At the risk of injuring someone with misinformation, Sam, the roots, leaves, stems and leaves of Poke or Pokeweed are "dangerously poisonous". Not my words, that's from the Peterson guide.
Pokeweed contains phytolaccatoxin and phytolaccigenin, which are poisonous to mammals.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokeweed
The reason you boil it in multiple changes of water is to remove the toxins.
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