Arrowroot, Maranta arundinacea, is a tropical plant native to the Americas. It is most often used today as a thickener for food, a non-GMO alternative to cornstarch. Arrowroot isn't commonly used at home as food in our society today, except by those individuals who are on gluten-free diets and/or needing an alternative to cornstarch.
Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that you are able to grow arrowroot in your area. That fact alone is often a deal-killer for me, but I have been known to make exceptions, especially for medicinal items with a respectable shelf life. If you can grow it in your area, you'll have a powerhouse of nutrition at your fingertips. A one-cup serving of arrowroot contains impressive amounts of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B1, B3, and B9, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
As you do your own research into arrowroot powder and determining whether this is something you want in your stores, keep in mind that arrowroot powder and arrowroot flour and arrowroot starch are all the same thing. Also, when using arrowroot to replace cornstarch, start with substituting 1/3 to 1/2 of the amount of cornstarch the recipe calls for. Be sure to make a slurry, you know, like you do with cornstarch or flour, mixing the arrowroot powder with a small amount of water or other liquid, before stirring it into the soup or gravy or whatever. Also, be sure to stir the arrowroot slurry into the soup right before serving, as high heat breaks down the thickening qualities of the arrowroot.
Arrowroot has a shelf life of at least 3-4 years when properly stored.
However, the culinary uses of arrowroot are not the focus of this post today. Honestly, I probably wouldn't bother with arrowroot for its uses in food. No one in my immediate family is bothered by gluten issues, and while I do try to avoid all the genetically-modified food I can, I don't stress too much over cornstarch as we really don't use it that often.
Historically, arrowroot was highly valued for its medicinal effects, and that's what we're interested in today. Arrowroot especially developed a reputation for its efficacy against poison arrow wounds and snake and spider bites, but it's got a lot of other interesting uses, too. Fortunately for those readers living in tropical areas, the active constituents of arrowroot are also found in other plants: Florida arrowroot (Zamia integrifolia, cassava (Manihot esculenta), and kudzu (Pueraria lobata). The rest of us will have to buy it.
INTERNAL USAGE
Arrowroot is mixed into juice, water, or some other drink, about two teaspoons per cup of liquid, and then taken to relieve the following conditions:
- Gastrointestinal conditions, including:
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea and dysentery
- Food poisoning, to treat and as a preventative, may be added to soups, gravies, and other liquids.
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Urinary tract infection.
- Bladder infections and cystitis
- Also, may be taken daily to prevent recurrence of these infections.
- Teething pain in infants.
- Arrowroot biscuits have been around for ages. Arrowroot powder may be applied directly to the gums, or it may be used as flour and baked into biscuits for teething.
- Boost immune system.
- Venomous snake and spider bites. Arrowroot juice or tea was historically administered to treat these bites. However, I could find no mention of modern usage.
EXTERNAL USAGE
Historically, arrowroot powder was mixed with a little bit of water to make a paste and then applied directly or in a poultice to treat the following:
- Venomous snake and spider bites.
- Smallpox
- Poison arrow wounds, infected wounds, including gangrene.
Contraindications: None. Safe for babies and pregnant and nursing women, when used in normal quantities. Sitting down to a meal of arrowroot only is not a good idea. Just like eating a cup of salt is not a good idea.
Caution: Do not take arrowroot powder in conjunction with any other medications or supplements to alleviate diarrhea. You risk extreme constipation.
For further reading:
https://draxe.com/arrowroot/
https://www.yourhealthremedy.com/medicinal-plants/arrowroot-powder-uses-health-benefits-side-effects/
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/arrowroot.html
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-28032000000100005&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en (diarrhea treatment in IBS)
https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/arrowroot-for-babies-benefits-and-recipe/
https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/prevent-recurrence-of-uti-with-arrowroot-powder-bs915/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15453588
https://draxe.com/homemade-probiotic-deodorant/moistening and a
nourishing effect on the body.
https://downshiftology.com/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-arrowroot-powder/
https://stilltasty.com/Fooditems/index/16412
© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com
19 jul 2021
17 june 2024
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