Carob

Ceratonia siliqua

Carob is originally from the Mediterranean region and the western part of Asia. Today it is grown mostly in Mediterranean countries.. The pods are used. Carob pods come from evergreen trees; the gum from carob seeds is called locust bean gum. Evergreen tree growing to 30 ft (10 m). Has compound leaves, green flower, and large violet-brown fruit (bean pods). Carob has long been eaten as food. John the Baptist is said to have eaten it, and thus it is sometimes called St. John's bread. Carob pods have been used to treat diarrhea for centuries.

The main constituents of carob are large carbohydrates (sugars) and tannins. The sugars make carob gummy and able to act as a thickener to absorb water and help bind together watery stools. Tannins from carob, being water insoluble, do not bind proteins as some tannins do. Carob tannins do bind to (and thereby inactivate) toxins and inhibit growth of bacteria-both of which are beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea. Dietary fiber and sugars may make food more viscous in the stomach and thus interfere with reflux of acid into the esophagus.

In ancient Egypt, carob pods were combined with porridge, honey, and wax as a remedy for diarrhea. They also featured in recipes for expelling worms, and treating poor eyesight and eye infections. In the 1st century AD, the Greek physician Dioscorides wrote that carob acted to relieve stomach pain and settle the digestion. Carob was important in the rituals of the early Christian Church. Pulp from the pods has long been used as a sweet food and for making alcoholic drinks. As a flour, this pulp forms the basis of most cocoa-flavored drinks.

Other names

• St. John's Bread

Parts used

Fruit, bark.

Uses

Carob pods are nutritious and, due to their high sugar content, sweet-tasting and mildly laxative. However, a decoction of the pulp is also antidiarrheal, gently helping to cleanse and relieve irritation within the gut. These appear to be contradictory effects, but 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 bark is strongly astringent, and a decoction of it is taken to treat diarrhea.

Habitat & cultivation

Native to southeastern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, carob flourishes in poor soil in warm temperate climates; it is said to "want sight of the sea." It is cultivated for its fruit, and harvested in late summer or autumn.

How much to take

Commonly, 15 grams of carob powder is mixed with apple sauce for children. Adults should take at least 20 grams a day; The powder can be mixed in applesauce or with sweet potatoes. Carob should be taken with plenty of water. Please note that infant diarrhea must be monitored by a health care professional and that proper hydration with a high electrolyte fluid is critical during acute diarrhea.

Side effects

Carob is generally very safe; only rarely have allergic reactions been reported.

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