Pokeweed Wild Edible Food

Pokeweed grows in open sunny areas that receive lots of sunlight. The edible parts are the young leaves and stems but they are only edible if properly cooked. You must boil the edible parts and then discard the water. Then you boil them again in a fresh pot of water and eat like spinach. The fruits are also edible if cooked and actually are the least toxic part of the plant, but never eat the fruit raw.

Warning: All parts of this plant are poisonous if eaten raw and underground portions should never be eaten at all!

Also even cooked Pokeweed should not be used by people who are taking antidepressants, disulfiram, oral contraceptives, or fertility drugs. Pokeweed can cause menstrual cycle irregularities and may also stimulate contractions of the uterus.

With so many negatives surrounding the plant it might seem strange to even include it here. But I have included it because it is a very commonly known survival plant and it actually has a large following with regard to its medical uses. Like most medicines the dose is extremely important. Too much medicine can kill you, So likewise with Pokeweed. Prepare it properly and it is a commonly available survival plant that can provide good nourishment when you find yourself in a pinch.