Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

In traditional herbal medicine: 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 bark is also strongly astringent and used in a decoction for the treatment of diarrhoea[Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996]. The seedpods are also used in the treatment of coughs. The seed husks are astringent and purgative[Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986].
http://www.pfaf.org The bark is strongly astringent. A decoction is used in the treatment of diarrhoea

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Tunisia
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Sicilia
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Turkey-in-Europe
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Sardegna
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Ceratonia siliqua L.

Family: FABACEAE
Genus: Ceratonia
Species: siliqua L.
Common names: Carob tree, St John's bread
Distribution summary: Mediterranean to Iran
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: H3 - Half hardy; unheated greenhouse/mild winter
Garden status: Not currently grown
Reason for growing: Medicinal


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