The plant is eaten as a root vegetable in Asia and is said to have a gummy consistency and sweet taste. The seeds, root, and leaves all have healing properties. It can be used to treat skin and scalp conditions, sooth throat pain and tonsillitis, reduce arthritis inflammation and ulcers, and to purify the blood. In Russia and India, it is used as an anti-cancer remedy, with proponents saying it can stop cancer cells from metastasizing.
