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.
Cape honeysuckle
Sensitive plant
Common wild pear
Asphodelaceae: Aloe ferox
Asteraceae: Artemisia afra
Moringaceae: Moringa oleifera
I chose the following: Pittosporum viridiflorum, Leonotis Leonurus and Aloe vera. Excited to learn more on the different species of Aloe!
Cannabis Sativa is definitely one of the ones that I’m learn g about and so is Aloe ferox and Moringa
Ashwagandha
Astragalus
Tulsi
Aloe ferox
Lavender
Nettle
Calendula
Mullein
Redclover
Mullein
Red clover
Calendula
Anemone fanninii
Loxostylis alata
Turraea floribunda
Truth be told, I don’t live in Southern Africa, I live In Ireland. This just means I will have to do some extra research of my own into the herbs, spices and plants at my disposal here.
I know of morning and aloe this are the top two I’m familiar with
Bulbine Frutescens, Salvia Aurea, Lobostemon Fruticosis
1. Hyacinthaceae
2. Ranunculaceae
3. Euphorbiaceae
Aloe
Rosemary
Lavender
I have chosen these as I grow them in my little kitchen garden already
Shortlist of three indigenous healing plants to add to my own materia medica
#1 Asphodelaceae: Aloe ferox
#2 Moringaceae: Moringa oleifera
#3 Asphodelaceae: Bulbine asphodeloides
Centella asiatica
Aloe ferox
Cannabis sativa
Hypericum perforatum (St John’s wart)
Calendula officinalis (Marigold)
Hypoxidaceae (Star Lilies)
Valerian
Aloe vera
Nettle
aloe vera
dandeliones
nettles
Daturla stramonium
Aloe Ferox
Vachellia karroo (Acacia karroo) (Soetdoring, Sweet Thron, umuNga)
Pelargonium sidoides
Carpobrotus edulis
Taraxacum officianale
Aloe ferox
Aloe vera
vachellia root
Three herbs that I will include will be Hyacinth, Passionflower and Moringa oleifera.
Plantain
Red Clover
Dandelion
Dandelion
Yarrow
Ranunculales
Cottonwood Buds (for the resin)
Dandelion (leaf and root)
Lungwort
Dandelion
Black walnut
Echinacea
Aloe maculata
Hypoxis rooperi
mint
Datura stramonium
Ekebergia capensis
Hypoxis hemerocallidea
Dandelion, Plantain, Yarrow
I live on the line of 2 distinct environments in the US- the Eastern coast and the Midwest. I am fortunate to have abundant flora from both regions here.
I chose Great Mullein, Burdock, and Mustard Garlic.
Mint
Parsley
Garlic
Bearberry,calendular,valerian
I’m not in South Africa but I chose parsley, dandelion, and agave
Long
Parsely
Lemon verbena
Dandelion
Parsley
Dandelion
Spek plant
purslane
wow, I heard a discussion on RSG radio whereby they said they were replanting indigenous herbal healing plants at the voortrekker monument as some of the plants were forgotten or going extinct. They also said that about 50% of all of Africa’s healing plants were found in South Africa.
Bulbinella
Lemon Verbena
Mint
Lemon grass
Ginger
Parsley