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Origin, Distribution and Composition
The bamboo is a perennial tree which grows up to a height of about 12
meters with its trunk 8 to 15 cm in diameter. Every year, between July and
October, new shoots sprout at the base of the tree. Bamboo trees are
always found in clusters.
The stem of the tree is round, smooth and hollow. Nodes are swollen. The
tree has no branches but, the lower portions, that is, three-fourths of
the tree, have more spines between each node. It has simple, shiny, thin,
stiff, smooth and dark green leaves. Flowers are found in bunch and seeds
resemble the corn of wheat, in shape.
Bamboo is presumed to have originated in Asia. The tree grows wild
throughout most parts of India, especially in the hilly forests of western
and southern India but is cultivated only in the lower Himalayas and in
the valleys of the Ganges and Indus.
An analysis of bamboo shows that it contains moisture 88.8 per cent,
protein 3.9 per cent, fat 0.5 per cent, minerals 11 per cent and
carbohydrates 5.7 per cent per 100 grams of its edible portion. Calcium,
phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C are amongst
its vitamin and minerals. Its calorific value is 43.
Bamboo leaves are a rich source of hydrocyanic and benzoic acids. Tender
bamboo-shoots contain various enzymes such as nuclease, deamidase,
proteolytic enzyme, amylase, amigdalin splitting and silicon splitting
enzymes. Resides, the juice of the pressed bamboo-shoots possesses
protease activity which helps digestion of proteins.
Healing Power and Curative Properties
The leaves of bamboo tree are stimulant, aromatic and tonic. They are
useful in counteracting spasmodic disorders, and arrest secretion or
bleeding. They are also an effective aphrodisiac. The leaves do not have
any prominent taste.
Stomach Disorders
The leaves are beneficial in the treatment of stomach troubles. They are
useful in strengthening the stomach and promoting its action. The young
shoots of the tree are also useful in stomach disorders. Pickled or
cooked, they serve as an appetizer. In many parts of India, the leaves of
the tree are used in the form of decoction to treat diarrhea.
Respiratory Disorders
The tender shoots are useful in the treatment of respiratory diseases.
Decoction of the shoots should be taken with a tablespoon of honey once or
twice daily.
Menstrual Disorders
A decoction of the leaves as an emmanagouge would stimulate menstruation.
It promotes and regulates the menstrual periods. A decoction of the nodes
of the bamboo stem is also useful for this purpose.
Intestinal Worms
The leaves are useful in killing intestinal worms, especially threadworms.
They should be taken in the form of decoction.
Wounds and Ulcers
A poultice of the tender shoots is used for cleaning wounds and
maggot-infested sores. Decoction or juice of the fresh bamboo leaves is
applied as a medicine in such ulcers.
Dosage: The juice of 35 grams of fresh leaves may be taken twice daily
either alone or mixed with any other juice. The decoction extracted from
70 grams of leaves may be used by itself. About 120 ml of the juice
extracted from very tender shoots may be taken twice daily.
Other Uses
Abortion, Pregnancy and Post-Delivery Use: Decoction of the tender
bamboo-shoots, mixed with palm jaggery, is given once or twice a day for a
week to cause abortion during the first month of pregnancy. The same
preparation can be used in the last month of pregnancy to induce labor.
Its use after the childbirth eases the process of the expulsion of the
placenta and prevents excessive loss of blood. It is a safe substitute for
ergot in such conditions.
Bamboo shoots are used as food in various ways. They are used in
preparation such as bamboo candy, bamboo chutney and canning of bamboo in
syrups.
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