Top 7 Uses Of Bamboo
Don’t know what a Bamboo is? Do not worry, check our post on What is Bamboo?
Here's a look interesting uses of the bamboo plant:
1. Bamboo is used for construction
Bamboo is a very important building material:
a) Check out the Green School in Bali.
b) It’s used in road reinforcements in Orissa, India. A bridge made of bamboo, spanning 10 meters was constructed in the village of Leiyang, Hunan province in China. This bridge was capable of supporting trucks weighing 16 tonnes.
- c) Bamboo is also used to build offices and houses. In Bangladesh, more than 70% of the population live in bamboo houses. Bamboo is used for window frames, walls, pillars, room separators, ceilings and roofs. Nothing, but bamboo is needed to build a whole house… that’s impressive.
- d) They are also used in scaffolding. In Hong Kong bamboo scaffolding is most preferred over metal, as it’s readily available and cheaper.
Another impressive fact, 70 hectares of bamboo can be used to build 1000 homes in Costa Rica. This marvellous feat cannot be achieved by timber without harming sustainability and deforestation.
2. Bamboo is used for medicinal purposes.
The young shoots, resin and leaves of bamboo have great medicinal qualities. The most frequently used species in Chinese herbal medicine is the black bamboo.
It’s used for treating fevers, inflammation, cancer and the bamboo’s leaves are rich in anti oxidants, which help protect the human body from free radicals. However, using bamboo for medical treatments is still unproven, but research is being done and hopefully, it’ll be an approved source for medical treatments. Check out an extensive coverage of bamboo’s medicinal qualities .
3. Bamboo is used to produce consumer goods.
Bamboo – is the new hemp. T-shirts, socks, robes, boxers… your wardrobe can become entirely organic and sustainable.
Bamboo is also used to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other types of jewelry.
For those of you who think that going green should start from infancy, wearing diapers made from bamboo cloth is an option. According to Japanese scientists, bamboo cloth can retain its antibacterial quality even after 50 washings.
Kids’ toys can be eco friendly, non toxic and made out of bamboo.
Beautiful and intricately crafted beds, chairs and tables can also be made from bamboo.
Exotic wood from mango trees are often used to make Oriental rugs. Buying a bamboo rug will ensure that you save a tree.
4. Bamboo is used to make durable utensils.
Cups and saucers, spoons and ladles can all be made from bamboo.
5. Bamboo is used to feed people and animals.
Bamboo shoots are used mainly in Asian food preparations. In Japan, the antioxidant properties of the bamboo skin prevent bacterial growth, and are used as natural food preservatives. Bamboo leaves and shoots are also the staple diet of pandas and elephants.
6. Bamboo is used to make beer!
This one came as a surprise to me. I heard great things about it and would love to try it one day. You should try it too!
7. Bamboo is used to make musical instruments.
Flutes, drums, digeridoos, saxophones and there are a lot more out there.
Bamboo is just extremely versatile, eco-friendly and can grow quickly in any given environment.