Photo Courtesy of Pauline Tom

Mountain City Montage
by PAULINE TOM

Perhaps your inquiring mind wanted to know, like mine… “What’s gonna happen to coral snakebite victims when antivenom becomes unavailable on October 31 (and, between now and then, if the expiring antivenom cannot be located)?”

Without antivenom, lung shutdown normally happens several hours after a coral snake injects venom … after tingling sensations in extremities, slurred speech and droopy eyelids.

The Poison Control Center told me this week of a pharmaceutical that hospitals can administer in the absence of the availability of antivenom, Neostigmine. Such is an “off label indication” to reverse paralysis.  And, the victim may be “intubated” (breathing tube and mechanical ventilation) for days to weeks until the coral snake venom symptoms subside.

The antivenom in Mexico, Coralmyn, would go through an accelerated USDA approval process if a person or entity would provide the estimated $3 million to $5 million for the required testing.

I wonder how much it will cost to determine if pokeweed can cure AIDS?

What?! Straight from the American Cancer website, in the “Herbs, Vitamins and Minerals” section:

“Some research has shown that a protein contained in pokeweed, called pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), has anti-tumor effects in mice and laboratory studies. In test tube studies, PAP has also shown action against viruses such as herpes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Clinical trials have not yet determined whether these effects apply to humans.”

The official website goes on to say that PAP appears to enhance the immune system and has some anti-cancer effects in animals. And, lab studies have suggested that certain formulations may be useful against cancer cells which depend upon hormones for their growth (prostate, breast and ovarian).

Native Americans and herbalists knew long ago of the medicinal value of pokeweed. Common names include “cancer root” and “cancer jalap”.

Still from the cancer site … James Polk’s supporters (not our James Polk; rather, our 11th president) wore poke twigs, mistakenly believing the plant was named for their candidate.

Some tribes used it to purge evil spirits.  All parts of the plant are poisonous to some extent, and it can cause violent vomiting, diarrhea and death.

(Should you need the Poison Control Center for pokeberry poisoning, a snake bite, or any such emergency, phone 800-222-1222. Your call will be routed to a poison center in Texas.)

Poke’ing around the Internet, my tidbit basket filled to overflowing as I researched this gigantic herb that produces “bluebird food,” shiny purple berries. This year, the poke by my kitchen window is just about poke’ing the eaves.  I’ll be rafter-hanging excited when I see an Eastern Bluebird right there above the dirty dishwater. So far, just a mockingbird.

There’s another plant found round about here that some country folk prepare in the same way as poke. Gather tender sprouts in the springtime. Cook and rinse three times. Can you guess what it is? Hint: Unlike poke, it is anything but “glabrous.”

Don’t be pokey. Please send me some tidbits now. Don’t take the time to make pokeberry ink (which was used to write the Declaration of Independence). Just email ptom5678@gmail.com or give me a call at 512-268-5678.

Thanks! Love, Pauline