Broad Beans had a variety of uses from 1600-1800. Beans were cultivated as part of crop rotations as they enriched the soil between plantings. This has carried on into modern agriculture; today we know that certain types of legumes raise soil nitrogen levels. In the past, broad beans were ground up to make bean flour for bread. This flour was also used in medicine as it was commonly believed that bean meal could help dissolve lumps and swellings.
Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!