I agree with you Chris. For many years, I was afraid of eating common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) for the same reason. Euell Gibbons' "Stalking the Wild Asparagus" was one of the first books about wild plants I owned back in the 80's. Out of curiosity, I eventually wanted to know how bitter this plant was and ate a very small bit of leaf - it was sweet! Since then, I harvest flowers, leaves, and young stems for food and drinks, being careful to first check leaves for monarch eggs. I routinely pinch off the tops as a treat when working in the rest of the garden. What I know is that you can be allergic or sensitive to ANY plant food, even common produce you'd find in a market. But since I discovered how delicious milkweed is (and haven't gotten sick or died, lol) I will continue to eat this plant without boiling "in several changes of water".
I agree with you Chris. For many years, I was afraid of eating common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) for the same reason. Euell Gibbons' "Stalking the Wild Asparagus" was one of the first books about wild plants I owned back in the 80's. Out of curiosity, I eventually wanted to know how bitter this plant was and ate a very small bit of leaf - it was sweet! Since then, I harvest flowers, leaves, and young stems for food and drinks, being careful to first check leaves for monarch eggs. I routinely pinch off the tops as a treat when working in the rest of the garden. What I know is that you can be allergic or sensitive to ANY plant food, even common produce you'd find in a market. But since I discovered how delicious milkweed is (and haven't gotten sick or died, lol) I will continue to eat this plant without boiling "in several changes of water".