Okoho: An African Food Gum That Is More Slippery Than The Elm.

The slippery elm is a species of plants native to North America that is used for herbal remedies for healing and well- being. Slippery elm is useful for medicinal purposes because of the mucilage the bark contains.

There are so many plants in Africa that have mucilage which have been and are still used as food. One of such is Cissus populnea, called okoho, ajara, orogbolo, latutuwa and daafaara locally in Nigeria. The highly viscous food gum is extracted from the bark of the stem though other parts of the plant have mucilage too.

Okoho is a food gum that is popularly used by Idoma people and other tribes from the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria as a soup thickener. It is used by other people for traditional medicine and herbal recipes. The highly viscous food gum is obtained from the stem.  Africans have always known the importance of eating mucilage.

Mucilaginous foods have numerous health benefits which are centered on their slippery nature and soothing properties. Mucilage is a type of soluble fiber of viscous nature. Mucilage is a polysaccharide that becomes a gel when mixed with water.

Okoho also contains active phytochemicals like tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, carotenoids, anthroquinones and vitamin C. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to its mucilage and other active ingredients, Cissus polpunea stem has been used to heal traditionally in the following ways;

• As a laxative
• As an antidote to arrow wounds.
• To expel intestinal parasites.
• As aphrodisiac and to treat male erectile issues.
• To treat sore breast.
• To treat venereal diseases.

Other well-known uses of foods that have mucilage or soluble fiber are;

• To lower blood cholesterol levels by preventing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.
• To lower blood sugar level by regulating the absorption of carbohydrates and preventing sudden spikes in blood sugar levels.
• To regulate bowel movement.
• To prevent constipation and hemorrhoids.
• To treat inflammation of the intestinal tract and inflammatory conditions of the digestive system.
• To alleviate cramping.
• To regulate acidity of the gastrointestinal tract.
• To remove waste and toxins out of the colon.
• To protect against inflammation of all mucous membranes.
• To treat skin issues like burns, boils, psoriasis and other skin conditions.
• To treat respiratory issues.
• To treat ulcers, mouth sores, inflamed gum and sore throat.

Okoho can be cooked like ogbono soup and has almost the same taste but is far more viscous. Adding this thickener to your healthy diet provides much more than you can imagine. Good Food is Good Medicine!

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