Manihot esculenta vs Canna edulis

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Manihot esculenta

Nutritive

Canna discolor

Nutritive

Manihot esculenta

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Canna edulis

✅ Generally safe in pregnancy

✅ Generally safe while nursing

Description

Staple tropical food crop; leaves and roots used in African and Latin American folk medicine for headache and wound healing.

South American Canna with edible starchy rhizomes; ancient Andean food crop with nutritional value.

Active Compounds

cyanogenic glucosides (raw), starch, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids

starch, minerals, flavonoids, vitamins

Traditional Uses

headache, wound healing, food staple, constipation

food staple, wound healing, digestive complaints

Modern Uses

food staple, wound poultice, nutritive

nutritive food, wound poultice, digestive starch

Adult Dosage

As cooked food; leaf poultice topically

Starch as food; rhizome as cooked vegetable

Contraindications

raw consumption, cyanide poisoning risk, thyroid disease (chronic consumption)

known allergy

Side Effects

cyanide toxicity if improperly prepared, goiter with prolonged consumption

constipation with excess starch

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E