Table 1.
Southern African plants used traditionally to treat viral respiratory illnesses.
| Plant species | Family | Common name(s) | Plant part used | Used for | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acacia arenaria Schinz | Fabaceae | Sand acacia (English), sanddoring (Afrikaans) | Root | A decoction is consumed to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Acacia decurrens Willd. | Fabaceae | Black wattle, early green wattle (English) | Trunk exudate/gum | Used to treat bronchitis. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Acacia hebeclada DC. | Fabaceae | Cattlepod acacia (English), kersdoringboom (Afrikaans) | Root | A decoction is consumed to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Acacia karoo Hayne | Fabaceae | Sweet thorn (English), soetdoring (Afrikaans), mooka (Tswana), umuNga (Zulu, Xhosa) | Leaves and bark | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application are not specified. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Acacia mearnsii De Wild. | Fabaceae | Uwatela (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Acacia mellifera (Vahl.) Benth. | Fabaceae | Hook thorn, black hook (English), swarthaak (Afrikaans) | Roots | Chewed to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile | Fabaceae | Redheart, scented thorn (English), lekkerreulpeul (Afrikaans) | Bark and leaves | Used to treat colds. | Hutchings et al.(1996); Von Koenen (2001) |
| Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. | Fabaceae | Three thorn tree (English), driedoringakasia (Afrikaans) | Gum (trunk exudate) | Used as an expectorant in people with colds and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Acacia sieberana var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keayb & Brenan | Fabaceae | Paperbark thorn (English), papierbasdoring (Afrikaans) | Leaf and bark | Decoctions are used as an expectorant in people with colds and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Achyranthes aspera L. | Amaranthaceae | Devil's horsewhip (English), langplitskafblom (Afrikaans) | Roots | The Zulus use a decoction to treat bronchitis. Also used in Namibia to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) Codd. | Apocynaceae | Bushman's poison (English), boesmansgif (Afrikaans), inhlungunyembe (Zulu), intlungunyembe (Xhosa) | Leaves | Leaf decoctions are a Xhosa remedy for colds. However, this species is highly toxic and caution is required. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Philander (2011). |
| Acorus calamus L. | Acoraceae | Indaluqwatha, indawolucwatha, uzulucwatha (Zulu) | Not specified | Used by the Zulu to treat colds and influenza. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Adenopodia spicata (E.Mey.) C.Presl | Fabaceae | Spiny splinter bean (English), stekelsplinterboontjie (Afrikaans), ibobo, ubobo, umbambangwe (Zulu) | Bark | The Zulus use a decoction to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Adiantum chilense var. sulphureum (Kaulf.) Kuntze ex Hicken | Pteridaceae | Common maidenhair fern (English) | Leaves | The southern Sotho smoke the leaves to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Adiantum capillus-veneris L. | Pteridaceae | Maidenhair fern (English), venushaar (Afrikaans) | Leaves | The southern Sotho smoke the leaves to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996); Von Koenen (2001); Moffett (2010) |
| Adansonia digitata L. | Malvaceae | Baobab (English), kremetartboom (afrikaans) | Fruit | Boiled and consumed to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Aeollanthus buchnerianus Briq. | Lamiaceae | Rock sage (English), klipsalie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | The Sotho smoke the leaves to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Agathosma betulina (P.J.Bergius) Pillans | Rutaceae | Bucgh (English), boegoe, letuling (Afrikaans) | Leaves | An infusion is drunk to treat colds. | De Beer and Van Wyk (2011) |
| Albizia antunesiana Harms | Fabaceae | Purple-leaved false thorn (English), persblaarvalsdoring (Afrikaans) | Bark | Chewed to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. & Zeyh. | Apiaceae | Kalmoes (Afrikaans), lesoko (Sotho), iqwili (Xhosa), ikhathazo (Zulu) | Roots and stem | Zulus burn the stems and inhale the smoke to treat colds. Zulu and Sotho use a root decoction is drunk to treat colds and influenza. | ; Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Moffett (2010); Philander (2011); |
| Allium cepa L. | Amaryllidaceae | Onion (English) | Bulb | Used to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Allium sativum L. | Amaryllidaceae | Garlic (English) | Bulb | Used to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Aloe arborescens Mill. | Xanthorrhoeaceae | Krantz aloe (English), kransaalwyn (Afrikaans), ikalene (Xhosa), inkalane, umhlabana (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Aloe maculata All. | Xanthorrhoeaceae | Soap aloe, zebra aloe (English) | Leaves | The Zulu use a decoction to treat colds and influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Kose et al. (2015) |
| Anemone caffra Harv. | Rananculaceae | Unknown | Roots | Zulus used the powdered roots as a snuff to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Anemone vesicatoria (L.f.) Prantl | Rananculaceae | Blister leaf (English), brandblaar, katjiedrieblaar (Afrikaans) | Leaves and roots | Root decoctions are used to treat colds and influenza. No application is specified for the leaves | Van Wyk et al. (2009); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Anisodontea triloba (Thunb.) D.M.Bates | Malvaceae | Wildsalie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | A leaf infusion is consumed to treat colds. | De Beer and Van Wyk (2011) |
| Antiphiona pinnatisecta (S.Moore) Merxm. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Roots | The San use an infusion to treat influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Aptosimum indivisum Burch. ex Benth. | Scrophulariaceae | Kinkhoesbos, agtdaegeneesbos (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Artemisia afra Jacq. Ex Willd. | Asteraceae | African wormwood (English), als, alsem, wildeals (Afrikaans), lengana (Sotho, Tswana), umhlonyane (Xhosa, Zulu) | Leaves | Infusions and decoctions are used to treat coughs, colds, influenza and bronchitis. Fresh leaves may also be inserted directly into the nose. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Moffett (2010); Kose et al. (2015). |
| Asplenium cordatum (Thunb.) Sw. | Aspleniaceae | Resurrection fern (English), skubcaring (Afrikaans) | Leaves and rhizome | Leaves are smoked by Sotho to treat colds. A rhizome decoction is drunk to treat colds and relieve sore throats. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Asplenium monanthes L. | Aspleniaceae | Unknown | Leaves | Smoked by southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010). |
| Asplenium trichomanes L. | Aspleniaceae | Maidenhair spleenwort (English) | Leaves | Smoked by southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Baccharoides adoensis var. mossambiquensis (Steetz) "Isawumi, El-Ghazaly & B.Nord." | Asteraceae | Unknown | Not specified | The Zulu use infusions to treat influenza. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Ballota africana (L.) Benth. | Lamiaceae | kattekruid, kattekruie (Afrikaans) | Whole plant | In infusion is used to treat colds and influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Bauhinia petersiana Bolle | Fabaceae | Camel's foot (English), koffiebos (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Boiled and the steam inhaled to treat colds and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Berkheya setifera DC. | Asteraceae | Leleme la khomo (southern Sotho) | Roots and leaves | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Kose et al. (2015) |
| Bidens pilosa L. | Asteraceae | Black jack, beggars ticks, cobblerspegs, sticky beaks (English) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparationa and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Blepharis espinosa Phillips | Acanthaceae | Unknown | Not specified | Used by the Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010). |
| Buddleja saligna Willd. | Scrophulariaceae | False olive (English), witolien (Afrikaans), lelothwane (southern Sotho), ungqeba (Xhosa), igqeba-elimhlope (Zulu) | Leaves | The Tswana us a leaf decoction to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Berkheya setifera DC. | Asteraceae | Buffalo-tongue thistle (English), rasperdissel (Afrikaans), ikhakhasi (Zulu), indlebe-lenkomo (Xhosa), lelelemia-khomo, ntsoantsane (southern Sotho) | Roots | A decoction prepared and consumed for coughs and colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Brunsvigia grandiflora Lindl. | Amaryllidaceae | Giant candellabria (English), reusekandelaarblom (Afrikaans) | Bulb | A decoction is prepared from the crushed bulb and consumed for coughs and colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Bulbine frutescens Willd. | Xanthorrhoeaceae | Unknown | Leaves | The dried leaves are smoked by the Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Bulbine narcissifolia Salm-Dyck | Xanthorrhoeaceae | Khomo ea balisa | Bulbs/roots | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Kose et al. (2015) |
| Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. | Aizoaceae | Sour fig, Cape fig, Hottentot's fig (English), vyerank, ghaukum, ghoenavy, hotnotsvye, Kaapvy, perdevy, rankvy (Afrikaans), ikhambi-lamabulawo, umgongozi (Zulu) | Leaves | Juice from squeezed leaves is diluted in water and used to relieve sore throats associated with colds. | Hutchings et al.(1996); Felhaber and Mayeng (1997) |
| Carissa bispinosa (L.) Defs. ex Brenan. | Apocynaceae | Amathungulu (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparationa and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Cassine transvaalensis (Burtt Davy) Codd. | Celestraceae | Transvaal saffron (English), lepel, lepelhout, waterboom (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Adults chew the leaves and swallow the sap to treat influenza. An infusion is given to children for the same purpose. | Hutchings et al. (1996); Von Koenen (2001); |
| Catha edulis (Vahl) Endl. | Celestraceae | Bushman's tea (English), boesmanstee (Afrikaans), khat (Arabic) | Leaves | The Xhosa use the leaves to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Chamarea capensis (Thunb.) Eckl. & Zeyh. | Apiaceae | Vinkelbol, vinkelwortel (Afrikaans) | Root | The infusions are drunk to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Cheilanthes eckloniana Met. | Pteridaceae | Ecklon's lip fern, resurrection fern (English) | Root, leaves | A decoction is consumed by the Sotho to treat colds. The leaves are also smoked to treat colds. | Moffett (2010); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Cheilanthes hirta Sw. | Pteridaceae | Mamauoaneng (southern Sotho) | Root | A decoction is consumed by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996); Kose et al. (2015) |
| Cheilanthes involuta var. obscura (N.C.Anthony) N.C. Anthony | Pteridaceae | Unknown | Root | A decoction is consumed by the Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Chaenostoma floribundum Benth. | Scrophulariaceae | Unknown | Root | The Southern Sotho use a decoction to treat colds in children. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Chloris virgata Sw | Poaceae | Feather finger grass (English) | Not specified | Used by the Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Chrysocoma ciliata L. | Asteraceae | Beesbos (Afrikaans) | Leaves | A decoction is drunk to treat colds. | De Beer and Van Wyk (2011) |
| Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl. | Lauriaceae | Camphor tree (English), kanferboom (Afrikaans), uroselina (Zulu) | Essential oil (distilled from the wood) | Used to treat colds. | Van Wyk et al. (2009); Philander (2011). |
| Clematis brachiata Thunb. | Rananculaceae | Morara oa thaba (southern Sotho) | Not specified | Used by the Sotho to treat colds. | Hutchings et al.(1996); Moffett (2010); Kose et al. (2015). |
| Cleome angustifolia Forssk. | Cleomaceae | Unknown | Roots | The San inhale the steam from boiling roots to treat influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Cliffortia ilicifolia L. | Rosaceae | Unknown | Not specified | Used by Boers as an expectorant to relieve the symptoms of colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Cliffortia odorata L.f. | Rosaceae | Wildewingerd (Afrikaans) | Not specified | An infusion is drunk to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Philander (2011); |
| Conyza scabrida DC. | Asteraceae | Bakhos, oondbos (Afrikaans), isavu (Xhosa) | Leaves | Infusions are consumed and powdered. Used as a snuff to treat colds and influenza. | Hutchings et al. (1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009); De Beer and Van Wyk (2011); Philander (2011); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Chloris virgata Sw. | Poaceae | Feather-finger grass, Rhodes grass (English) | Roots | A decoction is added to the bath by Xhosa to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Leaves and flowers | People with colds sleep on a pillow filled with leaves and flowers to relieve the symptoms. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Clematis brachiata Thunb. | Rananculaceae | Ihlonzo leziduli, inhlongo, umdloza, umfufuna (Zulu) | Stem | The Xhosa sniff the bruised stem to treat colds. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); York et al. (2011) |
| Combretum molle R.Br. ex G.Don | Combretaceae | Umbondo, umbondwe (Zulu) | Leaves | An infusion is drunk to treat colds. | York et al. (2011) |
| Corymbia gummifera (Gaertn.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson | Myrtaceae | Red bloodwood (English) | Leaves | Essential oils are inhaled to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck | Rutaceae | Lemon (English) | Fruit juice | Consumed to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); York et al. (2011) |
| Crassula alba Forssk. | Crassulaceae | Unknown | Juice | The Zulu and Swati mix the juice with water as a nasal cleanser for influenza sufferers. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996) |
| Crinum bulbispermum (Burm.f.) Milne-Redh. & Schweik. | Amaryllidaceae | Orange River lily, Vaal River lily (English), Oranjierivierlelie (Afrikaans), umnduze (Zulu) | Bulb | A decoction is prepared from the crushed bulb and consumed by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010); |
| Crinum macowanii Baker | Amaryllidaceae | umduze (Zulu) | Bulbs | A decoction is prepared from the crushed bulb and consumed by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle | Poaceae | Citronella grass (English) | Entire plant | Used to treat colds. Treatment and application is not specified. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996) |
| Cyperus longus L. | Cyperaceae | Galingale (English) | Tuber | The Zulu inhale the powdered tuber to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Datura spp. | Solanaceae | Various common names for different species. | Not specified | Used by the Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis (L.f.) Koek. | Asteraceae | Rhinoceros bush (English) | Not specified | Used to treat influenza. Preparation and application methods are not specified. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Dicoma anomala Sond. | Asteraceae | Fever bush, stomach bush (English), maagbitterwortel, kalwerbossie, koorsbossie, gryshout, maagbossie (Afrikaans), inyongana (Xhosa), isihlabamakhondlwane, umuna (Zulu) | Roots | Powdered root bark is inhaled by the Sotho as a snuff to treat colds. A decoction may also be consumed for the same purpose. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996); Von Koenen (2001); Moffett (2010); Kose et al. (2015) |
| Dicoma capensis Less. | Asteraceae | Wilde karmedik, koorsbossie (Afrikaans) | Roots | Powdered root bark is inhaled by the Sotho as a snuff to treat colds. A decoction may also be consumed for the same purpose. | Hutchings et al. (1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009); De Beer and Van Wyk (2011) |
| Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. | Poaceae | Crab grass (English) | Whole plant | A decoction is consumed to treat colds. | Smith (1888) |
| Dioscorea dregeana (Kunth.) D. Durand & Schinz. | Dioscoreaceae | Ingevu, intana ebovu, udakawa (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. | Sapindaceae | Sand olive (English), sandolien, ysterbos (Afrikaans), mutata-vhana (Venda) | Leaves, twigs | Used to treat colds and influenza. | Nortje and Van Wyk (2015); Van Wyk et al. (2009); De Beer and Van Wyk (2011); Nortje and Van Wyk (2015); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019). |
| Dolichothrix ericoides (Lam.) Hilliard & B.L.Burtt. | Asteraceae | Klipanoster, berganoster (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Infusions are drunk to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Drimia altissima (L.f.) Ker Gawl. | Asparagaceae | Tall white squill (English) | Bulb | The powdered bulb is ingested to treat influenza and bronchitis. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Dysphania ambrosoides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants | Amaranthaceae | Wormseed, Jesuit's tea (English), Ikhambi leslumo, isinuka, isinukamasimba, umanxiweni (Zulu) | Not specified | Used by the Zulu to treat colds and influenza. | ; Hulley and Van Wyk (2019); Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996) |
| Elaphoglossum conforme (Sw.) Schott | Pteridaceae | Unknown | Rhizome | A decoction is consumed by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Elaphoglossum petiolatum (Sw.) Urb. | Pteridaceae | Graceful tongue fern (English) | Rhizome | A decoction is consumed by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Empleurum unicapsulare (L.f.) Skeels | Rutaceae | Bergboegoe, bokboegoe, langblaarboegoe (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza, Preparation and application are not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. | Equisetaceae | Branched horsetail (English) | Rhizome | Zulu and Sotho drink a decoction of the rhizome to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Eriocephalus africanus L. | Asteraceae | Kapokbos, skaapkaroo (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Infusions are used to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Eriocephalus punctalatis DC. | Asteraceae | Wild rosemary, Cape snowbush (English), kapokbos (Afrikaans) | Unspecified | Used to fumigate huts of people with colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Erigeron bonariensis L. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Leaves | A leaf infusion is consumed by Zulus to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996) |
| Eriosema cordatum E.Mey. | Fabaceae | Ugwayana, umuthi wamadoda, umvusandoda (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Eriosema distinctum N.E.Br. | Fabaceae | Ugqomfane, umvusandoda, uqonsi (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan | Fabaceae | Woodland waterberry, water pear (English), waterpeer (Afrikaans) | Bark | The Zulu use the powdered bark as a snuff to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. | Myrtaceae | Umgamthrini (Zulu) | Gum (trunk exudate) | The gum is dissolved in water and used to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Eucalyptus globulis Labill. | Myrtaceae | Blue gum (English) | Leaves | Decoctions and infusions are used to treat colds and influenza. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. | Asparagaceae | Autumn pineapple lily, pineapple flower (English), wildepynappel, krulkoppie (Afrikaans), ubuhlungu becanti, isithithibala esimathunzi (Xhosa), umathunga, ukhokho, umakhandakantsele (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparationa and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Euryops spp. | Asteraceae | Different names for different species | Not specified | Ingested to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Foeniculum vulgare Mill. | Apiaceae | Vinkel, makvinkel (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Infusions are drunk to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Geranium incanum Burm.f. | Geraniaceae | vrouebossie, bergtee, amarabossie (Afrikaans), ngope-sethsoha, tlaka (Sotho) | Leaves | Leaf infusions are used to treat bronchitis. | Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Geranium ornithopodon Eckl. & Zeyh. | Geraniaceae | Unknown | Leaves | A leaf decoction is consumed to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Gerbera ambigua (Cass.) Sch. Bip. | Asteraceae | Seboka (southern Sotho) | Roots | A root infusion is drunk to treat severe colds. | Kose et al. (2015) |
| Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass. | Asteraceae | Tsebe ea pela (southern Sotho) | Unspecified | The southern Sotho use it to fumigate huts of people with colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996); Moffett (2010); Kose et al. (2015); |
| Gerbera viridifolia (DC.) Sch. Bip. | Asteraceae | Blushing baberton daisy (English), griquateebossie (Afrikaans), lyeza lamazi (Xhosa) | Unspecified | The southern Sotho inhale smoke from the burning plant to treat colds. An infusion is consumed for the same purpose. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Gladiolus dalenii Van Geel | Iridaceae | Parrot gladiolus, Natal lily (English), papegaai-gladiolus, wildeswaardlelie (Afrikaans), umnunge (Xhosa), udwendweni, uhlakahle (Zulu), khahla-e-kholo (Sotho) | Corm | A decoction is used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. Smoke from burning corms is inhaled for the same purpose. | Hutchings et al. (1996); Von Koenen (2001); Moffett (2010); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Glycyrrhiza glabra L. | Fabaceae | Liquorice, licorice (English) | Rhizome | Decoctions and infusions are used to treat colds, influenza and bronchitis. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Gnidia anthylloides (L.f.) Gilg. | Thymelaeaceae | Brandbossie (Afrikaans), indolo, intozwane (Zulu) | Roots | Used by the southern Sotho to treat influenza. | Hutchings et al.(1996); Moffett (2010); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Gnidia kraussiana Meisn. | Thymelaeaceae | Impevu, umsila wengwe, umahedeni (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T.Aiton | Apocynaceae | Milkweed (English), melkbos, tontelbos (Afrikaans), lebegana, lereke-la-ntja (Sotho), modimolo (southern Sotho), umsinga-lwesalukazi (Zulu) | Not specified | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001); Moffett (2010) |
| Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Unspecified | A decoction is used by the Xhosa to treat colds and influenza. The crushed leaves may also be directly inserted into the nostrils for the same purpose. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Gunnera perpensa L. | Gunneraceae | Wild rhubarb, river pumpkin (English), wilde ramenas, ravierpampoen (Afrikaans), qobo (Sotho), rambola-vhadzimu (Venda), iphuzi, ighobo (Xhosa), ugobhe (Zulu) | Leaves and roots | Used to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Gymnosporia buxifolia Szysyzl. | Celestraceae | Lemoendoring, wondedoring, pendoringbos (Afrikaans) | Roots | Root decoctions are consumed to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Gymnosporia heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Loes. | Celestraceae | Gewone pendoring (Afrikaans) | Leaves | An infusion is consumed to treat colds and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001); Hutchings et al. (1996) |
| Haplocarpha scaposa Harv. | Asteraceae | Papetloana (southern Sotho) | Root | A decoction is consumed by the Xhosa to treat colds. | Kose et al. (2015); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Helichrysum appendiculatum (L.f.) Less. | Asteraceae | Sheep's ears everlasting (English), skaapoorbossie (Afrikaans), senkotoana (southern Sotho), ibode, indlebeyemvu (Zulu) | Leaves | The leaves are eaten raw to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Smith (1888) |
| Helichrysum caespititium (DC.) Sond. Ex Harv. | Asteraceae | Phate ea ngaka (southern Sotho) | Leaves | Smoke from burning leaves is inhaled by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Kose et al. (2015); Moffett (2010); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Helichrysum cymosum (L.) D.Don. | Asteraceae | Kooibos (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Helichrysum dregeanum Sond. & Harv. | Asteraceae | Bergankeerkaroo, vaalberganker (Afrikaans) | Leaves | The southern Sotho smoke the leaves to relieve colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Helichrysum cochleariforme DC. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Not specified | Used to treat bronchitis. Preparation and application not specified. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Helichrysum luteoalbum (L.) Rchb. | Asteraceae | Impepho, inkoldlwane (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Helichrysum nudifolium Less. | Asteraceae | Everlastings (English), hottentotsteebossie, kooigoed (Afrikaans), isicwe, indlebe zebhokwe, undleni (Xhosa), icholocholo, imphepho (Zulu) | Leaves and roots | Khoikhoi and Xhosa consume the leaves as a remedy for colds. Root decoctions are used for the same purpose. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Helichrysum odoratissimum (L.) Sweet | Asteraceae | Everlastings (English), kooigoed (Afrikaans) imphepho (Zulu) | Roots | Decoctions are consumed to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019); Kose et al. (2015); Moffett (2010); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Hutchings et al. (1996); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Helichrysum pedunculare Hilliard & B.L.Burtt. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Roots | Root decoctions are consumed to treat coughs and colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Helichrysum rugulosum Less. | Asteraceae | Marotole, motlosa-ngaka, motoantoanyane (southern Sotho) | Unspecified | Used by the southern Sotho to fumigate huts of people with colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Hermannia cuneifolia Jacq. | Malvaceae | Wilde heuning, geneesbossie, pleisterbossie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | A leaf infusion is used to treat colds. | De Beer and Van Wyk (2011) |
| Hermannia salviifolia L.f. | Sterculiaceae | Katjiedrieblaar (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk, 2019 |
| Herniaria hirsuta L. | Caryophyllaceae | Hairy rupture wort (English) | Root | A root decoction is used to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne. | Apocynaceae | Hoodia, ghaap, kakimas (Afrikaans) | Fleshy stems | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Philander (2011) |
| Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Ave-Lall. | Hypoxidaceae | Yellow star, star lily, star flower (English), sterblom, geelsterretjie, gifbol (Afrikaans), moli kharatsa, lotsane (southern Sotho); inkomfe, inkomfe enkulu (Zulu), inongwe, ilabatheka, ixhalanxa, ikhubalo lezithunzela (Xhosa), tshuka (Tswana) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparationa and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk. | Aquifoliaceae | Cape holly, African holly, water tree (English), waterboom, waterhout (Afrikaans), nonaname (Northern Sotho), ipuphuma (Zulu), unduma (Xhosa), phukgu, phukgile (Sotho), mutanzwa-khameol (Venda) | Leaves and bark | The Zulu pound the leaves and bark to produce a lather which is used to wash the bodies of influenza sufferers. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch | Poaceae | Kunai grass, cogongrass (English) | Roots | The southern Sotho used the roots to treat colds. | Moffett (2010); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Kalanchoe paniculata Harv. | Crassulaceae | Hasieoor (Afrikaans), indabulaluvalo (Zulu), sehlakwahlakwane (southern Sotho) | Roots | The southern Sotho chew the fresh root or use the powdered root as a snuff to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Laggera decurrens (Vahl.) Merxm. | Asteraceae | Wolbos (Afrikaans) | Leaves and roots | Boiled and the stem is inhaled to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Lantana camara L. | Verbenaceae | Tickberry (English) | Leaves | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application are not specified. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Von Koenen (2001) |
| Lantana rugosa Thunb. | Verbenaceae | Bird's brandy (English) | Leaves | The Xhosa use leaf extracts to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Lebeckia sericea Thunb. | Fabaceae | Silverpea (English), bloufluitjiesbos, vaalertjiebos (Afrikaans) | Not specified | The Nama use the plant as a remedy for colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Leonitis ocymifolia (Burm.f) Iwarsson | Lamiaceae | Wild dagga (English), wildedagga (Afrikaans) | Leaves and stems | Used as a treatment for colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Leonotis ocymifolia var. schinzii (Gürke) Iwarsson | Lamiaceae | Unknown | Leaves and stems | The Tswana use a decoction to treat coughs and colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. | Lamiaceae | Wild dagga (English), wildedagga, duiwelstabak (Afrikaans), mvovo (Xhosa), uyshwala-bezinyoni (Zulu) | Leaves and stems | The Sotho, Zulu and Tswana use a decoction of the leaves and stems to treat coughs, colds and influenza. | Moffett (2010); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Moffett (2010); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Lessertia frutescens subsp. frutescens Goldblatt & J,C.Manning | Fabaceae | Keurtjie, beeskeurtiebos, kankerbos (Afrikaans) | Not specified | An infusion is used to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) R.Br. | Lamiaceae | Tumbleweed (English), tolbossie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | An infusion is used to treat colds and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Leucas lavandulifolia (Sm.) Raf. | Lamiaceae | Umagumede (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Leucas pechuelii (Kuntze) Baker | Lamiaceae | Unknown | Entire plant | A decoction is made from the entire plant and sniffed to treat influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Lichtensteinia interrupta E. Mey. | Apiaceae | Umkhalaphanga (Zulu) | Roots | A root decoction is consumed by the Zulu, Xhosa and Sothern Sotho to treat colds. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al. (1996); Moffett (2010) |
| Lippia javanica (Burm F.) Spreng | Verbenaceae | Fever tea, lemon bush (English), koorbossie, beukesbossie, lemoenbossie (Afrikaans), inzinzinba (Xhosa), umsuzwane, umswazi (Zulu) | Leaves and stems | The Xhosa, Zulu and Tswana drink a decoction to treat colds, influenza and bronchitis. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); York et al. (2011); Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Lonchocarpus nelsii (Schinz) Heering & Grimme | Fabaceae | Apple leaf (English), appleblaar (Afrikaans) | Roots | Smoke from the burning roots is inhaled to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Lycopodium clavatum L. | Lycopodiaceae | Clubmoss, stag-horn clubmoss, running clubmoss, ground pine (English) | Whole plant | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds | Moffett (2010) |
| Melolobium candicans (E.Mey.) Eckl. & Zeyh. | Fabaceae | Wild dagga (English), wildedagga (Afrikaans) | Leaves and stems | A decoction of the leaves and stems is drunk to treat colds. | De Beer and Van Wyk (2011) |
| Mentha aquatica L. | Lamiaceae | Water mint (English) | Bark | A decoction is used by Xhosa, Tswana and southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996) |
| Mentha longifolia (L.) L. | Lamiaceae | Wild mint (English), kruisement, balderjan (Afrikaans), koena-ya-thabo (Sotho), inixina, inzinziniba (Xhosa), ufuthana, lomhlanga (Zulu) | Leaves, roots and stems | The Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho take a decoction or add the leaves to milk and consume to treat colds, influenza and bronchitis. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Moffett (2010); De Beer and Van Wyk (2011); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Mentha spicata L. | Lamiaceae | Spearmint (English), imboza (Xhosa) | Leaves | A decoction is used to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Metalasia densa (Lam.) P.O.Karis | Asteraceae | Tee (southern Sotho) | Unspecified | Used by the southern Sotho to fumigate huts of people with colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Microglossa mespilifolia (Less.) B.L. Rob. | Asteraceae | Inkhambi elimhlophe, umazambezi (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparationa and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Millettia grandis (E.Mey.) Skeels | Fabaceae | Ubobolwehlathi (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Mohria caffrorum (L.) Desv. | Anemiaceae | Carrot fern, scented fern (English), brandbossie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | The southern Sotho smoke the leaves to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Mikania natalensis DC. | Asteraceae | Ihlozi (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Monsonia burkeana Planch. ex Harv. | Geraniaceae | Crane's bill (English), angelbossie, keitabossie, naaldbossie, teebos (Afrikaans) | Leaves and roots | A decoction is used by the Xhosa to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Monsonia emarginata L'Hér. | Geraniaceae | Dysentry herb (English), geita, geitabossie, keitabossie, naaldbossie (Afrikaans) | Leaves and roots | A decoction is used by the Xhosa to treat colds. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); |
| Montinia caryophyllaceae Thunb. | Montiniaceae | Pepperbush, wild colve-bush (English), bergklapper, peperbos (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Pulverised leaves are used as a snuff to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Morella serrata (Lam.) Killick | Myricaceae | Mountain waxberry, lance-leaved waxberry (English), smalblar-wasbessie, berg wasbessie, waterolier (Afrikaans), isibhara, umaluleka (Xhosa), lyethi, ulethi, umakhuthula (Zulu) | Not specified | Used by the Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Myrothamnus flabellifolia Welw. | Myrothamnaceae | Resurrection plant (English), bergboegoe (Afrikaans), uvukwabafile (Zulu) | Leaves | Leaf infusions are used to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Von Koenen (2001); Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Nicotiana glauca Graham | Solanaceae | Mustard tree, tree tobacco (English), tabakboom, wildetabak, volstruisgifboom (Afrikaans), mohlafotha (Sotho) | Leaves | Powdered leaves are used by the Sotho as a snuff to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Nicotiana rustica L. | Solanaceae | Strong tobacco, Aztec tobacco (English) | Leaves | Powdered leaves are used by the southern Sotho as a snuff to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Notobubon tenuifolium (Thunb.) Magee | Apiaceae | Wildekoelsaad, wilde vinkel (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Ocimum americanum L. | Lamiaceae | Hoary basil (English), wilde basielkruid (Afrikaans) | Leaves | The leaves are burnt and the smoke inhaled to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Oncosiphon piluliferum L.f. Källersjö | Asteraceae | Stinkkruid (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and bronchitis. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Oncosiphon suffruticosum L. Källersjö | Asteraceae | Stinkkruid, wirmkruid (Afrikaans) | Whole plant | Used to treat influenza. | Van Wyk et al. (2009); Nortje and Van Wyk (2015); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019). |
| Osmitopsis asteriscoides Less. | Asteraceae | Bels, belskruie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Used to treat influenza. | Van Wyk et al. (2009); Philander (2011) |
| Otholobium polystictum (Harv.) C.H.Stirt. | Fabaceae | Kite hook-leaved pea (English), vlieebos (Afrikaans), mohlonecha, mohlonepshoa (southern Sotho) | Root | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Pachycarpus rigidus E. Mey. ex Eckl. & Zeyh. | Apocynaceae | Ishongwe (Zulu) | Not specified | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Packera heterophylla (Fisch.) E.Wiebe | Asteraceae | Unknown | Leaves | Smoke from burning leaves is inhaled by the Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Pechuel-Loeschea leubnitziae (Kuntze) O.Hoffm. | Asteraceae | Bitterbos (mbiguous) | Leaves | Smoke from burning is inhaled to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Pegolettia baccharidifolia Less. | Asteraceae | Ghwarrieson, heuningdou (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Pellaea calomelanos (Sw.) Link. | Pteridaceae | Hard fern (English), lehorometso (Sotho), inkomankomo (Zulu) | Leaves | The Xhosa and Sothern Sotho smoke the leaves to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Moffett (2010); Philander (2011); Smith (1888) |
| Pellaea ambiguou (Sw.) Baker | Pteridaceae | Unknown | Leaves | The Sothern Sotho smoke the leaves to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Pentzia incana (Thunb.) Kuntze | Asteraceae | Skaapkaroobos, ankerkaroo, kleinskaapkaroobos (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Passiflora suberosa L. | Passifloriaceae | Unyawo lenkukhu (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Pelargonium abrotanifolium Jacq. | Geraniaceae | Bergsalie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | A leaf infusion is used to treat colds and influenza. | De Beer and Van Wyk (2011) |
| Pelargonium graveolens L'Her. | Geraniaceae | Rose geranium (English), wildemalva (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Leaves are steamed and vapours are inhaled to treat colds. | Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Pelargonium ramosissimum Willd. | Geraniaceae | Dassieboegoe, dassiebos (Afrikaans) | Leaves | the Xhosa consume decoctions or tinctures (preferred) to treat colds. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); De Beer and Van Wyk (2011) |
| Pentanisia prunelloides (Koltzsch) Walp. | Rubiaceae | Wild verbena (English), sooibrandbossie (Afrikaans), setimamollo (Sotho), icimamlilo (Zulu) | Roots | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application were not specified | Van Wyk et al. (2009); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996) ; Kose et al., 2015 |
| Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) Delarbre | Polygalaceae | Uxhaphoxana, uxhaphozi (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Phyla scaberrima (Juss. Ex Pers.) Moldenke | Verbenaceae | Unknown | Leaves | A decoction of the leaves is used to treat colds. | Smith (1888) |
| Plectranthus ambiguous (Bolus) Codd. | Lamiaceae | Iboza, imbatatane (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Plectranthus laxiflorus Benth. | Lamiaceae | Citronella spur flower (English), sitrinella spoorsalie (Afrikaans), ubebebe (Xhosa) | Leaves | A decoction made from powdered leaves was used by the Zulu as an enema to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996); Ngwenya et al. (2003) |
| Polygala schinziana Chodat | Polygalaceae | Kanjengena (Afrikaans) | Roots | A decoction is consumed to treat coughs and colds. | Hutchings et al.(1996); Von Koenen (2001) |
| Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Bory ex Willd.) Kaulf. | Polypodiaceae | Lance leaf polypody (English) | Not specified | A decoction is consumed by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010); |
| Protea repens L. | Proteaceae | Sugarbush (English), suikerbos (Afrikaans) | Flowers | Syrup prepared from the flower nectar is used by people with colds and influenza as a cough mixture. | Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Pteronia incana (Brum.) DC. | Asteraceae | Skieterbos, keurtjiebos, kraakbos (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Pulicaria scabra (Thunb.) Druce | Asteraceae | Fleabane (English), aambeibos (Afrikaans), isithaphuka (Zulu) | Leaves | The powdered leaves are used by Zulus to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Pycreus nitidus (Lam.) J.Raynal | Cyperaceae | Unknown | Rhizome | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. Preparation and application is not specified. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Ranunculus capensis Thunb. | Rananculaceae | Blistering leaves (English), blandblare, katjiedrieblaar (Afrikaans) | Roots | A root infusion is consumed to treat colds. | Smith (1888) |
| Ranunculus multifidus Forssk. | Rananculaceae | Buttercup flower (English), botterblom, brandblaar, geelbotterbom, kankerblaar (Afrikaans), hlapi (southern Sotho), uxhaphozi, ishashakazane (Zulu) | Leaf | The Zulu use bruised leaves to treat colds. The southern Sotho also use the leaves to treat colds. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996); Moffett (2010) |
| Rhigozum trichotomum Burch. | Bignoniaceae | Driedoring (Afrikaans) | Stems | The Nama chew the stems to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Willd. & R.B.Drumm. | Vitaceae | Northern Bushman's grape, bitter grape (English), noordelike boesmandruif, bitterdruif, droog-my-keel (Afrikaans), isaqoni, umnxeba, ulatile (Xhosa), isinwazi, umthwazi (Zulu), morara-oa-thaba (southern Sotho), murumbula-mbudzana (Venda) | Not specified | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010). |
| Rhus divaricata Eckl. & Zeyh. | Anacardiaceae | Fire thorn Karee, rusty leaved currant, mountain kuni-bush (English) | Roots | A root decoction is used to treat colds, influenza and bronchitis. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Rubus ludwigii Eckl. & Zeyh. | Rosaceae | Wild raspberry, silver bramble (English), braambos, wildebraam (Afrikaans), itshalo, unomhloshane (Zulu), monoko-metsi (southern Sotho) | Roots | The southern Sotho use a root decoction to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Rumex lanceolatus Thunb. | Polygalaceae | Tongblaar (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Fresh leaves are ground and used as a snuff to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Ruta graveolens L. | Rutaceae | Wynruit (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Leaf infusions are drunk to treats colds and influenza. | De Beer and Van Wyk (2011); Nortje and Van Wyk (2015); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Salix hirsute Thunb. | Salicaceae | Cape willow (English), vaalwilger, wilgerboom (Afrikaans) | Bark | Used to treat colds and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Salvia africana-lutea L. | Lamiaceae | Bloebloomsalie (Afrikaans) | Not specified | A decoction is used by the Nama to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Philander (2011) |
| Salvia chameleagnea Berg. | Lamiaceae | Bloublomsalie (Afrikaans) | Leaves and flowers | A decoction is used by the Nama to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Salvia dentata Aiton | Lamiaceae | Bergsalie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Leaf decoctions are drunk to treat colds. | De Beer and Van Wyk (2011); Nortje and Van Wyk (2015) |
| Salvia microphylla Kunth. | Lamiaceae | Rooisalie, rooiblomsalie (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Infusions are drunk to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Salvia stenophylla Burch. ex Benth. | Lamiaceae | Maagpynbos, fynblaarsalie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | A leaf infusion is consumed to treat could and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Schistostephium flabelliforme Less. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Not specified | An infusion is consumed to treat colds. | Smith (1888) |
| Schkuhria pinnata (Lam.) Kuntze. ex. Thell. | Asteraceae | Kleinkakiebos, klein-gousblom (Afrikaans) | Leaves | Powdered leaves are swallowed with water to treat colds and influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Von Koenen (2001) |
| Schotia brachypetala Sond. | Fabaceae | Weeping boer bean, tree fuchsia, African walnut (English), hullboerboon (Afrikaans), umfofofo, umgxam (Xhosa), ihluze, umgxamu, uvovovo (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparationa and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen. | Polygalaceae | Violet tree (English), krinkhout (Afrikaans) | Roots | A root infusion is used by the San to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Searsia divaricata (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Moffett | Anacardiaceae | Mountain kuni-bush (English) | Not specified | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Searsia erosa (Thunb.) Moffett | Anacardiaceae | Broom karee, besembos (English) | Not specified | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Searsia lancea (L.f.) F.A.Barkley | Anacardiaceae | African sumuc, willow rhus (English) | Leaves | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application is not specified. | Mulaudzi et al. (2012) |
| Searsia natalensis (Bernh. ex C.Krauss) F.A.Barkley | Anacardiaceae | Natal rhus (English) | Roots | A decoction is used to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Sersia undulata (Jacq.) T.S.Yi, A.J.Mill. & J.Wen. | Anacardiaceae | Kuni-bush (English), koeniebos, garrabos (Afrikaans), t'kuni (Khoi) | Leaves, bark and roots | The Nama chew the leaves to relieve colds. A leaf decoction is consumed to treat colds. Alternatively, fresh leaves are chewed for the same purpose. No preparation is given for the bark and roots. | Van Wyk et al. (2009); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Selaginella caffrorum (Milde) Hieron | Selaginellaceae | Resurrection plant (English) | Not specified | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010); Kose et al. (2015) |
| Senecio asperulus DC. | Asteraceae | Moferefere (southern Sotho) | Unspecified | The southern Sotho use a decoction to treat colds and influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010); Kose et al. (2015) |
| Senecio brachypodus DC. | Asteraceae | Forest senecio (English) | Roots | An infusion is consumed by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Senecio dregeanus DC. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Roots | A root decoction is consumed by southern Sotho to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Senecio rhyncholaenus DC. | Asteraceae | Unknown | Leaves | The southern Sotho inhale the smoke from burning leaves to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010) |
| Senna italica Mill. | Fabaceae | Italian senna (English), elandsertjie (Afrikaans) | Root | The root is pounded, soaked in milk and consumed to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hutchings et al.(1996); Von Koenen (2001) |
| Seriphium plumosum L. | Asteraceae | Khoi-kooigoed, slangbos, slangbossie (Afrikaans) | Leaves | The Zulu boil the leaves and inhaled the steam to treat influenza. | Ngwenya et al. (2003) |
| Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweif.) B.L. Burt | Zingiberacaee | African ginger (English), isiphephetho, indungulo (Zulu) | Roots and rhizomes | Chewed to treat influenza. | Hutchings et al. (1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009); Philander (2011) |
| Solanum capense L. | Solanaceae | Nightshade (English) | Bark and roots | A decoction is drunk to treat colds. | Smith (1888); Hutchings et al.(1996) |
| Solanum americanum Mill. | Solanaceae | Black nightshade (English) | Fruit | Ripe fruit is taken with honey to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Solanum refractum Hook. & Arn. | Solanaceae | Nastergal, nasgal (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Infusions are drunk to treat colds. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Spilanthes mauritiana (A.Rich exPres.) DC. | Asteraceae | Isishoshokazane, isisinini (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Spirostachys africana Sond. | Euphorbiaceae | African mahogany, African sandalwood, headache tree, jumping bean tree, tamboti (English) agelhout, angelhout, gifboom, melkhout, dandaleenhout, tambootie (Afrikaans), muonze (Venda), morekuri (Northern Sotho), umtamboti (Zulu), umthombothi (Xhosa) | Bark | Used to treat influenza. The preparation and application were not specified. | Mulaudzi et al. (2012) |
| Stachys hyssopoides Burch. ex Benth. | Lamiaceae | Pinksalie (Afrikaans), selaoane (southern Sotho) | Unspecified | Used by the southern Sotho to treat colds. | Moffett (2010) |
| Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br. | Fabaceae | Cancer bush (English), kankerbos (Afrikaans), 'musa-pelo, motlepelo (Sotho), insiswa, unwele (Xhosa, Zulu) | Leaves | A decoction is used to treat influenza. | Van Wyk et al. (2009); De Beer and Van Wyk (2011); Nortje and Van Wyk (2015) |
| Sutherlandia humilis E.Phillips & R.A.Dyer | Fabaceae | Unknown | Leaves | A decoction is used to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Sutherlandia microphylla Burch. | Fabaceae | Unknown | Leaves | Infusions or decoctions are used to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Syzygium cordatum Hochst. ex Krauss | Myrtaceae | Waterberry (English), waterbessie, waterboom (Afrikaans), undoni (Zulu), umswi, umjomi (Xhosa), mawthoo (southern Sotho), motlho (Northern Sotho), mutu (Venda) | Leaves | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | York et al. (2011); Mulaudzi et al. (2012); Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Tagetes minuta L. | Asteraceae | Ikhambi lempaka, usangwana (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. | Asteraceae | Wild camphor bush(English), wildekanferbos, vaalbos (Afrikaans), sefahla (Sotho), mofahlana (southern Sotho), mathola (Xhosa), igqeba-elimhlophe (Zulu) | Leaves and twigs | Infusions or tinctures are taken to treat bronchitis. | Von Koenen (2001); Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Tecoma capensis (Thunb.) Lindl. | Bignoniaceae | Umunyane, uthswala benyoni (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Terminalia prunioides M.A.Lawson | Combretaceae | Purple-pod Terminalia (English), deurmekaar, sterkbos (Afrikaans) | Root | A root infusion is consumed to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Terminalia sericea Burch. ex DC. | Combretaceae | Silver cluster leaf (English), vaalboom (Afrikaans), mususu (Venda) | Roots and leaves | Infusions are consumed to treat colds. | Hutchings et al. (1996) |
| Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd. | Lamiaceae | Misty plume bush, ginger bush (English), gemerbos, watersalie (Afrikaans), iboza, ibozane (Zulu) | Leaves | An infusion is used to treat stuffy and runny noses of people with colds and influenza. | Felhaber and Mayeng (1997); Van Wyk et al. (2009); York et al. (2011); Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019); Van; |
| Teucrium africanum Thunb. | Lamiaceae | Drievingertee (Afrikaans) | Not specified | A decoction is used by Xhosa and Afrikaners to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Thamnosma africana Engl. | Rutaceae | Flea bush (English) | Leaves and twigs | An infusion is consumed to treat colds and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Thesium costatum A.W.Hill | Santalaceae | Kleinswartstorm (Afrikaans), marakalle (southern Sotho) | Not specified | The southern Sotho use multiple Thesium spp. to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Kose et al. (2015) |
| Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. | Rutaceae | Cockspur orange, climbing orange (English) | Root | The Venda use a root decoction to treat influenza. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Trephrosia semiglabra Sond. | Fabaceae | Unknown | Roots | The southern Sotho use a root decoction to treat colds. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Tropaeolum majus L. | Tropaeolaceae | Kappertjie (Afrikaans) | Not specified | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Tulbaghia acutiloba Harv. | Amaryllidaceae | Wild garlic (English), wilde knoffel (Afrikaans), konofolo, setotha-fotha (southern Sotho) | Whole plant | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Kose et al. (2015). |
| Tulbaghia violacea Harv. | Amaryllidaceae | Wild garlic (English), wilde knoffel (Afrikaans), isihaqa (Zulu) | Bulbs and leaves | Used to treat colds. | Van Wyk et al. (2009); Hulley and Van Wyk (2019); Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Valeriana capensis Thunb. | Caprifoliaceae | Cape valerian (English), wildebalderjan (Afrikaans) | Rhizome | Used to treat bronchitis. | Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Vangueria infausta Burch. | Rubiaceae | Wild medlar (English), wilde mispel (Afrikaans) | Leaves and roots | Infusions are consumed to treat colds. | Hutchings et al.(1996); Von Koenen (2001) |
| Vepris lanceolata G. Don. | Rutaceae | White ironwood (English), witysterhout (Afrikaans), muhondwa (Venda), umzane (Xhosa), umozana (Zulu) | Root | The Zulu use the powdered root as a treatment for influenza. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Viscum capense L.f. | Santalaceae | Cape mistletoe (English), lidjiestee, voelent (Afrikaans) | Whole plant | An infusion is used to treat bronchitis. | Van Wyk et al. (2009); Nortje and Van Wyk (2015) |
| Volkameria glabra (E.Mey.) Mabb. & Y.W.Yuan | Lamiaceae | Umqoqongo (Zulu) | Not specified | Used to treat colds and influenza. Preparation and application not specified. | Mhlongo and Van Wyk (2019) |
| Waltheria indica L. | Malvaceae | Unknown | Roots | The San chew the roots to treat colds and influenza. | Von Koenen (2001) |
| Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov. | Canellaceae | Pepper-bark tree (English), peperbasboom (Afrikaans), mulanga, manaka (Venda), isibhaha (Zulu) | Bark | Used to treat coughs and colds. | Hutchings et al. (1996); Van Wyk et al. (2009) |
| Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal | Solanaceae | Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, winter cherry (English), bitterappelliefie, koorshout (Afrikaans), ubuvuma (Xhosa), ubuvimbha (Zulu) | Root | The southern Sotho consume a decoction to treat colds and influenza. | Smith (1888); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Moffett (2010); Kose et al. (2015) |
| Xysmalobium undulatum (L.) W.T.Aiton. | Apocynaceae | Wild cotton (English), melkbos (Afrikaans) | Root | Decoctions prepared are applied to the chest to treat colds. | Von Koenen (2001); Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962); Von Koenen (2001) |
| Zanthoxylum capense (Thunb.) Harv. | Rutaceae | Knobwood (English) | Bark | Used to treat colds. Preparation and application not specified. | Philander (2011) |
| Zanthoxylum davyi Waterm. | Rutaceae | Forest knobwood (English) | Bark | The Zulu eat the powdered bark to treat colds and severe coughs. | Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) |
| Zingiber officinale Roscoe | Zingiberacaee | Ginger (English), gemmer (Afrikaans) | Root | Used to treat colds, influenza and sinusitis. | Hulley and Van Wyk (2019) |