Traditional consumption and therapeutic beliefs of Calamus tenuis Roxb. edible shoots of forest village natives of Dibrugarh district of Assam, India

A proforma based survey was conducted in five forest villages of Dibrugarh, Assam, India. This study explored the use of Calamus tenuis Roxb. shoot in various culinary preparations, consumption, sources, storage, therapeutic and health issues beliefs, history of various diseases and its association with the consumption of the shoots. Consumption practices revealed that shoots are consumed in raw, boiled, fried and roasted forms and also cooked in combination with other edible items like fish, meat, black gram pulses, etc. It is mostly consumed during the period of March to May due to its easy and increased availability. Shoots are obtained from local market, forest or grown in kitchen garden. They are stored on dry floors at room temperature for upto 10 days. Chi square analysis between Socio Economic Status (SES) data and consumption frequency of shoots revealed that subjects who had higher education and better occupation consumed shoots frequently and in more amounts. Subjects belonging to upper class of SES consumed shoots in less amounts. Discussion with the subjects revealed that consumption of shoots improved immunity, purified blood, raw intake killed intestinal worms, etc. and was reported to worsen gastritis and cause stomach problem if taken in empty stomach and at night. This is the first report on Calamus tenuis Roxb. shoots consumption, cooking pattern and therapeutic and health issues beliefs. The findings imply towards therapeutic potential of shoots and encourage for scientific scrutiny for its consumption as functional food.