Phytolacca americana, commonly known as pokeweed or American nightshade, produces berries that are poisonous unless prepared in specific ways. Phytolacca berry is available as a homeopathic remedy for weight loss and other purposes; only buy from reputable supplement manufacturers and homeopathic practitioners
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Uses
People use phytolacca as a folk and homeopathic remedy for many potential benefits, although research is lacking to support any of these uses, according to Drugs.com. Phytolacca is claimed to assist with weight loss, and treat fungal infections, tonsillitis, fluid retention, painful menstruation, syphilis, mumps and rheumatoid arthritis. It is also an alternative cancer treatment.
Benefits
Compared to other homeopathic medications, phytolacca, prepared from the fleshy root of the pokeroot plant, is a minor remedy that is used to treat an assortment of ailments. This remedy is primarily used to treat gland ailments, particularly those related to the breast – tumours, both benign and malignant and/ or mastitis accompanied by pain causing a sensation as if the breast has been stitched and the wound is raw. Women suffering from mastitis experience swollen and firm breasts and the stitching pain radiates all over the body. Their condition worsens when they are breast feeding. In addition, homeopathic medicine practitioners recommend the use of phytolacca for people suffering from tonsillitis and pharyngitis, wherein the color of the throat turns deep red and the tenderness spreads to the back of the ears, making swallowing difficult.
The homeopathic remedy phytolacca is also prescribed for a number of other purposes, including weight loss. Advocators of this medication claim that it is also effective for facilitating weight loss as well as curing ailments, such as tonsillitis, fungal infections, agonizing menstruation, mumps, syphilis, fluid retention as well as rheumatoid arthritis. Some people also claim that this homeopathic remedy is also helpful in treating cancer.
In effect, the use of phytolacca berries for weight loss in tablet form is a very recent development in homeopathy. This form of phytolacca is not prepared from the root of the pokeroot plant, but freshly obtained American yoke berries that enclose elements which help obese people in getting rid of their extra flab. It has been proved that taking this medication along with a number of exercises intended for weight reduction is highly beneficial for people struggling with obesity.
As discussed earlier, this homeopathic remedy is mainly used to treat gland problems, such as distension with heat and inflammation. Besides, being an useful remedy for glandular problems, including breast problems, phytolacca or pokeroot weed is a potent medication for treating problems related to fibrous tissues, scarred tissues and muscles. The widespread gland problems that can be cured using phytolacca include tonsillitis, throat ulcers, sore throat, distended or swollen tonsils, inflammation of the breasts and chest, swelling or soreness of the lymph node as well as burning and throbbing parts of the skin. In addition, this homeopathic remedy is very useful for treating other frequent glandular ailments, such as mastitis in breast feeding women, sties (tender swelling of the eyelid) and other problems related to the eyes.
Cautions
Because phytolacca berries are toxic, do not take any homeopathic preparation of them except from a reputable manufacturer. Young phytolacca berries may be eaten after you boil them in several changes of water, according to Drugs.com. Remove them from the water, pour out the used water, and begin again with new water. Boiling mature phytolacca berries does not reduce their toxicity. Phytolacca has been associated with nausea, severe vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, seizures and breathing problems, reports the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Serious cases of phytolacca toxicity can be fatal.
Interactions
None are recorded.
Other names
References
Source: Herbs2000, http://www.herbs2000.com/homeopathy/phytolacca.htm
Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytolacca#Uses
LiveStrong, http://www.livestrong.com/article/315661-phytolacca-berries-for-weight-loss/