Carob

St. John’s Bread, Locust Bean, Sugar Pod

Ceratonia siliqua F. Fabaceae

This information on Herbs is provided 
free from Isabell Shipard’s Herb book.

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Please see
Isabell’s book of herbs and their uses

 How can I use HERBS in my daily life?
for full text.

Herb Book Commendations


Carob Pods
Carob Pods


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Medicinal Uses

One of Carob’s principal medicinal value lies in its high pectin content. Pectin is a gelatinous water soluble substance, valuable for assisting digestion, and protecting the body naturally against diarrhea, and bacterial infections. Carob is also used for heartburn, and as an easily digested food. Another valuable component of carob are lignans. Lignans have been found to be antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. They also show anticholesterol, anticancer, antidiabetes, antioxidant and antilupus benefits. Lignans are phytoestrogens and have been observed to have a protective role against oestrogen-related cancers, and to serve as oestrogen replacement after menopause.

Carob Flower, from Male tree
Carob Flower, from Male tree

Carob’s tannin content also inhibits bacteria, and can stop certain toxins and free-radicals in their tracks, inactivate them, and get the body to discard them. A research study, using carob powder with babies for bacterial or viral diarrhea, showed recovery within 2 days. Babies treated with conventional medicine took almost twice as long to recover. The babies given carob also regained normal temperature and body weight quicker. The high fibre content of carob, together with the pectin, makes the stomach contents more glutinous, thus deterring the back-flow of acid in the throat.


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Carob Flower, from Female tree
Carob Flower, from Female tree

Culinary Uses

Carob has been used by man as a food for thousands of years and has been called, ‘the staff of life’, ‘universal provider’, ‘bread that grows on trees’, all of which signify the importance carob has had. It is filling, nutritious, and easily digested, and is an alkaline forming food (pH 10.6), which makes it valuable for reducing excess stomach acidity.


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