Thats the way I like it best.. I keep seeing comments that it is very poison, the whole plant. Inhalation of plant pollen, fumes, or dust may cause asthma-like symptoms. Rendering every root, stem, leaf, and berry as potentially poisonous. The immune system then prepares a defensive reaction for thenext time the skin encounters the substance. Really enjoyed this article and its full of useful information. It is a pain trying to get rid of something which comes back again and again after chopping at the root. Eating even a small amount of any part of this plant can kill people, livestock, and wildlife. I let pokeweed grow really tall for the birds this year, but now it is already wilting and dying back. Yet, toxicity levels will vary depending on the part of the plant in question and the actual age of the plant itself. It can occur at any age and it appears as a rash that itches or feels prickly, and looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. I have some cancer spot on my skin and would love to try. Heres one example. Great story, Teresa! Pokeweed is UNSAFE to use. Pokeweed is a native herbaceous perennial in thePhytolaccaceae family that may grow 4to 10 feet high. Symptoms from pokeweed reactions can be dangerous, so its always best to stay on the safe side. The berries have been used for food coloring, ink, and dye. Keep asking questions from real health pros, but all my background is telling me that, other than some weird allergy, something else is going on here. I use it and my stepdad used it on a woman who had the worse case of poison oak, I had ever seen in my life. As mentioned, skin rashes and experiences of inflammation have been widely reported. Before you begin digging or handling the plant, make sure to gear up with protective clothing to keep your skin and eyes safe: Heavy work gloves Long-sleeved shirt Heavy pants Work boots or tennis shoes (not sandals) It normally grows in the same area as poison ivy. I just googled this poke salad which I have ate all of my life I am 52 my best recipe is to boil over t just a couple of times then put it a cast iron skillet with some bacon grease and plenty of eggs and left over rice and season to your liking what a treat I still enjoy this meal to day but like greens Id does take quite a bit its name poke comes from the name of poke cause you used poke which is a sack you know a poke sack I remember so well my mother would tell me to go get a poke sack lol I was raised like the show the Waltons remember the show from the 1970 as most of you who have read this article on this plant we lived on and ate off the land I didnt know we we ever poor as I nev r wend with out my grandma canned and pickled every thing and buchtered all our meat I eat better than most of others of those times one day I wish to write a book of those days gone by which when I reminisce it put a great big smile on my face ear to ear cutting hay laying in the hay loft and drinking freash milk which we owned a dairy farm wel I guess this enough lol for nowor I could go on for hours kids these days think its was such a hard life not to me I enjoyed every day well letter I hope you all enjoyed reminiscing with me and Randy glad to read your article but m reason how I came across your article was I am do some research on ways of stacking small plaints that dont require a wide area nor a lot of head room in which to grown which would have require as many acreage I have my devised designed which would allow me to reclaim the would and reuse the would with out any fertilizer by knowing what plaints need I know that which plants and weed and other organic materials would make the channel value that the plants would need I plan on making prototype which would allow me me to grow beets for example purposes five acres of beets on just half of a arces with out bringing in soil all my soil I will make my on soil even having excess soil I know this has nothing to do with your article but I am just exside in being able to grow more and using less acres and no fertilizer or any chemicals and way less the labor and back bending which will decrease labor and the cost of preparing the field well talked to much I would really like to share the ideal with others who may be interested please fill free to email wdcharles63@gmail.com thanks for your time, Thanks for the information, William! The rash that results from the poison plants is a form of allergic contactdermatitis. It got somewhat yucky, but not like so many peoples bites. Got his results back from the culture and he had a strep AND staph infection! With proper care, the rash should disappear in a couple of days. In fact, an old remedy for arthritis among elderly Southern ladies is to boil the root in some lard for making a most effective liniment that can be rubbed into aching joints. As a kid though I loved accidentally coloring my clothes with the berries when I played outside. Like all things, it has pluses and minuses, but, on average, we think its worthwhile having around. I boiled the pokeweed roots after cleaning, soaked gauze in the juice, wrapped the swollen parts of my arm in that and wrapped it after I gently scuffed the bite with a soaked cloth. Are you sure it was the poke that did this? I used this gauze at night for about two weeks, refrigerating the left-overs and making more as needed. Rubbed down rest of rash and noticed it healing up the next morning on third day of rash. But for now it will stay for a while longer. Your email address will not be published. I was raised like that and continue to do it. The stem will turn more red as it matures. I found it intriguing to read how varied individual responses and experiences with ingestion were, not because Im skeptical, but because I *do* concur that we are all quite individual and some are more sensitive than others (with the possibility of early childhood exposure maybe also having an influence). It can cause a high fever followed by a rash that doesn't itch or hurt. Just as you would poison ivy or oak. I loved the flavor of poke salad then and still do now preferring the flavor over many other greens. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/NHGRI_human_male_karyotype.png/1200px-NHGRI_human_male_karyotype.png. The reason for concern is that the sap from this plant can cause a severe skin reaction known as photo-dermatitis or photo-sensitivity. N.C. One plant can produce tens of thousands of seeds that can remain viable in the soil for 40 years. It took a few weeks to completely disappear, but I had no scaring whatsoever. Thanks for all this info. Backyard Gooseberries are Saucy Little Things, Spring Rerun: Kimchi from your backyard to you, The Long Travelers: Leaf-cutter Bees, Part II, Cutting-up in Columbia: Leaf-cutter Bees in the Yard. Pokeweed contains chemical compounds that may cause serious gastrointestinal distress, including nausea, diarrhea and cramping. I found two glaring errors probably from auto correct in my post so heres a corrected version: Poke weed Thanks for commenting. The rash usually won't itch, and it is sometimes so faint that you won't notice it. \. Well, lucky for me, some Pokeweed started growing in my back yard. thanks for your info. On 6x 20 area. Not only was your article delightful, but Ive really enjoyed reading through everyones comments. You can't catch shingles from someone. It's caused by a virus that spreads from person to person. While buying items through these links wont increase your cost at all, we may receive a small commission that helps keep this site up and running. At best, causing a nasty, itchy rash. But now my eye is Very puffy on top and Very swollen underneath. I first tried pokeweed when I lived in Carbondale. Some people like it becuase it has pretty flowers and berries and smells nice, but it is incredibly destructive to native ecosystems. Thanks for the comment. Yes. I didnt touch anything else at the time except grass. Im a technological person, and when I was in my twenties, I worked in a cytogenetics lab at Johns Hopkins. Heres the kicker. It is also extremely poisonous to humans. Dont touch it. I supose that if quail can eat them without problems, with chickens wont be diferent, right? Im allergic to many things. His mother would never cook it for the kids due to the side effects, but she used it to kill rodents. DO NOT CHEW THE SEEDS! You must rub it into where the poison oak or Ivy has made the red rash on you , It will burn a lot but will start to heal in a few days ! Besides being red and inflamed, the rash will also likely be extremely itchy. This may last about five to seven days. Thanks for the imformative post !! Just like with humans, dogs should be kept away from all parts of the pokeweed, but especially the roots and pokeberries. At least 5 feet now. Actually, hes going to be reacting to a peanut allergy as well double death insurance. Applying an over-the-counter, topical hydrocortisone ointment can help to alleviate the itch. And you will occasionally see some forums that say Sure! The diversity of nonwoody vascular plants is staggering! If you are not sensitive to this toxin, good for you. In this article, youll learn more about pokeweed toxicity, the symptoms to watch out for and what to do in case of exposure. I took pictures of his hands and chest. Wow Ive learned a lot reading all these posts !!! Thanks for the heads up. I think youre safe. Many local people swallow two or three dried poke berries for arthritis. In a saucepan, I add just enough water to cover the plant material..Cover with a lid, bring to a boil and simmer for half an hour.. All parts of pokeweed are considered toxic. Dont use anything with antihistamines or benzocaine. I was glad to find your post. I, also, have 9 bee hives on my property so I am a little wary of even the borax. The smooth, sturdy, erect reddish or purplish stems of pokeweed make it an attractive and memorable plant. And good luck. Final note: Canada [actually Mongolian] thistle demands special treatment. Exposure to its toxic proteins can cause an inflamed, blister-like rash. Pokeweed is a simple perennial, which means it relies on seeds for propagation. Now tonight while googling pics of my plant, I discovered its a Polk weed plant that I have. However, a person with shingles can pass along VZV to people who have never contracted chickenpox. I didnt know they were posionous till today. 2. When the cells are not in the process of splitting, the chromosomes are all spread out like threads, and cant be identified. Even though pokeweed is known to be poisonous to humans and other mammals, some herbalists believe it can be used safely. It is very insistent about that. Yes it attracts a certain moth. According to the CDC, a monkeypox rash can occur on multiple parts of the body including: the face, mouth, hands, feet, chest, genitals, and anus. Only young shoots/leaves may be eaten after careful preparation. wish I could have used this myself, Ive eaten the ripe berries with no side effects so thanks for the warning about the leaves and root might try some though as my heart rate is around 90 bpm, will get back to you all about that. really enjoyed your article. Check Elk/Bear Permit Application Results, Managing Invasive Species in Your Community, Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants. Ive eaten poke all of my life.. Be careful even a broken dead pokeweed can give you a reaction. Please read our affiliatesdisclosurepage to find out more. The highest levels of poison are in the roots, but the stems and leaves are toxic as well. That should work. Things, it has a smooth, sturdy, erect reddish or purplish of... Factors all is pokeweed rash contagious together only was your article delightful, but not like so many peoples bites is. 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