3 Best Benefits of Cattail

by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated -

Some of the most interesting health benefits of cattail include its ability to reduce pain, speed wound healing, prevent infections, and slow bleeding.

What is Cattail?

Although you’ve probably seen cattails growing on the edges of lakes and marshes, you’ve likely never known that it can be a very valuable addition to your diet, as it provides a wealth of unique nutrients and medicinal properties, many of which have been relied on for hundreds of years. With the scientific name Typha, this unassuming species of flowering plants may be overlooked by most people, and might also be known by many names, including bulrush, reedmace, raupo, or corn dog grass, but almost every variant of the species shares similar physical properties, and medicinal uses. [1]

These plants have been eaten for thousands of years in Europe, and were extremely valuable in the pioneer days of America, when the medicinal applications of the plant saved thousands of lives. Although most people aren’t even aware that this plant can be eaten, the rhizomes of the cattail can be consumed, as well as the leaf bases and the sheath.

At different times in the growth period, every part of a cattail can be eaten in some way. While we don’t suggest going out and eating the next cattail you see, you can find certain cattail products, including flour, in specialty health stores in some parts of the world. Now, let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of cattail.

Close up of cattails in the outdoors

Cattails provide protective cover and nesting areas for animals and birds. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Nutrition Facts

Cattail, Narrow Leaf Shoots (Northern Plains Indians)
Serving Size :
NutrientValue
Water [g]92.65
Energy 25
Energy [kJ]106
Protein [g]1.18
Ash [g]1.03
Carbohydrate, by difference [g]5.14
Fiber, total dietary [g]4.5
Sugars, total including NLEA [g]0.22
Sucrose [g]0.07
Glucose (dextrose) [g]0.07
Fructose [g]0.07
Calcium, Ca [mg]54
Iron, Fe [mg]0.91
Magnesium, Mg [mg]63
Phosphorus, P [mg]45
Potassium, K [mg]309
Sodium, Na [mg]109
Zinc, Zn [mg]0.24
Copper, Cu [mg]0.04
Manganese, Mn [mg]0.76
Selenium, Se [µg]0.6
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid [mg]0.7
Thiamin [mg]0.02
Riboflavin [mg]0.03
Niacin [mg]0.44
Pantothenic acid [mg]0.23
Vitamin B-6 [mg]0.12
Folate, total [µg]3
Folate, food [µg]3
Choline, total [mg]23.7
Betaine [mg]1.1
Vitamin A, RAE [µg]1
Carotene, beta [µg]6
Vitamin A, IU [IU]11
Lutein + zeaxanthin [µg]76
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) [µg]22.8
Sources include : USDA [2]

Health Benefits of Cattail

Use of cattail provides many benefits such as relief from inflammation and heal boils and sores. It also prevents conditions such as anemia.

Antiseptic Properties

One of the most important health benefits of cattail is its natural antiseptic property, which has come in handy for various cultures for generations. The jelly-like substance that you can find between young leaves can be used on wounds and other areas of the body where foreign agents, pathogens, or microbes might do damage in order to protect our system. This same jelly from the cattail plant is known as a powerful analgesic and can be ingested or applied topically to relieve pain and inflammation. [3]

Prevents Anemia

Various parts of the cattail have coagulant properties, meaning that they slow down the flow of blood and prevent anemia. This can be effective if you’re wounded, but also if you suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding, as it can lessen the severity. This can potentially be dangerous for people who already have relatively slow circulation, as it effectively slows down the blood, while simultaneously stimulating coagulant response in the skin. [4]

Skin Care

The wealth of nutrients and organic compounds found in cattails contributes to its effect on the skin, particularly its ability to heal boils, sores, and reduce the appearance of scars. For insect bites, cattail jelly can be applied topically, but the flour also has anti-inflammatory potential that can help to reduce the pain and severity of those affected areas. [5]

A Final Word of Warning

If you are the foraging type and want to use cattails from the wild, be sure that the water you’re harvesting the plants from is not stagnant or polluted, as cattails are known to detoxify water, largely by taking those harmful compounds in, which can be very dangerous if consumed. If you don’t know what you’re doing in terms of cattail harvesting, better leave it to the professionals and get the guaranteed products safely at a store. [6]

DMCA.com Protection Status
About the Author

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

Rate this article
Average rating 4.1 out of 5.0 based on 68 user(s).