, AGOTHOSMA BETULINA (Buchu)
Shrub with oblong leaves and small white/purple star-shaped flowers. conspicuous oil glands present along the margins and lower surfaces.
Medicinal uses: (dry leaves) urinary antiseptic, kidney/stomach issues, rheumatism, wounds/bruises.
Active ingredient: isomenthane and diosphenol
Pharmacological effects: diuretic and antiseptic properties
Dosage & Preparation: leaf infusions (teas)
WC
ALOE FERROX (Cape Aloe)
Robust single stemmed plant with brood, fleshy, dry leaves that have dark brown spines along edge and lower surface and red flowers.
Medicinal uses: (flesh/sap from leaves) eczema, arthritis, conjunctivitis, hypertension, stress, laxative.
Active ingredient: glycoproteins, c-glucoside, anthraquinone
Pharmacological effects: anti-inflammatory, laxative
Dosage & Preparation: topical gel made from flesh, juice from leaf wall dried and made into viscous fluid
Eastern regions
ARTEMISIA AFRA (Wormwood) (zulu name umhlonyane) Family: Asteraceae
Perennial shrub with feathery grey-green divided leaves and yellow flowers
Medicinal uses: (leaves/roots) cold/flu – cough/fever/sinus, worms, malaria, colic
Active ingredient: camphor, a-thyjone, b-thyjone, 1,8-cineole, berneol, terpenoids, eudesmadien, coumarins, and acetylenes
Pharmacological effects: antimicrobial, oxidative properties (also slightly toxic and hallucinogenic)
Dosage & Preparation: infused syrups, inhaling vapour or nostril inserts
Tropical east Africa
DATURA STRAMONIUM (Thorn Apple) (zulu name: iyoli) Family: Solanaceae
White/purple tubular flowers with fruit capsules containing brown kidney shaped seeds.
Medicinal uses: (leaves) asthma, rheumatism, gout, boils/abscesses, throat/tonsil inflammation, respiratory issues
Active ingredient: Atropine, scopolamine
Pharmacological effects: antifungal agents
Dosage & Preparation: traditionally fresh peeled stems chewed. Or commercially as teas/tablets/etc
EUCOMIS AUTUMNALIS (Pineapple Flower)
Bulbous plant with broad soft leaves and wavy margins. Thick central stalk has small yellow flowers with rosette of green leaves
Medicinal uses: (bulb) backache, fracture/surgery recovery, prevents early childbirth
Subspecies clavata: coughs, biliousness, lumbago, blood disease
Active ingredient: eucomalin, dihydroeucomalin
Pharmacological effects: anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic
Dosage & Preparation: enema
Eastern SA regions
HARPAGOPHYTUM PROCUMBENS (Devils Claw)
Weedy perennial with creeping stems from a fleshy rootstock, irregular grey-green leaves divided into lobes, tubular yellow/violet flowers, fruits with
several long arms and hooked thorns.
Medicinal uses: (roots) rheumatism, arthritis, general health tonic, digestive disorders, pregnancy/labour analgesic, ulcers/boils
Active ingredient: sugar compounds, phytosterols, tripeptides
Pharmacological effects: analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Dosage & Preparation: powder from dried root prepared as tonic in boiled water
Sandy NW regions
HOODIA GORDONII (Hoodia)
Leafless succulent with grey-green erect stems that have short single spines and large pale pink flowers
Medicinal uses: (fleshy stems) weight loss/appetite supress, indigestion, diabetes, hypertension, stomach ache, TB, haemorrhoids
Active ingredient: P57, various glycosides
Pharmacological effects: appetite suppressant and reduces body mass (in rats)
Dosage & Preparation: traditionally fresh peeled stems chewed. Or commercially as teas/tablets/etc
Western & central parts of SA and Namibia
Shrub with oblong leaves and small white/purple star-shaped flowers. conspicuous oil glands present along the margins and lower surfaces.
Medicinal uses: (dry leaves) urinary antiseptic, kidney/stomach issues, rheumatism, wounds/bruises.
Active ingredient: isomenthane and diosphenol
Pharmacological effects: diuretic and antiseptic properties
Dosage & Preparation: leaf infusions (teas)
WC
ALOE FERROX (Cape Aloe)
Robust single stemmed plant with brood, fleshy, dry leaves that have dark brown spines along edge and lower surface and red flowers.
Medicinal uses: (flesh/sap from leaves) eczema, arthritis, conjunctivitis, hypertension, stress, laxative.
Active ingredient: glycoproteins, c-glucoside, anthraquinone
Pharmacological effects: anti-inflammatory, laxative
Dosage & Preparation: topical gel made from flesh, juice from leaf wall dried and made into viscous fluid
Eastern regions
ARTEMISIA AFRA (Wormwood) (zulu name umhlonyane) Family: Asteraceae
Perennial shrub with feathery grey-green divided leaves and yellow flowers
Medicinal uses: (leaves/roots) cold/flu – cough/fever/sinus, worms, malaria, colic
Active ingredient: camphor, a-thyjone, b-thyjone, 1,8-cineole, berneol, terpenoids, eudesmadien, coumarins, and acetylenes
Pharmacological effects: antimicrobial, oxidative properties (also slightly toxic and hallucinogenic)
Dosage & Preparation: infused syrups, inhaling vapour or nostril inserts
Tropical east Africa
DATURA STRAMONIUM (Thorn Apple) (zulu name: iyoli) Family: Solanaceae
White/purple tubular flowers with fruit capsules containing brown kidney shaped seeds.
Medicinal uses: (leaves) asthma, rheumatism, gout, boils/abscesses, throat/tonsil inflammation, respiratory issues
Active ingredient: Atropine, scopolamine
Pharmacological effects: antifungal agents
Dosage & Preparation: traditionally fresh peeled stems chewed. Or commercially as teas/tablets/etc
EUCOMIS AUTUMNALIS (Pineapple Flower)
Bulbous plant with broad soft leaves and wavy margins. Thick central stalk has small yellow flowers with rosette of green leaves
Medicinal uses: (bulb) backache, fracture/surgery recovery, prevents early childbirth
Subspecies clavata: coughs, biliousness, lumbago, blood disease
Active ingredient: eucomalin, dihydroeucomalin
Pharmacological effects: anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic
Dosage & Preparation: enema
Eastern SA regions
HARPAGOPHYTUM PROCUMBENS (Devils Claw)
Weedy perennial with creeping stems from a fleshy rootstock, irregular grey-green leaves divided into lobes, tubular yellow/violet flowers, fruits with
several long arms and hooked thorns.
Medicinal uses: (roots) rheumatism, arthritis, general health tonic, digestive disorders, pregnancy/labour analgesic, ulcers/boils
Active ingredient: sugar compounds, phytosterols, tripeptides
Pharmacological effects: analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Dosage & Preparation: powder from dried root prepared as tonic in boiled water
Sandy NW regions
HOODIA GORDONII (Hoodia)
Leafless succulent with grey-green erect stems that have short single spines and large pale pink flowers
Medicinal uses: (fleshy stems) weight loss/appetite supress, indigestion, diabetes, hypertension, stomach ache, TB, haemorrhoids
Active ingredient: P57, various glycosides
Pharmacological effects: appetite suppressant and reduces body mass (in rats)
Dosage & Preparation: traditionally fresh peeled stems chewed. Or commercially as teas/tablets/etc
Western & central parts of SA and Namibia
