Phytolacca, Poke root Phytolacca, Poke root P. decandra (American): Poke, Poke root P. acinosa (Indian, Chinese): Indian Poke, Indian Pokeberry –Shang Lu (TCM) –Dpa bo dkar po  དཔའ་བོ་དཀར་པོ་ (Tibet) P. decandraFlora von Deutschland (20), Kohler, 1885 PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA1. Longitudinal section.  2. A typical cross-section.  3. Concentric woody or fibrous tissue.4. Incompletely annulate surface.  5. Cross-section of small root.Squibb’s Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919 Botanical name: Phytolacca spp.P. decandra, P. americana (American); P acinosa (Chinese)The Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists both P. acinosa and P. americana as sources for Shang Lu, meaning the two are used synonymously.Tibetan texts list 3 types of Dpa po: Dpa bo dkar po: P. acinosa Dpa bo ser po: Veratrilla spp. Dpa bo rgod po Parts used: Root; Prepared RootThe prepared root collected from TCM suppliers is will be the safest form to use internally. Temperature & Taste: Cold, dry. Bitter, Pungent. Toxic Uses: 1. Purges Water:-strongly purges water, causing diarrhea (full doses)2. Clears Heat and Damp, Clears Poison, Resolves Swellings:-Swollen Glands, Lymphadenitis, Tonsillitis; Lymphatic adenitis. (BHP)-acute and chronic inflammations-Mastitis, Orchitis, Ovaritis, Laryngitis, Nephritis etc.;-Syphilis, Mumps-Psoriasis, chronic Eczema, Tinea Capitis, Lupus-Ulcers of the lower legs including Varicose Ulcers-‘a reliable force against Cancer.’ (Haller, Medicine Lexicon, 1755)-Tumors,…

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