Pokeroot

I like to think of every encounter
I’ve had with a plant as the forming of a friendship.
I have learned to pay attention to every new plant that I spy in the yard because it means they’ve shown up for some reason.

One summer afternoon I sat in my yard, watching my kids play in the pool.  I was in the throes of a horrible illness. (The L Word) When the kids got out and were sunning themselves,  I did a tour of the yard and this gorgeous plant, about 4 feet high, suddenly caught my attention and drew my gaze.  It must have been months since I was out here, I thought.  It had gorgeous green leaves, thick succulent stalks that had a purple hue, and the darkest, black-purple berries on a stalk of white with each berry having its own stem.  Beautiful thing, I thought.  Why don’t I know you?

As always, I quickly had a book out, looking for the identification of this being.  It only took a few moments.  It was Pokeroot (Phytolacca americana).  I hadn’t heard anything about this plant since I was a little kid.  There was a familiarity there.

As I began to do the research, I realized this was not going to be a straightforward relationship.  The fear that permeated the information about this plant was rampant – and I suppose rightly so. A quick Google search for Pokeroot will yield warning after warning.  And so, at first I was just content to admire it but I wasn’t going to touch it.

But it wouldn’t leave me alone.  There was also page after page of the glories and benefits of this plant.  And one day I was reading about its use in treating mastitis and other diseases in the lymph system.  An incredible sensation shot through my body.  It began in my chest and grew to fill every cell, every organ.  I knew that I was receiving confirmation that this was the answer I had been looking for and praying for.  I would be able to heal my illness through this plant.   But how was I going to do that without ending up in the ER?

Step by step, Pokeroot revealed its uses and secrets to me.  I started with some topical uses.  To this day, it is the best thing for an ingrown toenail.  A berry, straight from the plant, is smashed into the crevice where the nail is cutting into the tissue.  It’s nothing short of miraculous.  And over time,  the process of how I would use this beautiful plant and create a powerful ally came to be.

Just like a faithful companion would, this plant always supports when called upon.  And never fails.