Table 1.
Medicinal plants used to cure various ailments in Oshikoto region, Namibia
| Scientific name | Family | Local name | Ailment | Time of recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acacia ataxacantha | Fabaceae | Mukoro | Headache | 3 days |
| Pneumonia | 3-5 days | |||
| Acacia mellifera | Fabaceae | Okadilanghono | Snake bite | 1-2 days |
| Acanthosycios naudiniana | Cucurbitaceae | Ruputwi | Mental illnesses | 2 - 3 days, up to 16 months |
| Inflammation | Vary | |||
| Aloe littorals | Asphodelaceae | Endombo | Bilharzia | 1 year |
| Asparagus nelsii | Asparagaceae | Okawekamuthithi | Eczema | 1 - 7 day |
| Asparagus virgatus | Asparagaceae | Runkwanana | Mental illnesses | 2 - 3 days, up to 16 months |
| Baphia massaiensis | Fabaceae | Omulyambambi | Fertility/impotent | 1 day |
| Boscia albitrunca | Capparaceae | Munkudi | Syphilis | 4 days (depends on the severity) |
| Chicken pox | 2 days | |||
| Clerodendrum ternatum | Lamiaceae | Shanyu | Eczema | 1 - 7 day |
| Colophospermum mopane | Fabaceae | Omusati | Swollen legs | One week |
| Combretum collinum | Combretaceae | Mububu | Coughing | 1 week |
| Panaritium | 1 week | |||
| Combretum imberbe | Combretaceae | Omukuku | Gonorrhea | 2 -7days |
| Fertility/impotent | 1 day | |||
| Male dysfunction | 1-4 day | |||
| Croton gratissimus | Euphorbiaceae | Ongonyo | Tetanus | 2 - 3 days |
| Lightening burn | One day | |||
| Cyperus papyrus | Cyperaceae | Onziku | Giving birth | 1 day |
| Datura stramonium | Solanaceae | Egwitha | Mental illnesses | 2 - 3 days, up to 16 months |
| Dicoma tomentosa | Asteraceae | Okalupulupu | Intestine cram | 1 -3 days, 4 - 5 Months |
| Diospyros lycoides | Ebenaceae | Oshimumu | Bleeding | 1 - 4 days |
| Higher fever | 1 day | |||
| Diospyros mespiliformis | Ebenaceae | Omwandi | Male dysfunction | 1- 4 day |
| Dregia macrantha | Apocynaceae | Ondhingulula | Male dysfunction | 1- 4 day |
| Easing birth | Few hours | |||
| Mental illnesses | 2 - 3 days, up to 16 months | |||
| Erythropheum africanum | Erythroxylaceae | Mupako | Gonorrhea | 2 -7days |
| Mental illnesses | 2 - 3 days, up to 16 months | |||
| Euclea divinorum | Ebenaceae | Omudime | Bleeding | 1 - 4 days |
| Euphorbia monteiroi | Euphorbiaceae | Oshilalanamawadi | Mental illnesses | 2 - 3 days, up to 16 months |
| Ficus sycomorus | Moraceae | Omukwiyu | Dermatitis | 1 month |
| Gloriosa virescens | Colchicaceae | Ompilu | Intestine cram | 1 -3 days, 4 - 5 Months |
| Harpagophytum procumbens | Pedaliaceae | Ekakata | Epilepsy | 1 month |
| Harpagophytum zeyheri | Pedaliaceae | Ekakata | Epilepsy | 1 month |
| Helinus intergrifolius | Rhamnaceae | Murora | Leg pains | 2 -7days |
| Stroke | 2 weeks, 4 -6 months | |||
| Helinus spartoides | Rhamnaceae | Omutiwoheva | Leg pains | 2 -7days |
| Stroke | 2 weeks, 4 -6 months | |||
| Heliotropium sp. | Boraginaceae | Ohanauni | Inflammation | Vary |
| Kleinia longiflora | Asteraceae | Elangelamwali | Mental illnesses | 2 - 3 days, up to 16 months |
| Colloid | Vary | |||
| Kohautia angolensis | Rubiaceae | Omutingulula | Intestine cram | 1 -3 days, 4 - 5 Months |
| Lonchocarpus nelsii | Fabaceae | Mupanda | Back pains | 2 days |
| Peltophorum africanum | Fabaceae | Omupalala | Leg pains | 2 -7days |
| Pergularia daemia | Apocynaceae | Eriko | Mental illnesses | 2 - 3 days, up to 16 months |
| Plumbago zeylanica | Plumbaginaceae | Okadimeti | Bleeding | 1 - 4 days |
| Pterocarpus angolensis | Fabaceae | Uguva | Coughing | 1 week |
| Leg pains | 2 -7days | |||
| Bleeding | 1 - 4 days | |||
| Rhigozum brevispinosum | Bignoniaceae | Ngandu | Syphilis | 4 days (depends on the severity) |
| Ricinus communis | Euphorbiaceae | Olumono | Epilepsy | 1 month |
| Securidaca longepedunculata | Polygalaceae | Omudhiku | Stroke | 2 weeks, 4 -6 months |
| Senna italic | Fabaceae | Okatundangu | Abscess | depends |
| Spirostachys africana | Euphorbiaceae | Omuhongo | Leg pains | 2 -7days |
| Strychnos cocculoides | Loganiaceae | Maguni | Culture bound syndrome | 2-3 Days |
| Swartzia madagascariensis | Fabaceae | Omukonati | Bleeding | 1 - 4 days |
| Terminalia sericea | Combretaceae | Omugolo | Leg pains | 2 -7days |
| Tragia okanyua | Euphorbiaceae | Okalilifa | Generalised oedema | 4 - 5 months |
| Unidentified | Munzwe | Ear infection | 1 day | |
| Unidentified | Xhangau | Diarrhoea | 2 - 3 days | |
| Unidentified | !hare | Abdomen pain | 2 days | |
| Unidentified | Guturoa | Worms | 2 - 3 days | |
| Unidentified | Okayekaathithi | Meningitis | Vary | |
| Unidentified | Oshihangena | Barren | Vary | |
| Unidentified | Onzingankelo | High Blood Pressure | Vary | |
| Unidentified | okasisiti | Fatigue | 4-5 days | |
| Unidentified | Oshihangena | Easing birth | Few hours | |
| Vangueria infausta | Rubiaceae | Oshimbu | Dermatitis | 1 month |
| Vigna dinteri | Fabaceae | Muyimbo | Herpes | 1 year |
| Ximenia americanum | Olacaceae | Kakukuru | Scoliosis | 1 week |
| Culture bound syndrome | 2-4 Days | |||
| Gonorrhea | 2 -7days | |||
| Ximenia caffra | Olacaceae | Ompeke | Fertility/impotent | 1 day |
| Culture bound syndrome | 2-5 Days | |||
| Gonorrhea | 2 -7days | |||
| Ziziphus mucronata | Rhamnaceae | Mukekete | Gonorrhea | 2 -7days |