Hundreds of Mt. Kenya farmers have been left with ‘unsellable’ rumex plants that they planted in March last year after the buyer, Salushi Empowerment Organisation, sold them a seedling at Sh2,000 and promised to buy back the crop’s roots for Sh10,000 a kilogram closed shop and disappeared.
While the farmers will not get the promised 700 per cent return from their investment, there could yet be a market for the crop that is a popular health powerhouse in Europe and the “stans” as a vegetable and herb that helps prevent and delay chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and blood pressure.
Rumex is actually a broad name used to refer to a family of more than 200 species of herbs and weeds. The ‘rumex’ plant currently being talked about is actually one of these herbs called sorrel or spinach dock.
Its fresh leaves and young stems are eaten raw as a salad or used in soups, stews or sauces to add a lemony flavour.
Spinach dock is rich in essential nutrients, including vitamins A and C which are antioxidants that fight harmful unstable molecules that cause damage to the body and increase chances of getting a disease. Early research has shown that eating the plant can reduce the growth of breast, cervical, and skin cancer cells.
It also contains high amounts of magnesium which helps maintain bone health and soluble fibre which slows the rate of digestion lowering blood sugar and cholesterol.
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The plant which has almost no calories can also be lightly cooked in oil or as a side greens dish as well as mixed into scrambled eggs or omelettes to give them a punch of flavour. They are also simmered with cream or butter to make a fish or chicken tart sauce.
Meanwhile, the crop’s roots have been used as medicine since the 1st century AD.
In European herbal medicine, sorrel roots have been used to treat excessive menstrual bleeding and diarrhea because of the crop’s astringent properties which means it helps to tighten skin and internal body tissues as well as reduce body secretions.
The indigenous populations of North America also use them for their anti-inflammatory property to reduce as well as crushing them and dressing wounds with them.
In Eastern Asia, sorrel roots have been boiled to treat stomach and intestine issues including constipation and diarrhoea.
Boiled in vinegar, it is prepared as a traditional medicine to treat dental issues and jaundice.
A paste made from the plant’s roots has also been applied externally to address skin conditions, such as sores, and boils, and to reduce swelling.
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Today, sorrel root extracts can be found in herbal medicines used in combination with other herbs to detoxify the body and support liver health. They are also natural dietary supplements that promote digestive health.
If eaten in large quantities, however, the high amount of oxalic acid in sorrel can interfere with mineral absorption and may contribute to kidney stone formation.