[Leica] Kudzu

[lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

Kudzu don't get no respect amongst Luggers. In addition to its ground
stabilizing properties it is a valuable source of food and medicinals. Here
is a brief excerpt from the Wikipedia entry on kudzu:

*Food*

*Goma dofu* is a Japanese dish made with kudzu.

The non-woody parts of the plant are edible. The young leaves can be used
for salad or cooked as a leaf vegetable. The flowers can be battered and
fried. The tuberous roots can be prepared as any root vegetable. when the
roots are dried and ground into a powder, known as kuzu, it is the basis of
many herbal medicines. When added to water and heated, the kudzu powder
becomes clear and is a useful thickening agent. In Asia it is called
"Japanese arrowroot." The leaves are high in vitamins A and C and the
flowers are an excellent honey source.


*Jelly*

The purple flowers of Kudzu are also used to make a sweet jelly. This jelly
is well known in the southern United States. This jelly has been described
as tasting like either a cross between apple jelly and peach jelly or
bubblegum.


*Medicine*

Studies have shown that kudzu can reduce both hangovers and alcohol
cravings. Persons who take kudzu will still drink alcohol; however, they
will consume less than if they had not taken kudzu. The mechanism for this
is not yet established, but it may have to do with both alcohol metabolism
and the reward circuits in the brain. The Harvard Medical School is studying
kudzu as a possible way to treat alcoholics. Kudzu also contains a number of
useful isoflavones and is a valuable source for a variety of drugs. It has
shown value in treating migraine and cluster headaches. It is also
recommended to allergies and diarrhea. In Chinese medicine, where it is
known as g? g?n, kudzu is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It is
used to treat tinnitus and vertigo.


So think kindly of the weed that is eating the South. Eat it for a change.
Then maybe you can afford an M9 or even an S2.

Larry Z