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GREEN TSUNAMI - The History of Bamboo

By: Alex De Mostafa

Bamboo's origins trace back to the prehistoric cretaceous period of the planet. Archaeological finds of bamboo carvings and artifacts unearthed from the remains of a primitive society that existed some 7,000 years ago in what is now Hemudu, Yuyao County, in Zhejiang Province. At the ruins of Banpo village in Xian, Shanxi province, examples of bamboo-weaving have been dated to approximately 3000 B.C. The Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.220) recognized the intrinsic socio-economical vitality of bamboo and used it to produce some of the earliest known books and paper. Bamboo remains an integral raw material for the pulp and paper industry of China today. The last native Chinese empire, the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.), was the first to introduce bamboo bedding and flooring. Historians still debate that early Ming Dynasty China was the most advanced nation on Earth at that time.

Research into the advanced properties of bamboo began in earnest in the Jinn Dynasty (265-420 A.D.). A codex of the collected wisdom and knowledge of the grass titled "Bamboo" was written during this period. It classified no less than 61 varieties of bamboo in exquisite renditions and includes detailed descriptions of the biological characteristics and of the cultivation techniques of a variety bamboo species.

Bamboo is used for firewood, fishing poles, utensils, tiles, rafts, hats, rain capes, and shoes. Later advancements with this stalwart grass led to its use in everything from weapons and building materials, to the construction of palaces and the building of complex machinery. Bamboo has also a significant role in traditional Chinese medicine. The leaves are said to eliminate heat and phlegm and the juice is believed to cure stroke, insanity, and even asthma. Its root is said to stimulate one's vital energies, quench thirst, and promote lactation in nursing mothers.

As a staple of Chinese cuisine since time immemorial, the shoots of the bamboo plant are described as being crisp and tender and tasting similar to corn. They are low in fat and calories and are high in fiber, potassium and phytochemicals (natural substances found in plants). They also contain lignans and phenolic acids. Lignans, a component of fiber, appear to have anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Phenolic acids have mild anti-inflammatory properties and are potent antioxidants, which can aid in the prevention of cancers and atherosclerosis.

Bamboo is an evergreen grass that tolerates extreme weather conditions, grows in infertile lands, and regenerates after being cut. It thrives in a variety of habitats and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Of the more than 70 genera and 1500 species; more than one third are found in China. Known as the Kingdom of Bamboo, China leads the world in the surface area planted with bamboo, the number of bamboo trees, and bamboo cultivated per annum. China is a veritable sea of grass that cascades over the greatest of mountains and inundates the country sides.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant known to man. Varieties can grow as fast as two inches per hour, or almost five feet every day. Bamboo is also amazingly resilient; a stand of bamboo near ground zero at Hiroshima in 1945 survived the atomic detonation and sent up new shoots within days. With a tensile strength superior to mild steel, and a weight-to-strength ratio better than graphite, bamboo is the strongest growing woody plant on earth.

Today bamboo is utilized in many forms from household articles such as mats, beds, pillows, benches, chairs, cabinets, buckets, chopsticks, spoons, baskets, and fans, to musical instruments, toys, crafts, screens and curtains. Stronger than oak, it is an ideal material for housing construction, scaffolding, supporting pillars and is strong enough to replace the use of rebar.

Although bamboo is one of the oldest building materials known to humanity and has been used in the past for flooring and building , its re-introduction as a modern flooring material is relatively recent. Despite its innate commercial viability, public markets leaned more to the appealing aesthetics associated with hardwoods causing it to have limited application in flooring markets. More recently, after a hesitant inception in to the US markets in the 1990s, bamboo manufacturing has triggered a tsunami of public interest in every housing and flooring market niche. Bamboo is re-emerging as a premier construction material for the 21st century.

Strong, renewable and inexpensive, the reemergence of bamboo in today's housing and flooring markets is perhaps one of the most profound realizations towards sustainable development. As the world's population burgeons at the 7 billion mark, the absolute need for sustainable production and manufacturing assures us that bamboo has an indispensable future as an alternative to our scarce global natural resources.

Soon, many of the items that we see and use in our daily lives will be a product or by-product of bamboo rather than made from harmful synthetics or plastics. From floors under foot, to walls, clothes, cars, computers and food, it appears the future of bamboo may inundate the global markets like a green tsunami.

Facts:
- Bamboo shoots provide shelter and nutrition for millions of people and animals worldwide
- Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth and can be found an most continents
- A bamboo grove releases 35% more oxygen than the same size stand of trees.
- Bamboo improves soil quality and prevents erosion
- Some types of bamboo are used to treat different ailments like cancer, asthma, coughs, and kidney disease
- Bamboo can be used for mass manufactured items
- Bamboo is stronger than hardwoods and is invaluable as a sustainable building resource

Article Source: http://www.newarticledaily.com

At Cali Bamboo where we promote the use of bamboo flooring as an alternative product made from renewable resources, that can help make a difference in the future of our planet. Visit online today.

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