MEDICINAL PLANTS
Group 3
Research - Interview - In the bush

This highly aromatic plant is an erect multi-stemmed perennial shrub. The feathery leaves are finely divided and usually have a greyish green colour.

Parts used: The leaves are mainly used, but sometimes also the roots.

Preparation&Dosage: An infusion or decoction is generally used often made syrupy with the addition of honey or sugar to make the natural bitter taste .To treat a blocked nose, plugs of fresh leaves may be inserted in the nostrils or the leaves may be boiled in water and the fumes inhaled.

Medicinal Uses: Wildeals is one of the most widely used traditional medicines in South Africa .Numerous ailments are treated with it mainly coughs ,colds&influenza but also fever, loss of appetite, colic, headache, earache, malaria and intestinal worms ,amongst others. The most common practise is to insert fresh leaves into the nostrils to clear blocked nasal passages. The roots known as inyathelo are used to treat colds fever.

Pharmacological Effects: Decongestant and antibacterial effects of volatile oils are well known. In addition , narcotic, anaigesic &antihistamine activity have been demonstrated in preliminary tests.

Description: Ginger is an herbaceous perennial, with large leaves developing from a branched rhizome. The rather inconspicuous flower occur in a dense spike consisting of several overlapping scales on an elongated stalk. Each flower has three yellow-ish-orange petals with an additional purplish, liplike structure. Ginger is cultivated vegetatively only , because the the plants are sterile.

Parts used: The fresh (or dried) rhizomes, which are greyish-brown with a wrikled surface and pale yellow inside, are grown commercially.

Preparation&Dosage: Five to ten drops of  Jamaica Ginger are added to a glass of water.

Medicinal uses: It is important ingredients of several traditional South Africa medicines. It is used as stomachics and tonics to treat indigestion, flatulence and nausea. These include lewensessens and Jamaica Ginger. Ginger has also been used in African folk medicine. An alcoholic tincture is an old remedy for colds and influenza 

pharmacological effects: Ginger is traditionally used for functional dyspepsia and the activity is due mostly to gingeroll as well aszingiberene. Some clinical studies have shown ginger to be effective in controlling postoperative nausea and travel sickness.

Vernonia Oligocephala

Description: The plant is a herbaceous perennial with erect flowering branches developing from a woody rootstock. The leaves are elliptic in shape. They are dark green & almost hairless on the upper side but densely hairly & silvery below. The bright violet flower heads are borne in large groups towards the branch tips.

Parts Used: Leaves & twigs are used, rarely the roots

nMedicinal Uses: Ifusions are taken as stomach bitters to treated include rheumatism, dysentery & diabetes. The foots have been used to treat ulcerative colitis.

Pharmacological effects: Plants containing these compounds also are tradionally used as stomachics and tonics & externally to treat wounds and uclers.

Tarchonanthus Camphoratus

Description: ub or smThe plant is a shrall tree with greyish appearance. The leaves are oblong is shape, with the upper surface dark green and strongly net-veined & the lower surface pale grey and densely velvety. The small, whitish flower heads are followed by small woolly fruits.

Preparation & Dosage: Infusions or tinctures are taken orally or fresh leaves may be chewed. Hot poultices have also been used. The fumes from crushed leaves and branches may be inhaled, as can smoke from the burning fresh leaves or branches.

Medicinal uses: Infusions and tincures of the leaves & twigs are used for stomach trouble, abdominal pain, headache, toothache, asthma, bronchitis and inflammation.

Pharmacological effects: It is possible that flavonoids & ingredients of the volatile oil are responsible for the reported analge, diaphoretic, decongestant & antispasmodic effects.

1) Where do you find your medicinal plants ? from the bush

2) which parts of plants do you use normally ? the leaves

3) what do you use it for? When someone is sick

4) how did you these plants can heal? It has been passes on from generation to generation

5) how do you prepare these medicines and how  long does it take to have them ready?

You normally boil the plants’ leaves in water and after 30-40 minutes it will be ready.

6) can you give us examples of some medicinal plants you know and that you use when you are sick?

LENGANA (African Wormwood); it helps when you are caughing and have diarrhea. It is easy to prepare: you boil the leaves and drink it.

  Mokopo and Sekgopane: these two we use when we have STd. You mix the roots of sekgopane and mokopa in boiling water with your feet for an hour then you drink.

 Molelwane – this one we use when we have sore throat. And it is prepared by boiling its leaves in water and then drink it.

III- IN THE BUSH

- MARULA TREE – they crush the marual bark with water and it helps against malaria.

- COMBRITEM IMBIRB – they burn its leaves and inhales the ashes of its wood; it can be used as a tooth paste (the ashes).

- BOSOA ALBITRUCA- it helps you if you have epilepsy (unripe berries).

Created by Kealeboga Hoti