African Medicine

Part 2

Aloe ferox

COMMON NAMES:

English: Bitter aloe

Afrikaans: bitteraalwyn, Kaapse aalwyn

Xhosa/Zulu/Sotho: Umhlaba

FAMILY NAME: Asphodelaceae

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

This aloe is a robust plant with persistent dry leaves on the lower portion of the single stem.

The broad, fleshy leaves are dull green or red-green, with dark brown spines along the edges & sometimes on the lower surface.

Bright red or orange flowers (rarely yellow or white) appear fro May to August and are arranged in erect candle-shaped clusters.

DISTRIBUTION: Aloe ferox is widely distributed along the eastern parts of South Africa.

PLANT PARTS USED

The bitter yellow juice that exudes from just below the surface of he leaf is dried by an age-old method to form a dark brown resinous solid, commercially known as Cape aloes. This product should not be confused with aloe gel.

Aloe gel is a watery mixture of pectic substances, amino acids, minerals, trace elements. It is used in hair and skin care products.

PREPARATION & DOSAGE

A small crystal of the crude drug, about twice the size of a match head, is taken orally as a laxative.

It should not be taken during pregnancy.

Half the laxative dose is taken for arthritis.

The fresh bitter sap is used for conjunctivitis and sinusitis.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS & PHARMACOLOGY

The main purgative ingredient is the anthrone C-glucoside aloinn (barbaloin).

The wound-healing properties are due to the glycoproteins, and to the hydrating, insulating and protective effects.

At therapeutic doses, the anthraquinone derivatives act as a stimulating laxative.

It is said to increase peristalsis and to affect the absorption of water and electrolytes.

TRADITIONAL USES

Cape aloes is still an important commercial laxative medicine. The larger part of production is exported, but substantial amounts are still marketed & used locally.

The popular self-care remedy “Lewensessens” & “Schweden bitters” contain Cape aloes.

TRADITIONAL USES

Aloe ferox is commonly used in traditional human & livestock medicines.

The leaves or roots, boiled in water, are taken as a laxative. It is also used for arthritis, eczema, conjunctivitis, hypertension & stress.

The leaf sap is applied externally to treat burns, bruises and skin irritations.

The dry leaves are popular in snuff mixtures.

Arctopus echinatus

COMMON NAMES

Afrikaans: siektroos, Kaapse platdoring

FAMILY NAME

Apiaceae

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

This peculiar plant is very unlike any other plant, and most people would not recognize it as a member of the Apiaceae family.

The plant has a thick, tuberous root with a rosette of spiny leaves that is borne flat on the ground. Male & female flowers are formed on different plants.

The inconspicuous green-yellow flowers appear in the middle of the rosettes & is followed, in female plants, by dry, spiny fruits.

PLANT PARTS USED & CONSTITUENTS

PARTS USED: Roots are used & the white resinous gum that oozes out from it.

DISTRIBUTION: It is widely distributed in the Cape fynbos area, from Nieuwoudville in the north to Port Elizabeth in the East.

CONSTITUENTS: The resinous gum in the root is very similar to the resin in kalmoes (Alepidea amatymbica) – which have been found to be anti-microbial, anti-hypertensive and diuretic in action.

TRADITIONAL USES

“Siektroos” was a popular early Cape remedy for numerous diseases. The vernacular name comes from the value of the rootstock, which brings comfort to the sick.

The use of the plant probably has its origin in the Khoi culture. The medicine is said to be diuretic, demulcent and purgative.

It is commonly used to treat bladder conditions and skin irritations.

It is also traditionally used to treat epilepsy.

Artemisia afra

COMMON NAMES

English: African wormwood

Afrikaans: als, alsem and wildeals

Sotho/Tswana: lengana

Xhosa/Zulu: umhlonyane

FAMILY NAME: Asteraceae

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONA highly aromatic plant is an erect, multi-stemmed

perennial shrub growing up to 2 m in height. The feathery leaves are finely divided and normally have a green-grey colour.

Pale yellow flowers are borne along the branch ends and are inconspicuous.

In cold regions the branches die back in winter and rapidly regenerate from the base.

NATURAL DISTRIBUTION: Artemisia afra is a very common South African herb, and its natural distribution extends northwards into tropical east Africa, as far north as Ethopia.

ACTIVE CONSTITUENTSThe volatile oils have anti-microbial and anti-oxidant

properties.

Toxic and hallucinogenic effects have been associated with thujone (neurotoxic volatile oil). The herb should therefore not be used in excessive amounts for prolonged periods of time.

It also contains terpenoids and coumarins, but the contribution of these constituents to the boilogical activity of the herb is not known.

Decongestant and anti-bacterial effects have been well-established.

Narcotic, analgesic and anti-histamine activity has also been proven.

TRADITIONAL USES“Wildeals” is one of the most common and widely

used traditional medicines in South Africa.It is used to treat: coughs, colds, flu, fever, loss of

appetite, headache, earache, mouth ulcers, colic, malaria, intestinal worms, weight loss, bronchitis, asthma, constipation, epilepsy, sores & wounds, infection, high blood pressure & diabetes.

The most common practise is to roll fresh leaves into he nostrils to clear a blocked nose. The roots are also used to treat colds and fevers.

The leaves are mainly used. Sometimes the roots are also used.