The Top Traded Medicinal Plants of southern Africa
The trade in the medicinal plants of southern Africa is a vibrant and growing industry. It is an important livelihood option for rural women, and for those involved, it is a major contributor to household incomes. It is valued at R2.9 billion annually in South Africa and at least 133 000 households in South Africa are dependent on this rich floral heritage.
According to Arnold et.al. (2002), the current number of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in southern Africa includes 215 families, 1 240 genera, and 3 689 taxa (species, subspecies and varieties), representing 15% of the regional flora. Of these, 771 taxa are actively traded.
From a family herbalist point of view, having such a large number of muthi flora at our disposal is exciting. Very exciting! But it is also overwhelming. Somehow, one has to whittle the list down to a more manageable size.
We’ve narrow the number down to 125 plants. You can view the list HERE! Enjoy!
The Digital Muthi Flora Inventory
The definitive reference work for every southern African Family Herbalist and Inyanga.
A one-of-a-kind digital inventory of the Muthi Flora of southern Africa. Featuring medicinal and magical plants from the region.
The basic and advanced search facilities will help you find muthi plants to add to your own materia medica. PLUS, you can add a listing to the Expanded Monograph cue.
Visit The Digital Inventory HERE.
Article Archive
You can view the Muthi flora Article Archive HERE!
Take Action
- Make a shortlist of three indigenous healing plants to add to your own materia medica. Don’t overthink this. And don’t spend too much time on making the list.
- Share your three plants in a reply below.
Terminalia Sericea
Tulbaghia Violacea
Tulbaghia Acutiloba
Dandelion
Mint
Yarrow
Dandelion
Plantain
Chickweed
1. Symphytum officinale-Comfrey
2. Zingiber officinale-Ginger
3. Vinca major-Greater Periwinkle
mine are:
1. Ekebergia capensis (Essenhout, Dogplum, Mmidibidi)
2. Datura stramonium (Bloustinkblaar, Jimson weed, iloyi)
3. Leonotis leonurus (wilde dagga, wild dagga)
I already have the following:
Aloe vera
Moringa ovalifolia
Ruta graveolens
Artemisia afra
Sceletium
I need to get Aloe Ferox – not quite sure if the one in my garden is a Ferox (?)
Aloe arborescens
Scabiosa columbaria – butterflies
Kniphofia uvaria – I love “vuurpyle”
1. Portulacaria afra (iNtelezi, Porkbush, Spekboom)
2. Artemisia afra
3. Aloe vera (Barbados aloe)
1. Siphonochilus aethiopicus – Wild Ginger or African Ginger
2. Agathosma betulina – Buchu
3.Taraxacum officinale – Dandelion
Plantain, Rose and Yarrow.
Artemesia Afra
Calamus
Bulbinella
My three plants will be
Plantain
Dandelion
Mint
Moringa ovalifolia
Mimosa pudica
Agave Americana
Sweet Basil
Lemon Grass
Thyme
1. Wild Ginger | African Ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus)
2. Buchu (Agathosma betulina | Agathosma crenulate)
3. Cancer bush (Sutherlandia frutescens)