medicinal uses of cassava

Cassava has had many folk medicine uses in tropical and subtropical countries where it has been a staple food for millions of people. Leaves and roots have been a folk remedy for tumors and cancers, which may be due to the B17 content, also known as laetrile. Vitamin B17 is also found in some seeds like apricots, peaches, apples, plums, nectarines, cherries, bean sprouts, flax, millet, lentils, macadamia nuts, as well as bamboo shoots, watercress and sweet potato. Edward Griffin in his research and book, ‘World without cancer, the story of vitamin B17’, says that B17 stimulates haemoglobin red blood cell count. Griffin believes many ailments of man could be related to a simple vitamin B17 deficiency. It is noteworthy, that in some ethnic cultures, where the way of life has been a very simple diet with cassava as a staple food, cancer is a very rare occurrence.
Medicinal Uses of Cassava

1. For relief of headache or fever apply a head compress of pounded cassava leaves.

2. Solution formed by boiling the bark of the stem of the cassava plant will help expel intestinal worms and will also serves as medicine for rheumatism.

3. Pounded cassava tuber may be applied on ulcerated wounds as medicine. The juice from the pounded tuber also as an antiseptic.

4. Cassava starch relieves the ill-effects of rashes and prickly heat. Place cassava starch on affected parts.

Nutritive Value of Cassava

1. The cassava tuber is boiled and eaten with or without sugar.

2. The tuber is a good source of gapleck and sago. From gapleck, starch is manufactured which is then made into flour and used in the preparation of biscuits, cookies and bread. Sago is used in the preparation of "guinata-an", a native delicacy.

3. The cassava starch is also made into paste which serves as glue.