Page 20 - Dainfern Precinct Living issue 7 2022

Health & Wellness

fever and malaria, was nearly made extinct by its export to
overseas markets, which led to the commercial farming of
the herb.”
Devil’s Claw is also used in an ointment to treat various skin
problems such as sores and boils.

HERBS USED IN THE PREVENTION AND/OR
TREATMENT OF COMMON AILMENTS
Herbs that are commonly used for the prevention and/
or treatment of common ailments which are found in the
Cape and various parts of Africa, include: Rooibos (Aspalanthus linearis)
- Wilde als/Umthlonyane (Artemisia afra)
prevents and treats various respiratory infections.
Wilde als
- Kankerbossie/Cancer bush (Lessertia frutescens) (Artemisia afra)
helps the body to ward off infections and ill health, when
used regularly. It also eases symptoms related to colds
and flu.
- Wild Olive (Olea europaea subs Africana) prevents
infections, including viral infections of the respiratory
system.

- Pelargonium sidoides and other pelargoniums,
Tulbaghia violacea (wildeknoffel) treat the common
cold and associated symptoms of wet cough and soothe
inflamed respiratory tissues, including a sore throat.

- Sage (Salvia species) targets viral respiratory infections
and eases a sore throat.

- Helichrysum species helps treat coughs.
body’s innate immune response to keep the pathogens in
- Mint (Mentha longifolia) eases pulmonary infections, check and restore or maintain good health.”
headaches, fever and colds, when used in combination
with other herbs like Artemisia afra, Salvia species and Olea She says herbal medicines contain a mixture of different
europeaea. phytochemicals that act in combination with body cells,
tissues and chemicals to enhance health. The remedies
- Sand Olive (Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia) is can either work quickly or at a steadier pace over time
traditionally used for treatment of colds and associated sore depending on what is being treated.
throat, influenza and measles.
“Treatment should be started at the first sign of disease
The above herbs are generally used as herbal infusions or to achieve the best results, or the herbs can be used
can be steamed. Some of them can also be purchased as preventatively as part of your daily health regimen.”
herbal pills or tinctures.
For more info on herbal medicine go to
Dr Hauptfleisch says when using herbal medicine, it’s www.phytotherapists.co.za
important to use the right plant for the associated ailment
and in the correct dosage. If in doubt, it’s best to ask a
professional before trying it at home. Dr. Hauptfleisch's
love of herbal
“When herbal medicine is used correctly and in conjunction medicine has
with a healthy lifestyle, it is an effective and safe approach spanned 30 years
to healthcare. People and animals have relied on herbal and has included
medicine for centuries. Like our food, our bodies are the growing,
designed to respond to herbal medicines. Many of our compounding
modern medicines were first isolated from plants. e.g.
Aspirin from Salix alba (White willow bark); antimitotic and dispensing of
chemotherapy drugs from the alkaloids of Catharanthus herbal medicines.
roseus; Quinine from the Cinchona officinalis tree and many She has also taught
others. various aspects
of Phytotherapy
“The adage: ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’, at both lay and
sums up the approach in herbal medicine. We rely on tertiary level. She
whole plant extracts to work within the body safely and believes that herbal
efficaciously to both prevent and treat illness. An example knowledge, if
is the antimicrobial action of Artemisia afra. The herb safely shared, is our
interferes with the cellular replication of the pathogen (e.g. birthright.
bacteria) by breaking down its cell walls and enhancing the

18 DPL issue 7 2022
8 DPL issue 5 2022