Is arrowroot powder a 'miracle drug' for detoxifying the body?

From rumors about its "miraculous" detoxification ability, tapioca starch is causing a fever. Are the uses that are being passed around true to scientific reality?

Arrowroot powder - Photo: Illustration

Many people who follow a macrobiotic diet consider tapioca starch a miracle drug to detoxify the body. Mrs. NTL, 70 years old, living in Ba Ria - Vung Tau is the same. She tells her children and grandchildren to occasionally eat tapioca starch to detoxify the body or when she is sick or has a stomachache, she often cooks tapioca starch to eat.

Arrowroot powder, cooling food or miracle drug?

Doctor Ngo Thi Bach Yen, Department of Examination, Traditional Medicine Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that in the context of increasing demand for natural detoxification methods, many people have turned to tapioca starch as a "miracle" solution for health.

MSc. Tran Ngoc Luu Phuong, lecturer at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, said that according to Oriental medicine, kudzu powder has the effect of detoxifying, cooling, and diuretic.

In Oriental medicine, there is a remedy that contains kudzu powder to treat some diseases such as bloody stools, but it does not have the effect of detoxifying the liver and detoxifying the body as rumored. According to Western medicine, kudzu powder can have some effects such as stabilizing blood pressure, not increasing blood sugar and bad fat, and can help with digestion.

"Akupan powder extracted from kudzu root is becoming increasingly popular, not only in folk cuisine but also considered a "medicine" in the macrobiotic lifestyle," said Dr. Yen.

Many studies have confirmed that kudzu contains isoflavone compounds - especially puerarin - which have antioxidant effects, improve microcirculation, and have potential in supporting liver function.

Several experimental studies have shown that puerarin can help reduce liver damage in models of alcohol or chemical toxicity, suggesting its potential to aid in “detoxification” at the physiological level.

Arrowroot powder has long been present in many folk remedies to relieve colds, reduce fever, and aid digestion.

Understand "detox" correctly, don't confuse support and replacement

According to Dr. Yen, in modern medicine, the detoxification function is mainly performed by the liver and kidneys. These are two organs that have the ability to metabolize and eliminate toxic substances from the body through the circulatory and excretory systems.

Doctor Yen recommends that no food or medicine can completely replace this biological function.

Therefore, the concept of "detoxifying the body" through foods such as kudzu needs to be understood correctly as "kudzu powder can support liver function, help cool the body, not a means of rapid or omnipotent detoxification as some word of mouth exaggerates".

In practical use, kudzu powder brings some significant benefits if used properly and in the right dosage.

Arrowroot powder helps cool down, supports body temperature regulation, especially effective on hot days or when the body shows signs of heatstroke or mild fever.

Diluted tapioca starch can soothe the stomach and aid better digestion after a greasy meal.

For people with acne-prone skin due to internal heat, adding tapioca starch to the diet can have positive effects.

However, it should be noted that kudzu is cool in nature, so it is not suitable for people with cold constitution, cold stomach or diarrhea. In addition, using kudzu powder of unknown origin, mixed with chemicals or industrially bleached can also pose potential health risks.

Kudzu powder is a natural food rich in nutritional value, with many properties suitable for tropical climate conditions and Vietnamese physiology. However, the deification of kudzu powder as a means of detoxification has no scientific basis.

Instead, consumers should use tapioca starch as part of a balanced diet - combined with moderate activity, proper nutrition and regular exercise - to maintain overall health.

Enjoy tapioca starch after lunch or dinner.

To ensure effectiveness and safety when using tapioca starch in daily life, consumers need to remember the appropriate mixing ratio is 2 tablespoons of tapioca starch corresponding to 200ml of water.

The ideal time to enjoy tapioca starch is about 30 - 60 minutes after lunch or dinner. This not only helps the body cool down but also brings a pleasant, light feeling.

On the contrary, you should not drink tapioca starch in the morning, especially on an empty stomach. According to traditional medicine, tapioca starch has a sweet, slightly bitter taste, cool and cold properties. Drinking it early in the morning when the stomach is empty will cause the body to absorb too much cold properties, which can affect health in the long run.

THUY DUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bot-san-day-co-phai-than-duoc-giai-doc-co-the-20250607103535969.htm