There are more than 1,000 species of bamboo in the world,most of which flower only once every 60 to 130 years. Some Bamboo species grow at a rate of up to 5 cm per hour making them the fastest growing plants on the planet.Bamboo symbolizes longevity because of its durability, strength, flexibility and resilience; it grows and survives in the most unforgiving environments from cold mountains to tropical regions.Feng Shui practitioners recommend putting bamboo plants in the front of your home as assurance of a long life for all those who live there.
Common Name: Bamboo
Botanical Name: Bambusa species
Other Names: Zhu, Bansa, Mambu,Vegetable Steel
Growing Areas: East Asia, Northern Australia, India, parts of Africa and the Americas
Nutrients & Applications:
Bamboo is a giant, edible grass that has been part of the diet of mankind for thousands of years. Bamboo shoots are eaten in soups, salads and stir fries,are low in fat and calories and an excellent source of fibre and potassium. As an herbal medicine Bamboo has been used for thousands of years throughout Asia. The shaved young shoots, the resin (both fluid and dried), and the leaves are all of medicinal value.
The bamboo plant has unusually high levels of acetylcholine,a neurotransmitter involved in causing muscle contraction, movement, learning, memory and sleep, helping to explain why in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bamboo is given to calm irritability and treat convulsions. Bamboo leaves have recently been used as a source of flavonoids (vitexin and orientin), which reduce inflammation, promote circulation, and inhibit allergy reactions.
Bamboo contains over 70% organic silica and is the richest known source of natural silica.Bamboo silica can improve the cardiovascular system and strengthenthe musculoskeletal system as it plays an important role in the integrity of the skin, arterial walls, ligaments, tendons, and bone.It has been used to alleviate eczema and psoriasis, to relieve joint pain, increase flexibility, prevent osteoporosis and injuries, and improve the speed that fractures heal.Ancient Auyervedic surgeons practiced a technique called Kusha Bandhana where bamboo bark and pastes of bamboo pith were applied to aid fracture management.
Bamboo can improve the strength of teeth (as well as whitening them) and the hair, and helps condition nails, gums and skin. It is used in cosmetic scrubs and cleansers as well as toothpaste because the finely milled bamboo particles are less harsh making them safer and less irritating to sensitive skin and gums. Bamboo has been used to minimize the effects of premature aging and its silica helps in mineral absorption and enhancing the function of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and boron. Bamboo’s silica can play a vital role in maintaining the body’s silica stores and thus promoting good health.