Use of Plants in Southern African Traditional Medicine
Globally, natural products and their derivatives represent about 50% of all drugs in
clinical use, and higher plants contribute 25% to this figure [7–8]. It is well-known
that plants were originally a source of medicines, and there is currently a strong
interest in natural medicines as a source of new remedies and bioactive com-
pounds. This phenomenon is reflected in South Africa, which has a long history of
medicinal plant use. South Africa has contributed to worldwide medicines with
natural teas and remedies such as Cape aloes (Aloe ferox), rooibos (Aspalathus linearis),
buchu (Agathosma betulina), honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia), and devil’s
claw (Harpagophytum procumbens).
There are an estimated 200 000 indigenous traditional healers in South Africa [9].
They are known by different names according to the different cultures, for example
“inyanga” and “isangoma” (Zulu), “ixwele” and “amaquira” (Xhosa), “nqaka” (So-
tho), “bossiedokter” and “kruiedokter” (Afrikaans). There is often a basic general
knowledge of medicinal plant use among the elderly members of the community.
A survey in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) indicated that over 80% of the black popu-
lation relies on both Western and traditional health care systems [10], and this fig-
ure is likely to be reflected country-wide. The market for medicinal plants is vast,
and it has been estimated that 20 000 tonnes of plant material are traded in South
5.3 Use of Plants in Southern African Traditional Medicine 99
Africa every year [10]. Based on information on herbarium sheets, 3689 taxa in 215
families and 1240 genera are used ethnomedicinally in the southern African re-
gion [11]. This represents about 15% of the flora and includes 159 threatened Red
Data Listed taxa [11]. The sustainable use and conservation of these plants is of im-
mense importance to researchers and traditional medicine consumers alike.
The use of plant remedies to treat animals developed concomitantly with human
ethnomedicine, and ethnoveterinary healing remains an integral part of animal
health care in developing countries [12]. The scope of ethnoveterinary medicine in-
corporates traditional veterinary theory, diagnostic procedures, medicines, surgical
methods, and animal husbandry practices [13]. Ethnobotany constitutes an essen-
tial element of ethnoveterinary medicine, as plants form the basis of many treat-
ments.
Globally, natural products and their derivatives represent about 50% of all drugs in
clinical use, and higher plants contribute 25% to this figure [7–8]. It is well-known
that plants were originally a source of medicines, and there is currently a strong
interest in natural medicines as a source of new remedies and bioactive com-
pounds. This phenomenon is reflected in South Africa, which has a long history of
medicinal plant use. South Africa has contributed to worldwide medicines with
natural teas and remedies such as Cape aloes (Aloe ferox), rooibos (Aspalathus linearis),
buchu (Agathosma betulina), honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia), and devil’s
claw (Harpagophytum procumbens).
There are an estimated 200 000 indigenous traditional healers in South Africa [9].
They are known by different names according to the different cultures, for example
“inyanga” and “isangoma” (Zulu), “ixwele” and “amaquira” (Xhosa), “nqaka” (So-
tho), “bossiedokter” and “kruiedokter” (Afrikaans). There is often a basic general
knowledge of medicinal plant use among the elderly members of the community.
A survey in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) indicated that over 80% of the black popu-
lation relies on both Western and traditional health care systems [10], and this fig-
ure is likely to be reflected country-wide. The market for medicinal plants is vast,
and it has been estimated that 20 000 tonnes of plant material are traded in South
5.3 Use of Plants in Southern African Traditional Medicine 99
Africa every year [10]. Based on information on herbarium sheets, 3689 taxa in 215
families and 1240 genera are used ethnomedicinally in the southern African re-
gion [11]. This represents about 15% of the flora and includes 159 threatened Red
Data Listed taxa [11]. The sustainable use and conservation of these plants is of im-
mense importance to researchers and traditional medicine consumers alike.
The use of plant remedies to treat animals developed concomitantly with human
ethnomedicine, and ethnoveterinary healing remains an integral part of animal
health care in developing countries [12]. The scope of ethnoveterinary medicine in-
corporates traditional veterinary theory, diagnostic procedures, medicines, surgical
methods, and animal husbandry practices [13]. Ethnobotany constitutes an essen-
tial element of ethnoveterinary medicine, as plants form the basis of many treat-
ments.
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