Information About Konjac Root

Sometimes called by its scientific name Amorphophallus konjac, konjac is a plant native to Japan, China and Indonesia. In addition to its use in Japanese cuisine, konjac root is also used as a medicinal supplement by herbalists.

Function

• Konjac root contains glucomannan, which herbalists claim absorbs water in your digestive system and disrupts the digestion of sugar and cholesterol.

Use

• Herbalists use konjac root for lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels in diabetics as well as in the treatment of constipation and obesity, according to RxList.

Clinical Evidence

• A 2003 study conducted at the School of Nutrition in Taichung, Taiwan, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, found that diabetics who took konjac root continually for 28 days experienced a drop in both cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Risks

• Solid tablets made of konjac root have the potential to cause digestive system blockages, cautions RxList, but the powdered form or capsules filled with konjac root powder are generally safe, as is eating the root as food.

Considerations

• If you are pregnant, nursing or scheduled for surgery within a two-week period, it may not be safe for you to take konjac root, according to RxList.