Carob tree
Family: Leguminosae
Medicinal use of Ceratonia siliqua:
The pulp in the seedpods of carob is very nutritious and, due to its
high sugar content, sweet-tasting and mildly laxative. However, the pulp
in the pods is also astringent and, used in a decoction, will treat
diarrhoea and gently help to cleanse and also relieve irritation within
the gut. Whilst these appear to be contradictory effects, carob is an
example of how the body responds to herbal medicines in different ways,
according to how the herb is prepared and according to the specific
medical problem.
The
seedpods are also used in the treatment of coughs. A flour made from the ripe seedpods is
demulcent and emollient. It is used in the
treatment of diarrhoea. The seed husks are astringent
and purgative. The bark is strongly astringent. A decoction is used in the treatment of diarrhoea.
Edible parts of Ceratonia siliqua :
Seedpods
- raw or ground into a powder. The seedpods are filled with a
saccharine pulp and can be eaten both green or dried. They are very
sweet but fibrous, the pulp can be used as a
chocolate substitute in cakes,
drinks etc. It is rich in sugars and protein. The pods contain about
55% sugars, 10% protein and 6% fat. Seed - rich in protein. A flour is
made from them which is 60% protein, it is free from sugar and starch
and is suitable for baking. It can be used as a
chocolate substitute. An edible gum is extracted from the seed, a substitute for
Gum Tragacanth
(see Astragalus species). A stabilizer and thickening agent, it is also used as an egg substitute.
The roasted seed is a
coffee substitute.
Tags: Ceratonia siliqua seeds,
Ceratonia siliqua Seedpods,
Ceratonia seed,
Ceratonia plant
No of seeds 10 seeds/per packet
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