The yucca plant grows from the southern United States through to South America. The root averages 8 to 12 inches long, is tapered and covered with a woody skin. The interior is white and starchy, similar a potato. They are eaten as a vegetable and used for medicinal purposes. Constituents of the root also make a cleansing agent and are traditionally used in some areas to harvest fish from ponds and lakes.
Food
The root of Yucca is starchy and finely grained, similar to that of a potato. Some species of yucca root can be eaten raw. You can also bake, steam, or mash the root, once cooked, or prepare them like french fries. Because of its relatively short shelf life, yucca is often waxed to preserve the root. Once peeled, use the root immediately while still fresh.
Medicinal Uses
According to New Mexico State University, chemical constituents in yucca root called saponins, have steroidal properties that make it useful to address the pain of certain inflammatory conditions. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center specifically identifies yucca to treat rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Yucca is also used to cleanse the kidneys and liver.
Shampoo and Soap
According to Mother Earth News, yucca root makes a good natural herbal shampoo and laundry soap. The detergent properties of the saponins in the root make it an excellent cleaning agent. To prepare the shampoo, first peel the root, then cut it into small chunks. Use a hammer to crush the chunks, then grind them to a pulp in a blender. The color will change from white to light amber. To wash your hair or clothes, simply put some water in a basin and add about a handful of the pulp. Swish the ingredients together, then use a strainer to remove the pulp. Wash your hair or clothes in the water.
Fishing
In Central and South America, yucca root is traditionally used to control and harvest fish populations. In sufficient quantities, the saponins in yucca are toxic and will stun or kill fish. To accomplish this, fishermen add a large quantity of mashed yucca to the water. As the saponins affect the fish, they float to the surface, where the fishermen collect them. Saponins are also toxic to humans, however they typically pass through the digestive tract, unabsorbed.
Member Comments