Bamboo is presumed to have originated in Asia. The tree grows wild throughout most parts of India, especially in the hilly forests of western and southern India but is cultivated only in the lower Himalayas and in the valleys of the Ganges & Indus. The bamboo is a perennial tree, which grows up to a height of 12 mentres with its trunk 8 to 15 cm in diameter. Every year between July & October, new shoots sprout at the base of the tree. Bamboo trees always found in clusters.

The leaves of bamboo tree are stimulant, aromatic & tonic they are useful in counter acting spasmodic disorders and arrest secretion or bleeding they are also an effective aphrodisiac. The leaves do not have any prominent taste.

The leaves are beneficial in the treatment of stomach troubles. They are useful in strengthening the stomach and promoting its action. The young shoots of the tree are also useful in stomach disorders. Pickled or cooked, they serve as an appetizer. In many parts of India the leaves of the tree are used in the from of decoction to treat diarrhoea.

The tender shoots are useful in the treatment of respiratory diseases decoction of the shoots should be taken with a tablespoon of honey once or twice daily.

A decoction of the leaves as an emmanagouge would stimulate menstruation. It fromotes and regulates the menstrual periods. A decoction of the nodes of the bamboo stem is also useful for this purpose.

The leaves are useful in killing intestinal worms. Especially thread worms they should be taken in the form of decoction.

A poultice of the tender shoot is used for cleaning wounds and maggot infested sores decoction or juice of the fresh bamboo leaves is applied as a medicine in such ulcers.

The juice of 35 grams of fresh leaves may be taken twice daily either alone or mixed with any other juice. The decoction extracted from 70 grams of leaves may be used by itself. About 120 ML of the juice extracted from very tender shoots may be taken daily.

Decoction of the tender bamboo shoots mixed with palm Jaggery is given once or twice a day for a week to cause abortion during the first month of pregnancy. The same preparation can be used in the last month of pregnancy to induce labour. Its use after the childbirth eases the process of the expulsion of the placenta and prevents excessive loss of blood. It is a safe substitute for ergot in such conditions. Bamboo shoots are used as food in various ways. They are used in preparation such as bamboo candy bamboo chutney & canning of bamboo in syrups.