Just heard on local channel 4 news, a Houston source has developed a cure for a childhood leukemia. The first recipient was in an early stage and recovered in 3 weeks. The medicine is made from Phytolacca americana , also known as poke weed or poke berry and sometimes the dish 'poke salad'. It is in the bouquet of this page with a few lines on its role in my garden:
Oct 6, 99 Come Stroll
Sorry I am not qualified or able to give any more info on the subject, but was so excited to hear they may have found the first remedy for such a cruel disease. And that once again, Nature provides.
How wonderful! Let's just hope the FDA/ beaurocrats don't stall it for too long before it becomes available. Although I understand there has to be regulations, I find it often sad when those who have NO other hope, can't even use the experimentals that are being tested because they can't be released to the general public. Of course, that brings me to the subject of insurance coverage -- or lack thereof -- for experimental treatment. Don't get me started on that one!
Well, I always enjoyed polk salad when my grandmother and parents cooked it. Apparently, you have to parboil the heck out of it, or it will kill you. As much as I like to eat it, I've been scared to try to cook it myself. Can't you just see the tombstone? "She forgot to parboil."
It is a very pretty plant. It grew wild at the old farm. My goats liked it and it didn't seem to bother them.
Great news on leukemia cure, see they should have listened to Elvis...Poke Salad Annie, guess she knew how long to boil it. I know what you mean though Carolyn, kidney beans are the same, so we always use tinned ones (would that be canned ones in Texas land?).
Well I didn't know to boil it when I cooked some for Larry! When the plant just appeared in the garden (prob from bird sowing), Larry said his grandmother used to etc.. so I picked the leaves and steamed it like spinach, added grated onion sauted in butter and some chopped ham. He's still kicking. But I have since heard that it is only the old leaves are are not edible. A friend also took home some for dinner, saying that the oldtimers in her family only ate it in spring.
I had forgotten about 'Poke Salad Annie' Terry!
That's really an old song. I don't think I'd ever fess up to having heard it. Man, is Larry one lucky guy. Every single time my family cooked the stuff, they talked about the importance of cooking the heck out of it.