Most of us parboil for a few minutes, then drain and cook. It is moderately toxic especially the roots. In my youth I use to grub out the big roots dry them and sell them to the Chattanoga Medicine Company which made herbal medicines. I think they used it in laxatives. It is not a plant you want to eat raw.
http://www.eattheweeds.com/can... I only use the leaves and shoots from emerging plants. One old time remedy for rheumatism was to make a tincture of the berries in white lightning.
