Taro

Taro, which belongs to the family Araceae, is a long-stalked, huge-leaved plant growing in marshy regions. Sometimes the plant is called Elephant's Ear plant as the cordate leaves growing up to 50 cm. long, resemble the elephant's ear. It is an herbaceous plant and the 1.2 m. long stalks spring from the underground fleshy corm that may have suckers and stolons among the roots. The tiny male and female flowers from a spadix inflorescence with a prominent protective spathe. The leaves and the starchy corms are eaten as food as they are rich in vitamins and minerals. It is grown in cultivated soil, and near swamps, or marshland.

MEDICINAL USE:
*Leprosy and tuberculosis.
*Being styptic, it stops the flow of blood and this action helps to arrest arterial haemorrhage.
*Earache.
*Alopaecia or hair loss.
*Laxative, piles and for stings of wasps and other insects.

HOW TO USE:
*Besides the use of the corm as a delicious food, it is also recommended for those who suffer from
  leprosy and tuberculosis. For this purpose, the corm is to be boiled with the skin. Both the leaves
  and the root when raw are acrid or irritable owing to the presence of needle-like raphides. But by
  cooking it with a little tamarind, the raphide crystal are dissolve with the tartaric acid in the    
  tamarind and thus become very palatable.
*The pressed juice of the petioles is styptic with the ability to stop the flow of blood and this action
  helps to arrest arterial haemorrhage.
*The juice is also used for earaches.
*The juice of the corm is used externally in cases of alopaecia or hair loss.
*The juice of the corm taken internally acts as a laxative, relieves piles, and is an antidote to the
  stings of wasps and other insects.

PARTS USED:
*The corm and leaves.

DOSE:
As recommended above.

Normal Dosage For:

Adults: 4 or 5 cups a day.
Aged 6 to 9 years: 2 cups a day
Aged 2 to 5 years: 1 cup a day
1 to 2 years: 1/2 cup a day
Below 1 year: 1/4 or less cup a day

A Useful Table for Quick Measurements:
1 tbsp = 5 grams (green herb)
1 dessertspoon = 2 grams (dry herb)
1 teaspoon = 25 drops
1 cup = 16 tbsp


1 litre = 7 or 8 cups