Also known as
Acacia senegal (acacia gum or true gum arabic), Acacia nilotica (Indian gum arabic), and Acacia seyhal (talha).
Description
The acacia trees of the Dafur region of Sudan are harvested for resins variously known as gum arabic, Indian gum arabic, or talha. Although acacia trees are found throughout the 'gum belt' of sub-Saharan Africa, Chad, Eritrea, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan, the plant is most abundant in Sudan. The preferred resin comes from the Acacia senegal tree and is traded as acacia gum or gum arabic.
The acacia is a plant in the family Mimosacaea, related to the mimosas of the southern United States and a close cousin of the legumes. It would not be inaccurate to think of the acacia as a tree-sized, woody, spiny bean.
The plant only produces acacia gum under adverse conditions, such as poor soil, drought, or heat, and damaged trees produce more gum. For these reasons, the most abundant harvest of acacia gum is produced in Sudan.
In the Southwestern United States a potentially toxic plant (a species of Acacia) known locally as ua de gato (cat's claw) is frequently confused with the medicinal plant ua de gato from the Peruvian Amazon (Uncaria tomentosa). It is not the rainforest herb, and it is not a source of acacia gum, although it is sometimes sold in hierberas as either or both.
Constituents
Acacia gum is colorless, tasteless, and soluble in cold water. Chemically, acacia gum is a combination of complex polysaccharides and proteins. On the molecular level, this arabino-galactan-protein complex is a beautiful amalgamation of complex branches, trapping water in its 'folds' for the use of the plant.
Parts Used
The gum.
Typical Preparations
Acacia gum is used in a variety of products ranging from ink to ice cream. In herbal medicine, the gum is used to bind pills and lozenges and to stabilize emulsions. It is also used to produce a medium for applying essential oils, balsams, resins, camphor, and musk. Acacia gum forms strings when combined with cherry extract.
Summary
King's American Dispensatory, a guide to herbal medications for American physicians during the era when herbal medications were the preferred method of treatment (published in 1898), recommended acacia gum for treating any condition that could benefit from a soothing coating. Up until the 1940's, doctors frequently used acacia gums in water or sugar syrup to treat sore throat, laryngitis, diarrhea, and urinary tract infections. Pastes of acacia gum in water were used as an herbal bandage for scalds and burns.
Precautions
Safe for internal use as a food and for external use without limitation, although allergies are possible for people exposed to windborne pollen (in Africa, India, or Saudi Arabia).
For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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