Manioc - a toxic root?

Cassava - AKA Manioc root - From Time - Top Ten Most Dangerous Plants!  is an unlikely plant for a cosmetic ingredient, wouldn't you think?  A strange name, which it's tempting to pun badly, but as I type, it's early, so forgive me! How anyone ever worked out that you can eat this plant is a wonder, because Manioc is toxic.  Exceptionally toxic. Cyanidally so. It's chock full of linamarin, a glucoside which it collects in storage cavities. If the roots get damaged, linamarin is released from the vacuoles, and enzymes set to work converting it into cyanide!  Which is odd, when you realise that the Brazilians eat quite a lot of it. As do school children in the form of tapioca pudding. (Usually with luminous jam. No wonder there's so much hyperactivity.)  Luckily, heating it volatises the cyanide and renders the roots edible. Phew! It's hard work though. The roots need peeling, grating, pounding and soaking. (Sounds like doing the laundry in the olden days!) After it's been left for a few days, possibly while the people have a little rest, it drains and dehydrates, leaving behind a detoxified mass of roots. They leave this to dry in the sun or oven, and eventually you get cassava flour, which is often well tolerated by people who have wheat or grain allergies. What's the point of all this you might ask? Washed, minutely ground tapioca starch can help absorb oil and waste products from the skin. Once the cyanide's been removed obviously. Dr Hauschka use it for these oil absorbing properties in Melissa Day Cream, the Coversticks and in Compact Powder. If you're technically minded, and want to see the botanical name on the packet, it is usually listed as Manihot and or tapioca. It's a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. But that's enough botany for now. Manioc's absorbent properties are handy on hot, stuffy days to keep skin looking radiant and matte, although if you can get hold of the actual root, apparently it's good for anything from headaches to worms. (I don't suppose worms like cyanide any more than we do.) Have a radiant and matte day! The pamper line is 07961224560 if you need anything. I don't stock cyanide, though. If you fancy making tapioca pudding, just click the link below the picture. It does look nicer than I remember!

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tapioca_pudding/