Evidence supporting the use of: Cassava
For the health condition: Infection
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) has a long history of use in traditional medicine in various parts of Africa, South America, and Asia. Traditionally, different parts of the cassava plant—including leaves, roots, and bark—have been used to treat a variety of ailments, including infections. For example, in some cultures, cassava leaves are prepared as poultices or decoctions for topical application to wounds, purportedly to aid healing and prevent infection. These uses are based on ethnobotanical knowledge and anecdotal evidence passed down through generations.
However, scientific validation of cassava’s effectiveness in treating infections is limited. While cassava leaves contain compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, and saponins—some of which have demonstrated antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies—there is very little clinical evidence supporting their efficacy against human infections. Most research remains preliminary and in vitro, and there is a lack of robust clinical trials. Cassava’s traditional use to treat infection is therefore primarily rooted in cultural practices rather than modern scientific validation.
Moreover, it is important to note that cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides, which can release toxic cyanide if not properly processed. This presents safety concerns for medicinal use. In summary, while cassava is traditionally used in some regions to support or treat infections, scientific evidence supporting its efficacy and safety for this purpose is minimal.
Other ingredients used for Infection
2'-Fucosyllactose3-Phenyllactic Acid
Abrus
Abuta
Acacia
Acemannan
Aerva lanata
Agarikon Mushroom
Agastache
Agave
AHCC
Ajoene
Alantolactone
Alchornea
Alkylglycerols
Allicin
Alliin
Allspice
Allyl sulfide
alpha-humulene
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
Alstonia macrophylla
Alstonia scholaris
amber
American Liverleaf
Ampelopsis
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
animal protein
annatto
apple cider vinegar
Aquilegia viridiflora
arabinogalactan
Ardisia
artesunate
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
astragalus
aucubin
Aureobasidium pullulans
avens
babchi
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
Backhousia citriodora
bacteria
balsam
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
barbary matrimony vine
Barleria
Basidiomycota
bayberry
bearberry
bee pollen
bee propolis
Beef liver
Belamcanda
benzyl isothiocyanate
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
beta-glucan
betel
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium infantis
bignay
birch
bisabolene
bitter principals
black nightshade
black pepper
black root
black walnut
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
boneset
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
Bupleurum
burdock
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
cajuput
calamus
caprylic acid
cardamom
carvacrol
cassava
cassia bark
cat's claw
catechu
celandine
Celastrus
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaff flower
chaga mushroom
chervil
Chiococca alba
chirata
Chlorophytum
Cinchona
Cistus
citral
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cocklebur
coconut oil
Coin-leaf desmodium
colloidal silver
copaiba oil
Coptis chinensis
coriolus mushroom
corktree
croton seeds
cubeb
cuspidatum root
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cymbidium goeringii
Cynodon dactylon
dense fruit dittany
deoxyandrographolides
dialyzable leukocyte extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Echinodorus
elderberry
elephant\'s head
Embelia
English horsemint
eucalyptus
eugenol
Euphorbia
European Elder
fang-feng
fern
Ficus religiosa
figwort
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
fucoidan
furans
Galbanum
Gallesia
genipap
geranial
geraniol
ginger
Globulins
Glucan peptides
Glucanase
glyceryl monolaurate
Golden Willow
goldenseal
Graviola
green chiretta
Guazuma ulmifolia
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Horsemint
Houttuynia
Humic acid
Hygrophila
hyssop
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
Indian coraltree
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian nightshade
iodine
Isoalantolactone
judastree
Kefiran
knotgrass
Kochia
L. lactis
Labdanum
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus lactis
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Lantana camara
Lapachol
lauric acid
Lentinan
Leptadenia
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
lime
liverwort
Lomatium
Lophira lanceolata
Lysimachia
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
malabar nut
Malva sylvestris
mangosteen
mangostin
manzanita
Marsh Tea
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Microtea debilis
Milk Protein
Mondo grass
Monolaurin
Moringa
Mormon Tea
Mountain horopito
Myrobalan
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Naphthoquinones
Neem tree
Neoandrographolides
Nymphaea nouchali
Oldenlandia diffusa
oregon grape
oriental arborvitae
Osha
paederia foetida
pagoda tree
Pareira
Patrinia
pau d'arco
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pelargonium
Pellitory
Pepper Bark Tree
Peroxidase
Phellodendron
phlorotannins
Phragmites
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
Piperine
pistacia integerrima gall
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
pogoda tree
Pokeweed
Polygonum
Polyporus
polysaccharides
Portulaca
Premna
prickly ash
probiotics
protein
purified silver
purple Tephrosia
Quisqualis
ravinsara
red root
reishi mushroom
Rhabdosia rubescens
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
rue
Sandalwood
Sandy Everlasting
Sanguisorba
Sarcandra glabra
sarsaparilla
Savory
schizonepeta
Schizophyllum commune
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
sea salt
selenium
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
Sesquiterpenic Acid
Simaruba
Siphoviridae
Skunkvine
Smoketree
Solanum anguivi
Spanish Needle
Speedwell
Spilanthes
Spiny Restharrow
spirulina
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stemona
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Storax
streptococcus thermophilus
Streptomyces
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sumac
sweet wormwood
Swertia
Sword Bean
Tannins
Tansy
Terminalia
Terpinen-4-ol
Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
Thiosulfinate
Thuja
Trametes
Turkey tail mushroom
turmeric
Tylophorine
Umckalin
Umckaloabo
Verbascoside
Verbena
Veronica
vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Waltheria ovata
Wasabi
Water Pepper
White oak
Winter Begonia
Xanthorrhizol
Yellow Nut Sedge
Yellow root
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba santa
Zinc
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by cassava
AnemiaDiarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Gastritis
Hypertension
Infection
Inflammation
Ulcers
