122 lines
6.2 KiB
Plaintext
122 lines
6.2 KiB
Plaintext
PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA (POKE ROOT)
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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
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Poke root is an American perennial shrub which grows in damp
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woodlands, hedges, and waste places. Though the plant may grow
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up to 3 metres in height, the most unusual physical feature is
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the large root with its irregular branches. The stems are erect,
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round, and hairless. They branch near the top and often have a
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reddish tinge. The short stemmed, light green leaves are 12-20
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cm long, a pointed egg shapr or oval, their margins entire and
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wavy. The leafless, flowering stems bears an extended spike of
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small, greenish-white flowers. The deep purple or black berries
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ripen in autumn. About 1 cm. in diameter, they contain a purple
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juice that makes a powerful dye. Unripe berries are slightly
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poisonous.
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BIOCHEMICAL SONTITUENTS
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POKE ROOT'S MAIN CONTITUENTS INCLUDE TRITERPENOID SAPONINS,
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ALBALOID, RESINS, PHYTOLACIC ACID, TANNIN, FORMIC ACID, FATTY
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OIL, AND SUGAR.
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The albaloid constituents are fundamentally nitrogen containing
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molecules that have a marked effect on animal and human physiology
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in varying roles from pain killer to poison to conscious expander.
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Tannins have the effect of precipitating, or curdling, protein
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molecules producing a sort of leather coat on the surface of the
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tissue in question. Little documented evidence exists as to the
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specific beneficial role of phytolacic acid.
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PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION
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Phytolacca is broadly described as an alterative, a purgative,
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and an emetic. An alterative is an herb which will gradually
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restore the proper function of the body and increase health and
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vitality. They act to alter the body's processes of metabolism
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so that tissues can best deal with the range of functions from
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nutrition to elimination. Emetics are herbs that cause vomiting
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through irritation of the stomach or nervous system. A purgative
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is an herb which has the effect of causin rapid and violent
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diarrhea. In large doses phytolacca may produce gastro enteritis
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with concomitant vomiting and diarrhea. It acts as a depressant on
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the respiratory and cardiac centers as well as depressing the
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visual and auditory senses.
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THERAPUTIC EFFECTS
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Phytolacca is undoubtedly an excellent alterative stimulating
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metabolism and also acts as a detoxification agent. As an
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alterative it is used in chronic rheumatism and regular
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conjunctivitis. Used as an ointment it is used in psora, tineacapitiss,
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favus, and sycosis, and other skin diseases. Specifically, Poke root
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is indicated in the treatment of the lymphatic system. Supporting this
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system is basic in most anti-cancer treatments as well as cleansing
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programmes for a whole range of health problems. As an alterative, Poke
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root plays a role in helping to maintain the healthy functioning of the
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lymphatic system. It is especially indicated in mastitis,
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where it can be used internally and as a poultice. It is also an
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indicated remedy in the treatment of adenitis. Poke root has
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been indicated as a remedy in the treatment of cancer, with a success
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in alleviating certain forms. It has been used successfully when applied
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externally in cases of uterine cancer.
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It has also been stated to be of undoubted value as an internal
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remedy in cancer of the breast. It is obvious that a great deal
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of success may be claimed but the actual documented proof seems
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to be low. Research is taking place into its physiological and
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biochemical function and initial results seem to indicate the
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Poke root has the effect of boosting the immune system through
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its interaction with the proliferation of T-cells.
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Changes can be induced in lymphocytes by certain plant mitogens,
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one of the most important being phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). It is
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termed a polyclonal T-cell activator because it reacts with the
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T-cell surface nonspecifically (i.e. not as an antigen) and
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produces the same series of cellullar events as does antigen,
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locking onto its specific surface receptor. Unlike the situation
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with antigen stimulation where only a small fraction of the
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cells are sensitive, PHA transforms a major portion of the T-cells.
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Additionally, some B-cells are affected although their
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response appears to be T-cell dependent. The picture is emerging
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that helper T-cells are preferentially stimulated by PHA> Poke
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weed activates both T- and B-lymphocytes.
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It appears from the above discussion on the effect Poke root has
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on lymphocytes that its beneficial role in cancer is a legitimate
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one. It may be surmised as well that a number of other opportunistic
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infections and diseases, such as Acquired Immune Dificiency Syndrome
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(AIDS) may also be beneficially treated with Poke root as one of the
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therapeutic agents. In lymphatic disorders, Poke root is often
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used in conjunction with Cleavers or Blue Flag. Phytolacca is
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used homeopathically when the general symptoms of aching,
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soreness, restlessness, and prostration are present. It is
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pre-eminently a glandular remedy when glandular swellings are
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present with heat and inflammation. It has a powerful effect on
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Fibrous and Osseous tissues; fasciae and muscle sheats. It is
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also reported to act beneficially on scar tissue.
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PREPARATION AND DOSAGE
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Unearth roots in late autumn (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER) and after
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careful cleaning, cut into slices lengthwise or crosswise.
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Drying may occur in either sun or shade. The root is grey in
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color, hard and wrinkled. The fracture is fibrous. It is
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inodorous, and the taste is acris and slightly sweet. When used
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as an alterative, the following prescription has been
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recommended: Fluid extract of Phytolacca (2 oz, Gentian (1 oz),
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and Dandelion (1 oz) with simple syrup to make a pint. One
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teaspoonful may be taken after each meal. In external
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application, 3 oz. of Poke root and 1 oz of tincture used in the
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strenght of 1 tablespoon to 3 pints of tepid water for bathing
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the part.
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Though Poke root is considered an emetic, the dosage required to
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bring about this effect is so close to the dangerous toxic level
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that its use as an emetic is not recommended. In the lower
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animals, convulsion and death from paralysis or respiration may
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be caused. Overdoses may produce considerable vomiting and
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purging, prostration, convulsions and death.
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