Assegai

Assegai Curtisia dentata

The assegai grows in most of the forests in southern Africa and Swaziland, from sea level to 1 800 m. It ranges from the Cape Peninsula through the forest patches of the eastern Western Cape to the forests of the Knysna region, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Swaziland. In the forest it is usually found in climax forest and grows into a tall tree with a clean, unbuttressed bole. It also grows on grassy mountain slopes and in coastal scrub forest where it is a small bushy tree.

The bark is in great demand for traditional medicine, and is used to treat stomach ailments, diarrhoea and as a blood purifier and aphrodisiac. It is used only in special mixtures because it is now too scarce to be used in most mixtures.

More: www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/curtisdent.htm

African cucumis

African cucumis

The African cucumis is widely used throughout tropical Africa for numerous ailments. Traditionally, Shangaan, Swazi and Zulu widows have to bath in a decoction of the root before remarrying. Through scientific research we are now able to decode the reasons for this tradition. The African cucumis has anti-parasitical and other properties that clean the widow of parasites and other infectious ailments that she might be carrying from her previous marriage, thereby giving credence to this traditional practice.

Plant parts used:

Mainly the roots are used for medicinal purposes. Decoctions are made and taken as a tea, applied externally or made into a bath.

Medicinal uses:

The African cucumis is used for skin complaints, cancers, gonorrhoea, inflammatioms, malaria, pain, parasites, viral hepatitis and worms. Its anti parasitical properties are legendary.

The African Cucumis has similar properties to the Pedicellus Melo, (Chinese name: Tian Gua Di) which is used to remove lumps, eliminate fluid and relieve jaundice, acute and chronic viral hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis, liver cancer, persistent dyspepsia and epilepsy due to wind-phlegm.

This plant is one of the most misunderstood medicinal plants in the world. Although it is considered toxic by the western world, there is a long history of its medicinal use as well as a food source in southern Africa. There has never been a report of any side effects of its tincture. Furthermore, there are numerous cases supporting of its effectiveness in treating cancers, hepatocirrhosis, malaria and viral hepatitis. Its toxicity may be caused by over harvesting, environmental stresses and/or different subspecies.

As an herbal treatment for liver ailments and diseases, the African cucumis offers unparalleled results and benefits and it is therefore recommended for all those who abuse fatty foods and substances of addiction (alcohol, drugs and tobacco).

The African cucumis is recommended for skin cancers and bad skin complexions. We have observed that crawling and flying insects will travel great distances to consume the roots of the African cucumis. We have also observed that patients taking the African cucumis have improved skin complexions. Both animal and human derive great benefits from this plant. Long-term use of the plant seems to have no ill side effects. One patient took the African cucumis for a period of three years with no visible side effects. The plant is known to cause diarrhoea in some patients.

More: www.herbalafrica.co.za/africancucumis.html

 

Alliaceae

Boophane Disticha

This is an attractive, deciduous bulbous plant with a thick covering of dry scales above the ground. The large, round heads are sometimes on such short stems that they appear to grow directly from the bulb, almost at ground level. The colour of flowers varies from shades of pink to red and are sweetly scented (July to Oct.). The pedicels (flower stalks) elongate after flowering to form a large seedhead. This breaks off at the top of the scape (stalk) and tumbles across the veld dispersing the seed. The greyish green leaves are erect, arranged in a conspicuous fan and are usually produced after flowering. This spring-flowering species will flower even if it does not receive any water in winter. The bulb is very poisonous.

Bushman poison bulb

Bushman poison bulb: Boophone disticha 

The Khoisan people believed this bulb has the power to transport the dead through the doorway of the spirit to the life hereafter. For this reason it is revered and feared by the Khoisan who regard it as enormously powerful.

in South Africa, and you will find traditional healers or ‘sangomas’ using it to psychoanalyse emotional disorders in their patients. The process is called ‘bioscope’.

The healer medicates the patient with a minute quantity of Boophone and then sits them in front of a blank white screen.

Once the medicine has taken effect, the healer asks the patient what s/he sees on the screen (hence ‘bioscope’) in order to analyse their imaginings.

From here the healer induces vomiting in the patient to purge the Boophone, hopefully along with their troubles.

While Boophone is widely used in the treatment of psychological troubles, it also has powerful physical healing attributes and is used by traditional healers to treat circumcision wounds.

It is well known in medical circles that the alkaloids in Boophone are extremely effective painkillers. The scales of the bulb are wrapped around the circumcised penis to reduce the pain as well as to sterilise the wound.

Boophone might also be taken orally as a painkiller in the form of a weak infusion, but the dose could prove lethal if administered by anyone but a highly trained healer.

More: karoospace.co.za/bushman-poison-bulb-doorway-hereafter/