Table 2.
Medicinal plants used for home remedies in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
| Plant Species | Local name | Part(s) used and preparation | Uses | No. |
|
Acacia karroo (Fabaceae) |
Umnga | Leaves: crush, boil and drink infusion | Headache | 2 |
|
Agathosma apiculata (Rutaceae) |
Ibuchu | Leaves and roots: chew or make an infusion and drink |
Abdominal pain, fever, tiredness, chest congestion, urinary infections |
5 |
|
Alcea rosea (Malvaceae) |
Inqwabeba | Leaves: infusion taken orally | respiratory ailments, mental retardation | 4 |
|
Alepidea amatymbica (Apiaceae) |
Iqwili | Rhizome roots: cut into pieces and chewed or decoction or infusion taken orally |
flu, asthma, good luck charm, coughs | 54 |
|
Allium cepa (Lilliaceae) |
Onion | Root bulb: cooked whole or decoction taken orally |
colds, flu, coughs, cardiovascular conditions, lower cholesterol, prevents tooth decay |
16 |
|
Allium sativum (Lilliaceae) |
Garlic; ivimbampunzi | Root cloves: In food, or take raw orally grated or whole | Hypertension, antibiotic, expectorant, diabetes, heartburn, lower cholesterol |
6 |
|
Aloe ferox (Aloaceae) |
Aloe vera; Ikhala | Leaves - the leaf gel for topical application or crushed leaf in water and taken orally. |
sunburns, wounds, nausea, diabetes, acne, obesity, abdominal pain, arthritis, sinus congestion, diarrhea, peptic ulcers |
40 |
|
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Ericaceae) |
Bearberry | Stem and leaves: Boil and decoction taken orally |
diarrhea, kidney problems | 3 |
|
Artemisia afra (Asteraceae) |
Umhlonyane | Roots, leaves: Decoction taken orally | fever, colds and flu, nasal congestion, coughs, respiratory problems, blood purifier, earaches, asthma, sweaty feet, headaches, sore throat, |
51 |
|
Aspalatus linearis (Fabaceae) |
Rooibos, inkanga | Leaves: boil and drink as tea | insomnia, headaches, nervous tension, hypertension, eczema, stomach cramps, cervical cancer, anti-oxidant, asthma |
6 |
|
Calendula officinalis (Asteraceae) |
Marigold, ibhosisi | Flower: dried and mixed with body creams, infusion taken orally |
anti-inflammatory, heals wounds, antiseptic, cleanse blood, stomach cramps, gastric ulcers, blood stained urine, |
2 |
|
Centella eriantha (Apiaceae) |
Iphuzi | Roots: Decoction taken orally or grind and mix with water then apply topically |
Sexually transmitted infections (STI's), erectile dysfunction, burning urination, male infertility wound healing |
2 |
|
Cinnamomum verum (Lauraceae) |
True cinnamon | Bark: infusion taken orally or apply topically for bee sting |
indigestion, nausea, colds and flu, bee stings |
5 |
|
Crinum bulbispermum (Amaryllidaceae) |
Ibhucu | Bulb: Crush and mix with bath water | pimples and rashes | 1 |
|
Curcuma langa (Zingiberaceae) |
Tumeric | Roots: infusion taken orally or topical application |
antiseptic, arthritis, allergies, asthma, cancer, gastric ulcers, acne, to lower cholesterol levels |
12 |
|
Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae) |
Uqaqaqa | Leaves and roots: decoction taken orally or applied topically |
sterilise open wounds, anti-inflammatory, nausea |
2 |
|
Cyrtanthus obliquus (Amaryllidaceae) |
Umathunga | Leaves: Topical application or infusion taken orally |
wound healing, flu, stomach ache | 6 |
|
Elephantorrhiza elephantine (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) |
Intolwane | Root infusion taken orally | Stomach ache and other gastrointestinal problems |
|
|
Eucalyptus regnans (Myrtaceae) |
Gumtree | Leaves: Add boiling water and breath in the steam or drink hot infusion |
Cold and flu, tonsillitis, cough | 5 |
|
Euclea species (Ebenaceae) |
Umtshekesane | Root: decoction taken orally. Stem chewed and used as toothbrush |
Respiratory problems, dental hygiene | 11 |
|
Eugenia caryophyllata (Myrtaceae) |
Clove | Flower buds: infusion taken orally | nausea, toothache, indigestion, viral infections, flatulence |
4 |
|
Helichrysum ordoratissimum (Asteraceae) |
Impepho | Leaves, stems: boil and steam in it or burn and inhale the smoke, infusion taken orally |
fever, cough, insomnia, stomach ache, toothache, headache |
18 |
|
Helichrysum pedunculatum/ nudifolium (Asteraceae) |
Isicwe | Leaves: boil and drink; prepare paste and apply topically |
Used during male circumcision to heal wound, anti-inflammatory, viral infections, treat allergies, remove stretch marks, skin treatments, |
50 |
|
Hypoxis hemerocallidea (Hypoxidaceae) |
African potato, Ilabatheka | Root corm: infusion taken orally, cooked and taken with food, paste applied topically |
immune booster in HIV/AIDS infection, blood purification, sunburns, antibiotic, septic sores, headaches, purgative, antioxidant, flu, cancer, acne, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, testicular tumors, arthritis, diabetes, prostate gland enlargement, treat infertility |
48 |
| Hyraceum | Umchamo wenfene | Fossilized rock rabbit urine infusion taken orally |
Taken in pregnancy to ease pregnancy complications. Diabetes, prostate problems |
66 |
|
Kniphofia drepanophylla (Aloaceae) |
Ixonya | Roots: Decoction taken orally | stomach ache, loss of appetite, gastric worms/parasites |
2 |
|
Lauridia tetragonia (Celastaceae) |
Umdlavuza | Leaves: prepare paste with water and apply topically |
healing of wounds and blisters | 2 |
| Lavandula spp | Lavender | Leaves: boil to form paste and apply topically on painful area. |
headaches, abdominal cramps, dysmenorrhea |
3 |
|
Lantana rugosa (Verbenaceae) |
Utywala bentaka | Leaves infusion taken orally; crushed leaves applied topically |
Diabetes, stomach ache, insect repellant | 2 |
|
Malva parviflora (Malvaceae) |
umajikanelanga, | Leaves: infusion taken orally; paste applied topically |
Stomach aches, wound healing | 2 |
|
Mentha longifolia (Lamiaceae) |
Inxina | Leaves | Flatulence, stomach ache, wound healing | 2 |
|
Mentha piperita (Lamiaceae) |
peppermint | Leaves and stem: infusion with boiling water taken orally |
anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, aromatic, anti-emetic, calm nervousness, antimicrobial, analgesic, stimulant, |
3 |
|
Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) |
Black cumin | Leaves and fruit: infusion taken orally | stomach ache, lactogogue, diuretic, antipyretic, diabetes, gastric ulcers, jaundice |
2 |
|
Ocimum tenuiflorum (Lamiaceae) |
Basil | Stem and leaves: fresh crushed or dried - in food or as an infusion taken orally |
anti-inflammatory, night blindness, cough, hypertension, migraines |
2 |
|
Opuntia aurantiaca (Cactaceae) |
Itolofiya | Leaves: burn to ashes and mix with petroleum jelly for topical application; Infusion taken orally |
Wound and sore healing, diabetes, Hypertension |
2 |
|
Pentanisia prunelloides (Rubiaceae) |
Sicimamlilo | Leaves: grind to form paste and apply on affected area |
Healing burns, shingles | 2 |
|
Portulaca oleracea (Portulacaceae) |
Udywangudywangu | Leaves: as an infusion taken orally | increase production of breast milk, stomach aches, relieve blisters and corns on feet, sore throats, mouth sores, TB, diarrhea, |
8 |
|
Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Rutaceae) |
Umthathi | Leaves: chewed and juice swallowed | Toothaches, headaches, Hypertension | 4 |
|
Punica granatum (Lythraceae) |
Pomegranate | Bark, roots, fruit peel, seed: Decoction taken orally or applied topically |
diarrhea, hoarseness or loss of voice, stomach ache, hyperactivity, indigestion, poor appetite, nausea, morning sickness, intestinal worms, fever, skin irritation, bleeding piles |
3 |
|
Rapanea melanophloeos (Myrsinaceae) |
Itshongwe; umaphipha | Leaves: infusion/decoction of dried leaves taken orally |
diarrhea, stomach ache, headache, anti-emetic, nausea |
6 |
|
Rumex obtusifolius (Polygonaceae) |
Idolo lenkonyane | Leaves and roots - infusion taken orally or topical application |
Astringent, blood purifier | 1 |
|
Solanum aculeastrum (Solanaceae) |
Umthuma | Fruit: burn and inhale the smoke through the mouth |
relief of toothache | 3 |
|
Sutherlandia frutescens (Fabaceae) |
Umnwele | Leaves and flower petals - Infusion or decoction taken orally |
Cancer, inflammation, immune booster in HIV/AIDS infections, antibiotic, stomach ache, fungal infections, |
15 |
|
Talinum caffrum (Portulacaceae) |
Umhlabelo | Root: infusion taken orally | Heal fractured/painful bones, nervousness | 1 |
|
Teedia lucida (Scrophulariaceae) |
uvhete | Root: infusion taken orally | Hypertension, diabetes | 3 |
|
Tetradenia riparia (Lamiaceae) |
Iboza | Leaves: infusion taken orally | stomach ache, diarrhea, coughs, colds, gastric ulcers, respiratory ailments |
6 |
|
Tulbaghia acutiloba (Alliaceae) |
Isivumbampuzi | Roots and leaves: Boil and drink the decoction |
stomach ache, cough and fever, chest pain, constipation, cramps, headache, colds and flu, detoxification agent |
2 |
|
Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) |
Ginger; Ujinja | Root: in food or as an infusion taken orally | antibacterial, period pains, muscle cramps, cold and flu, cough |
3 |