Pokeberries
Health Benefits

Pokeberries - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Jul 09, 2025
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Pokeberry Health Benefits on Earth Clinic.

Pokeberry, also known as Phytolacca Americana, is a plant native to the Eastern United States. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine despite its reputation for being toxic. This article explores the benefits and uses of pokeberry, focusing on its medicinal properties, nutritional value, and potential side effects.

Medicinal Uses of Pokeberry

Pokeberry has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for various ailments. Here are some of its notable medicinal uses:

1. Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Pokeberry roots are known for their strong anti-inflammatory effects. They have been used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and joint pains. North American Indians traditionally brewed tea from pokeberries to alleviate arthritis symptoms.

2. Skin Conditions

Pokeberry has been used to treat various skin conditions, including scabies, ringworm, acne, hemorrhoids, diabetic skin ulcers, and boils. Early colonists used pokeberry sap to heal skin lesions, and dried pokeberry fruits were applied to wounds in the Appalachian Mountains to speed healing.

3. Respiratory and Inflammatory Diseases

The roots of the pokeberry plant have expectorant and purgative properties, making them useful in treating respiratory conditions such as chronic sinusitis and bronchitis. Additionally, they have been used for swollen glands and other inflammatory diseases.

Nutritional Value of Pokeberry

Pokeberry shoots are rich in essential vitamins and minerals. One cup (160 grams) of raw pokeberry shoots contains:

  • 217 mg Vitamin C
  • 696 µg Vitamin A
  • 0.528 mg Vitamin B2
  • 2.72 mg Iron
  • 0.669 mg Manganese
  • 0.251 mg Copper
  • 0.234 mg Vitamin B6
  • 1.92 mg Vitamin B3
  • 0.128 mg Vitamin B1
  • 70 mg Phosphorus

Pokeberry in Food and Coloring

Pokeberries are often used as a natural red food coloring and a red wine coloring agent. However, it's crucial to note that pokeberries should not be consumed raw due to their high toxicity. The berries must be thoroughly cooked to be safe for consumption, and they are sometimes used in pies.

Potential Side Effects of Pokeberry

While pokeberry has many medicinal uses, it is essential to be aware of its potential side effects and toxicity:

Poisonous Properties

All parts of the pokeweed plant are poisonous. Consuming raw pokeberries, drinking tea brewed from pokeweed root and leaves, or eating pokeberry pancakes can lead to poisoning. Green pokeberries are more poisonous than fully mature red berries, and eating just ten berries can be toxic to an adult.

Common Side Effects

Side effects from pokeweed consumption can include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Cramping
  • Stomach Pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Low Blood Pressure
  • Incontinence
  • Thirst

Precautions

  • Avoid pokeweed if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Children should not consume pokeberry in any form.

Conclusion

Pokeberry offers numerous health benefits and has traditionally been used to treat various ailments. However, due to its toxic nature, it should be used with caution and under professional guidance. If you have experience using pokeberries or pokeroot, please share your feedback and continue to explore the potential of this fascinating plant.


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Poke Herb Photos

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 08/07/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Here is a close up of pokeweed.

Poke is tall now in TN; some plants are 6 feet tall!

This picture shows the bright magenta berry stem. Most of these berries have been picked clean by the birds. They will digest all but the seeds and then pass the seeds along for new poke plants next spring. The seed is the most dangerous part.

The green berries are not ripe. The deep purple berries are ripe. Some people will swallow a berry a day and let the seed pass through (the seed is the most toxic part, other than the root.) The berry a day is for arthritis.

Poke root tincture is used by some for Lyme disease, a DROP at a time. (Not a dropperful.)
Poke root oil is used for breast tumors.

In the spring the leaves used to be boiled in three changes of water for a "tonic" food. If the plant is taller than a foot, the plants are too old to harvest the leaves, so they say.

Poke berries make a fun homemade ink for children, with supervision of course.

Poke is a perfect example of "the dose makes the poison." Poke is classified as poisonous, but when used carefully by those who know what they are doing it can be a great benefit.

~Mama to Many~


Gout and Joint Pains

Posted by Joyce (Tn.) on 01/08/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Gout:

Pick your pokeberries (poke sallet) next fall. Great for all joint pains. My brother had a bad attack of gout and hobbling with a walker. Said doctor told him he would have to live with it because he had nothing else to try. Picked him a bag of ripe pokeberries and carried to him. Had a little trouble in talking him into eating asparagus also, because he said the doctor told him it was bad for the gout. My reply was it was bad for the gout but it was good for him. Two days later with about 15 to 20 pokeberries 4 times per day and plenty of asparagus, he was walking without limping, without pain and without the walker.

When you have a bumper crop of pokeberries, just dehydrate the excess that you can't use while fresh and ripe. For those who want to get more sophisticated and make a pokeberry tincture or extract, just google "how do I make a herbal extract or tincture. Basic rule of thumb is two most common diluents is alcohol and vinegar. Fresh herb is equal parts of herb to diluent. Using dehydrated herb use ratio of 2 parts diluent to one part dehydrated herb.


How to Make Pokeberry Extract

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 07/25/2008 490 posts
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Response to Sandra

"To Joyce from Joelton,Tn. Gout: What is the method used with Pokeweed for Gout? Do you make a paste and wrap the foot, or do you ingest them? Please advise? What are the exact measurements for this herb?"

I started doing this by putting berries in l gallon jug and using enough Vodka to just cover the berries. Put tight lid on and let set a week or two, moving jug around a little every two to three days. After that, just strain off the liquid and store in brown or green bottles. Beer bottles work fine for storage. (You can also use your potato masher (or whatever you have) to kind of sqush those pokeberries before straining the liquid off.

For those of you who are interested in doing your own herbs, when using fresh herbs your ratio is l:l. If using dehydrated herbs the ratio is l part herb to 2 parts diluent.

I can't remember where I read it, but I do recall reading that you shouldn't treat children under l2 with poke, because it hastened the setting of the long bones (arms & legs). There might be something to this because my family ate a lot of poke sallet and many of us have normal size bodies but short arms and legs. I might also add that most references recommend parboiling through 3 waters before ingesting, but my family (and others that I know who ate their share of it) only parboiled through one water (water discarded) before proceeding to finish cooking it and eating it.