Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Vol. 13 (2), April 2014, pp. 292-298

Medicinal plants and traditional practices of Xhosa people in the Transkei region
of Eastern Cape, South Africa
RB Bhat
Department of Botany, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, THOHOYANDOU, South Africa 0950
E-mails: bhat.ramakrishna@univen.ac.za; bhatrb@yahoo.com

Received 17.10.13, revised 18.11.2013

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the former Transkei homeland to document the unwritten knowledge related
to traditional uses of medicinal plants. The indigenous people of Transkei, Eastern Cape, South Africa depend on the natural
plant resources from their environment for medicine, food, pastoral, cultural and religious needs. This area, mainly inhabited
by the Xhosa people, has remained ethnobotanically unexplored until recently. The present investigation among the
herbalist, traditional doctors, herb traders, tribal priests and other knowledgeable local people documented medicinal and
other uses of 35 species of traditional medicinal plants belonging to 34 genera and 26 families. The study recorded the local,
scientific and family names of the medicinal plants. The plant parts used and method of administration are also presented in
this paper. This firsthand information points out the importance of local flora to tribal groups and non-tribal people of
Transkei. In spite of western influence, the Xhosa people of Transkei still believe in the efficacy of herbal medicine, and
prefer to use these traditional remedies. Further, scientific study will be required for validation of these ethnomedicines.

Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Medicinal plants, South Africa, Traditional systems, Transkei, Xhosa
IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K 36/00

Plants have played a great role in the history of phytomedicines. The mothers and grandmothers are
humankind1.The Xhosas are the major group more knowledgeable about medicinal plants and their
inhabitants of the former Transkei region of the therapeutic values. The grandmothers generally
Eastern Cape of South Africa which is one of the collect the plants and prepare the medicines for their
poorest regions of South Africa. For many years, the daughters and their daughter-in laws. These remedies
people of Transkei had no contact with the Western are mainly concerned with pregnant women, maternal
world and they relied mainly on the traditional and child health like Agapanthus sp., Chlorophytum
knowledge they had of medicinal plants to meet their comosum (Thunb.) Jacq. and Salvia scabra L. f., all
requirements. In recent years, with the establishment locally known as Isicakathi3. Transkei region has got
of modern medicine in Transkei, the Xhosas still a large number of plant biodiversity which vary in
believe in the efficacy of herbal medicines and prefer their ethnobotanical value. Indigenous plants have
to use traditional remedies. Even today about 80% of played a great role in the daily lives of the local
world population do not have the access to the people in Transkei and there are several reports on
modern medicine and depend mainly upon the herbal their use3 -13. In spite of all these previous work done,
remedies for their needs2. there are still a number of plants have yet to be
The Xhosa speaking people of Transkei use a investigated and documented. Thus the need for this
wide range of remedies to treat diseases and illnesses. project is raised with a view to examine closely
During the present investigation a number of into the medicinal plants and traditional systems of
plants and plant materials have been collected and Xhosa people in the Transkei region of Eastern Cape
identified. These phytomedicines are known as imithi (South Africa). The investigation is a part of an
(singular umthi) and include remedies derived from ongoing effort to study and document the traditional
trees, shrubs, herbs, leaves, barks, bulbs and roots. knowledge and usage of medicinal plants of Transkei
The elderly people, herbalists and traditional healers region. The present documentation of the traditional
have much knowledge about medicinal plants and knowledge of plants will help us evaluate the
 BHAT: MEDICINAL PLANTS OF XHOSA PEOPLE, SOUTH AFRICA 293

dynamics of the biodiversity of this region and family, ailment/diseases, plant parts used and
facilitate the conservation of medicinal plants for the information on uses and method of use.
future studies. Thirty five medicinal plants used for various
ailments were recorded during my present
Methodology ethnobotanical survey. The diversity of medicinal
The investigation was carried out in 15 districts of plants in the botanical groups shows that the most
Transkei during different seasons for a period of 3 yrs important medicinal families are Asteraceae
(2007-2010). The Transkei region coordinates are (7 species), Solanaceae (3 species) and Asparagaceae
31° 44′ 39.22″ S 28° 39′ 57.88″ E. The Transkei (2). The medicinal use of leaves is dominated over the
consists of a total area covering 45,000 km2. The roots, barks and stems. Stomach ailment was the one
majority of the population is Xhosa speaking. against which a high number of medicinal plants were
The total population of the Transkei estimate of prescribed, followed by skin , fever, purgative,
1982 puts the number at about 2.3 million anti-inflammation, nausea, snake bite, insecticide, TB,
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transkei). eye infection, rheumatism, cancer, etc. Olea europaea
During each visit, plants were collected from subsp. africana is commonly used for blood pressure,
different parts of the regions, a detailed field notes while Hypoxis hemerocallidea is a popular herbal
were taken on the medicinal plants and uses of remedy for tuberculosis and cancer.
phytomedicines, following the suggestions of Croom
14
, Bhat15 and Martin16. The information was obtained Discussion
through a series of interviews with elderly villagers, The medicinal plants are mainly used in making
rural and urban people, traditional doctors and infusions and decoctions or poultices to be taken
herbalists. Traditional medical practitioners do not orally or applied externally. Some plants are used as a
have organized controlled environment like hospitals source of scepters for healing ceremonies and driving
do. As a result, it was not possible to record the away the bad spirits. The traditional Xhosa medical
response to the drug therapy as patients were not practices go far beyond the limits of pure empirical
easily and readily available for the interviews at the scientific study, .appeasing the ancestral spirits,
time of documentation. The plant specimens were amathongo, is an integral part of Xhosa medicine19,20.
collected using standard procedures and identification Recently similar observations have also been made
of the plants was done with the aid of floristic and among the Jah Hut tribe in Malaysia21. According to
related works of southern Africa17,18. The collected Xhosa healer, it is the ‘person’ who is ill, not one of
specimens were prepared and deposited at the his organs. Hence, a medicine given to heal a
University of Transkei (now Walter Sisulu particular disease has also an esoteric aspect that
University) Herbarium, in the Department of Botany. comforts and strengthens the patient as well5. The
The valid Botanical name with plant authority was medicinal plants are also used to treat complicated
verified with the assistance of The Plant List Org. and major diseases like arthritis, tuberculosis, cancer,
bone fracture, etc. However, the treatment of complex
Results diseases is still confined to mostly practicing
The present investigation among the herbalists, herbalists or to certain family members of the
traditional doctors, herb traders, tribal priests and traditional healers who directly inherit the knowledge
other knowledgeable local people recorded medicinal from their forefathers. The curative art is always kept
and other uses of 35 plant species. Based on the with sanctity and some secrecy. It is also believed that
interviews conducted, it is evident that the knowledge the efficacy of phytomedicine will be lost if revealed
about the use of plants and herbal products is limited to other people. It conforms to the study made in other
mainly to traditional healers, herbalists, traditional parts of the world15,19,20. The knowledge and use of
doctors and elderly people living in rural areas. The herbal medicines are also linked with supernatural and
curative art of herbal medicines, however, is limited spiritual powers. Some of the preparations and
to a number of families with some sanctity and remedies are followed by rituals such as sacrificing
secrecy. In Table 1 plant species are alphabetically the birds and animals and chanting of incantations. It
arranged and the data presented in the following conforms to the observations made by Bhat
sequence: binomial nomenclature, voucher specimen et al.15,20,22. and Jain & Borthakur23. It is also believed
number, local name in Xhosa (X) and English (E), that complex diseases are attributed to the spell of evil
294 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 2, APRIL 2014

Table 1-Medicinal plants and traditional practices of Xhosa people in the Transkei region Eastern Cape (South Africa)

Scientific name & Local name Xhosa (X), Family Ailment/diseases Parts and mode of use/uses
Voucher Number English (E)
1 Acacia mearnsii De idywabasi (X) Fabaceae Stomachache Bark- a small amount of bark is
Wild.(RBB 164) ground, and given with water
thrice a day.
2 Acridocarpus natalitius Moth-fruit (X), Malpighiaceae Skin allergy Leaves- handful of leaves are
A. Juss. (RBB 292) the binder (E) used in cold or warm water as
body washing and for skin
allergy.
3 Acokanthera oppositifolia iNtlungunyembe (X), Apocynaceae Gastric Leaves- a few washed leaves
(Lam.) Codd (RBB 312) Bushman's Poison (E) problems are chewed and the
juice is consumed twice a day for
a week to cure gastric related
problems.
4 Alepidea amatymbica Iqwili (X); Apiaceae Fever Stem- underground stem is
Eckl. & Zeyh. Larger tinsel (E) grated, boiled with milk and
(RBB 68) flower used daily twice for a
week.
5 Aloe ferox Mill. iKhala (X); Bitter Aloe, Asparagaceae Stomachache Leaves-approximately three
Red Aloe (E) Purgative
6 Aloe arborescens Mill. ikalene (X); Asparagaceae Anti- inflammatory Leaves- small pieces of leaves
(RBB 160) Krantz aloe(E) Constipation are mixed with chicken feed as
Stomachache an anti- inflammatory herb.
Child birth Two-three spoons of leaf gel is
taken orally to cure the
constipation and stomach ache.
The leaf mucilage is also used in
child birth.
7 Artemisia afra Jacq. ex umhlonyane (X) Asteraceae Cough Enemas Leaves- a few leaves are boiled
Willd. (RBB 122) African wormwood , with water and then filtered
wild wormwood (E) using a clean cloth. The leaf
decoction is given three times a
day for a week, cures coughs and
asthma. Stem and root based
decoction is taken orally for
enemas.
8 Bidens pilosa L. Inongwe (X), Spanish Asteraceae Arthritis Leaves- 1/4 a cup of leaf
(RBB 238) needles , Black jack (E) decoction is taken twice a day to
cure arthritis. Young leaves and
stems are also consumed as a
potherb.
9 Capsicum fructescens L. Tshilisi (X), Chili (E) Solanaceae Fever Fruit- a fully mature fruit is
(RBB 108) added to a hot cup of tea and
consumed to cure fever.
10 Chenopodium Imbikicane (X); Chenopodiaceae Insecticide Seeds- crushed seeds are boiled
ambrosioides L. Wild Spinach (E) with water and the liquid is used
(RBB87) as an insecticide. Young leaves
are used as wild vegetable.
11 Gazania krebsiana Less. Matlapaneng (X); Asteraceae Emetic Leaves- decoction prepared with
(RBB 66) Terracotta gazania (E) a handful of leaves taken orally
as an emetic.
12 Grewia occidentalis L. umNqabaza, Malvaceae Childbirth Roots- are used for childbirth.
(RBB 227) Uhlolo (X) Wound Plant- the entire plant is used for
Sterility treating sterility/impotency. Bark-
crushed bark is used for treating
wounds.
(Contd.)
 BHAT: MEDICINAL PLANTS OF XHOSA PEOPLE, SOUTH AFRICA 295

Table 1—Medicinal plants and traditional practices of Xhosa people in the Transkei region Eastern Cape (South Africa)—(contd.)

Scientific name & Local name Xhosa (X), Family Ailment/diseases Parts and mode of use/uses
Voucher Number English (E)
13 Gunnera perpensa L. Iphuzi (X); Gunneraceae Menstrual pain Roots- a decoction prepared from
(RBB 225) River pumpkin (E) Constipation the roots is used to cure menstrual
pain. Stem- the crushed stem is
boiled with water and a glass of
decoction is drunk to treat
constipation.
14 Helichrysum Isicwe (X) Asteraceae Circumcision Leaves- used to treat the
pedunculatum wound circumcision wound. Used as
Hilliard & B.L.Burtt (RBB dressing after circumcision to
84) prevent serious inflammation.
15 Hypoxis hemerocallidea Ixonyi (X); Hypoxidaceae Tuberculosis Root tuber- ½ a glass of prepared
Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé- Star flower (E) Cancer from the root tuber is oral given
Lall. for a period of 4-8 weeks to treat
(RBB 308) TB and cancer.
16 Hypoestes aristata (Vahl) uhlololwane (X); Acanthaceae Sore eyes Leaves- leaf juice is used for
Sol. ex Roem. & Schult. Ribbon Bush (E) curing sore eyes. It is also used
(RBB 324) to treat the broken legs of a calf.
17 Mentha longifolia (L.) L. Inixina (X); Lamiaceae High BP Leaves- raw leaves are consume
Wild mint (E) Nausea like Respiratory salads to cure
respiratory ailments and nausea.
18 Nasturtium officinale R.Br Umsobo (X); Brassicaceae Antiseptic Whole plant- is used as an
. Watercress (E) antiseptic to wash the weeping
(RBB 81) sores. Also used to remove spots
and blemishes from the skin.
19 Nicotiana glauca Graham Icuba (X); Solanaceae Headache Leaves- the dried leaves are used
(RBB 248) Wild Tobacco (E) as fumitory to get rid of
headache.
20 Olea europaea L. Umnquma (X); Oleaceae Blood pressure Leaves and fruits- a decoction
subsp. africana (Mill.) Wild olive (E). prepared from the leaves and
P.S.Green fruits is used to treat the blood
(RBB 330) pressure.
21 Oxalis corniculata L. Umuncwane (X); Oxalidaceae Stomach Leave- leaf juice is used as
(RBB175) Creeping woodsorrel(E) cleaning and as purgative.
22 Pentanisia prunelloides isigcikamlilo (X); Rubiaceae Snakebite Roots- root juice is used as a
(Klotzsch) Walp. Wild verbena (E) Rheumatism remedy for snakebite. Decoction
prepared from the root is also
used for treating rheumatism.
23 Phytolacca octandra L. Um-Inki (X), Phytolaccaceae Wounds Fruits- fresh fruit juice is used to
(RBB264) Pokeweed (E). and sores cure wounds and sores.
24 Pittosporum viridiflorum Pittosporaceae Fever Chest Bark- A ¼ cup of decoction
Sims Umkhwenkwe (X); prepared from bark is given
(RBB 113) Cheese wood (E) orally thrice a day to cure the
fever. Root- two spoons of root
powder a day for a week is used
as aphrodisiac.
25 Plantago lanceolata L. Lamb's tongue Plantaginaceae Headache Leaves- small leaves are inserted
(RBB 255) Ribwort plantain (E) Earache in the nostrils to heal headache.
Roots- root juice is used to cure
earache.
26 Prunus persica (L.) Stokes Ipesika (X); Rosaceae Sore eyes Leaves- handful of leaves boiled in
(RBB 83) Peach (E) approximately two liters of water,
then cooled and filtered liquid is
used to treat the sore eyes.
(contd.)
296 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 2, APRIL 2014

Table 1—Medicinal plants and traditional practices of Xhosa people in the Transkei region Eastern Cape (South Africa)—(contd.)
Scientific name & Local name Xhosa (X), Family Ailment/diseases Parts and mode of use/uses
Voucher Number English (E)
27 Ricinus communis L. Umhlakuva (X); Euphorbiaceae Stomache Leaves- Fresh leaves are ground
(RBB166) Castor oil plant (E) and mixed with water. Small
quantity (50 ml is given orally to
treat the stomach ache. Crushed
leaves added with water are also
used to wash and cure the boils.
28 Scadoxus puniceus (L.) Umphompo (X); Amaryllidoideae Gall-sickness Leaves- handful of crushed
Friis & Nordal Paintbrush lily (E) leaves are added to the cattle
(RBB 253) feed to treat sickness of gall
bladder related diseases cattle.
Bulb- juice prepared from
crushed underground bulb is
used to treat the wounds.
29 Schinus molle L Pepper tree (E) Anacardiaceae Toothache, Leaves- a decoction prepared from
(RBB 115) Fever the leaves is used to gargle to cure
toothache. Leaves are also used in
steam bath to treat the fever.
30 Solanum aculeastrum Umthuma (X); Solanaceae Impotence, Roots- handful of crushed roots
Dunal Bitter-apple (E) Umbalical cord. are boiled an approximately two
(RBB 97) liters of water. The decoction
thus prepared is orally taken by
males to cure the impotence. Ash
made of burnt roots is also used
to heal umbilical cord in infants.
31 Sonchus asper (L.) Hill. Irhwabe (X); Corky-bark Asteraceae Fever Leaves- a decoction prepared
(RBB 64) monkey-orange (E) stomach ailments from approximately two glasses
of water allowed to stand for an
hour and taken orally to cure
chronic stomach ache.
32 Strychnos cocculoides Umnonono (X); Corky-bark Loganiaceae Chronic Bark-approximately two spoons
Baker monkey-orange (E). stomach ailments grated bark is mixed with
(RBB 178) approximately two glasses of
water allowed to stand for an
hour and taken orally to cure
chronic stomach ache.
33 Symphytum officinale L. Comfrey (E) Boraginaceae Bone fracture, Leaves- a cup herbal infusion is
(RBB 82) Bronchitis, taken orally twice a day for a
Pneumonia. period of three to four days to fast
cure of bone fracture, and also for
bronchitis and pneumonia.
34 Schistostephium Iphungwane (X) Asteraceae Fracture Stem & Leaves- Infusion of the
rotundifolium (DC.) leaves is taken for fast healing of
Fenzl ex Harv. (RBB 323) a fracture.
35 Taraxacum officinale Ihlaba (X); Dandelion (E) Asteraceae Jaundice Leaves- Infusion made from the
Webb (RBB 236) Liver diseases fresh leaves is taken to treat
jaundice and liver related diseases.

spirits or due to the violation of laws of their gods. So was important that the names of the plants and plant
the ultimate purpose of the rituals along with specimens were collected from the same area. Long
medicinal uses therefore, is to propitiate these gods. discussions in the field are time consuming though,
Nevertheless, the common and minor ailments are but it was very useful in collecting correct plant
considered to be natural. specimens and fewer misunderstandings.
It has come to my notice during the field work that The present study has revealed that the current
the vernacular names and uses of a given plant species traditional medicinal practices of the Xhosa people
may change from one place to another. Therefore, it can be divided under four categories.
 BHAT: MEDICINAL PLANTS OF XHOSA PEOPLE, SOUTH AFRICA 297

1. Common remedies not followed by rituals, security, pharmaceutical, pharmacological and

mostly practiced by common people. 2. Considered to ecological studies are necessary to understand the
be family secrets handed down from generation to dynamics and efficacy of traditional medicines. The
generation- Herbalists. 3. Traditional doctors who are present study on the use of herbal medicines will add
in touch with their ancestors and who divine the cause the value of these medicinal plants and traditional
of disease as misfortunes or who acquire the practices of natural resources and highlight the
knowledge of medicinal plants and their application significance of plant biodiversity on the healthcare and
from the ancestors in their dreams- called diviners food security systems. It can also help the community
known as ‘amgaqirha’ in the Xhosa language. They understand their valuable natural resources.
are generally women6. 4. Traditional doctors who
physically diagnose prescribe and sell the medicine Conclusion
for various diseases- True traditional doctors known The present study has documented 35 plant
as ‘amaxwhele’ in the Xhosa language6. However, the species used as traditional medicines for various
present study paid attention to document the ailments/diseases. In spite of modern civilization and
medicinal plant species used for traditional medicine access to modern medicine the people of Transkei
to treat the sick people. region still are dependent on the practice of traditional
treatment. A great majority of Xhosa people strongly
Ethnobotanical work is intended to bring to light
believe in their traditional medicine in spite of their
the traditional knowledge about plant use and its
educational background. The regional flora becomes
cultural significance, in order to lead to better ways of
very important as it is a great source of food and
natural resource exploitation or to propose their
medicine for common people. The Xhosa people
management according to their needs and
claim a high percentage of efficacies for plant
anthropological characters of the human groups over
remedies though; further scientific and clinical studies
which it is panned to intercede, as well as to the
are required to validate this information.
elements present in their environment24. The plant
kingdom represents a source of food and medicine. Acknowledgement
Therefore, with the tendency in modern medicine to The author sincerely expresses his gratitude to
assimilate and re-assimilate natural remedies in the people of Xhosa community who assisted in
common practice, under various forms, the potential this investigation, and University of Venda,
of regional flora becomes very important25. The Thohoyandou, Republic of South Africa for financial
Xhosa people claim a high percentage of efficacy for assistance.
plant remedies though, further scientific and clinical
studies are required to validate this information. References
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