Health Benefits Of Arrowroot
Arrowroot, also known as the obedient plant, is a large perennial herb that is chiefly cultivated in the West Indies, Australia, Southeast Asia, and South and East Africa.
Arrowroot flour’s lack of gluten makes it a good substitute for corn starch and wheat flour in baking recipes. It is also used as a thickener for acidic foods.
Archeological studies discovered that this herb has been cultivated as early as seven thousand years ago. Its name came from its ability to treat poison arrow wounds by drawing out the poison once applied to the injury.
Arrow root is also known for its health benefits. Aside from being an effective cure for poison wounds, it is also traditionally used to cure gangrene. It is also a powerful antidote for vegetable poison and can be used for the treatment of smallpox.
It is known in the medical community as cure for people who are having dietary restrictions and digestion problems since it helps regulate bowel movement and ease diarrhea. Its rich content of calcium, carbohydrates, and other nutrients makes it a good source of nutrition for infants, people who have bowel problems, and those who are on restricted diet.
However, the medicinal uses of arrow root are not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since it has not been studied extensively, its reputation of effectiveness is based only on folk remedy.
There are alternative physicians who give credit to arrow root’s ability to soothe stomach illnesses. There are also prominent herbalists who recommend it as an effective cure for athlete’s foot. However, scientifically, arrow root is not known to have any anti-fungal properties.
When taken in recommended dosages, the arrow root is known to be safe. However, due to the lack of medical research, the herb’s long term effect when taken regularly is unknown. Children, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and people with liver or kidney diseases should use it with caution.
