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FEATURE

ETHNO-BOTANY:

AFRICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS

By Dr Jonathan Foley, Durban University of Technology (DUT)

The current trend of designing and planting biodiverse gardens has many positive
spin-offs. In his previous article (Landscape SA No. 131), Dr Foley illustrated some of the
ecological benefits of how biodiverse landscaping contributes to the production of green

corridors and an increase in urban wildlife. In this one, he looks at the cultural use of these
landscape plants and more specifically, their use in African traditional medicine.

his is where related topics intersect, practise alternative as opposed to western
including the conservation value in allopathic medicine.
Tpropagating and distributing these Traditional healers are the first to be called
plants, their scientific healing properties, for help when illness strikes the majority
their perceived value in terms of spiritual, of South Africans, as these communities
traditional and cultural use and finally their have faith in their ability to cure or alleviate
ornamental and landscaping value. conditions managed by doctors. The past
decade has been marked by renewed
What are African medicinal plants? interest in the role of THPs in relation to
Indigenous healing plants are collected South Africa’s healthcare system.
from the wild in large quantities, particularly A recognition of the value of indigenous
around the Eastern Cape, KZN and knowledge systems (IKS) and the role of
Mphumulanga provinces. These whole THPs in society has been acknowledged
Dr Jonathan Foley plants or plant parts consisting of roots, bark, by the government. The passing of the
leaves and flowers are collected by the rural Traditional Health Practitioners Act (22
About the author and peri-urban poor who sell them to middle of 2007) as well as the African Traditional
Dr. Jonathan Foley is a practicing men trading in the major muthi markets of Medicine Act (ATMSA of 2008) has brought
landscape designer, conservationist Durban and Johannesburg, or alternatively legal recognition to the sector.
and regional SALI judge in KZN. He to traditional health practioners (THPs) who As the National Health Initiative takes
obtained a doctorate in Biodiversity
Communication from UKZN and is
a senior lecturer in the Horticulture
Department at DUT. He encourages
young people with potential to
enter the landscape industry
and is passionate about quality
designs and enriched planting
palettes. For more information
on medicinal plants, email him at
jonathan@dut.ac.za

Barleria prionites subsp. delagoensis is an ornamental shrub that may also relieve toothache. Photos courtesy of Linda de Luca, Random Harvest Nursery

16 Landscape SA • Issue 132 2023 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za