Horticulturalists and SANRAL-appointed service providers have been working with local traditional healers to collect plants of medicinal value along the Msikaba and Mtentu Bridge road reserves.
Local healers were invited to take part in the search-and-rescue activities, were transported to and from the search sites and were given first preference to collect plants of value to them. Once collected, registers documenting all of the plants taken were compiled and signed by the traditional leaders.
Many of the plants collected are of immense value to the traditional healers who use them to treat a range of human and livestock ailments.
Some of the most sought-after species of plants collected by traditional healers in the N2WC road reserves include:
- Stangeria eriopus, also known as Imfringo, which is used on livestock to prevent excess bile in the gall bladder
- Bulbine latifolia (Ibhucu), which is used to remove powerful herbal medicines from the body as well as cleansing ‘dirty blood’ caused by fatty foods and excessive alcohol
- Scabiosa columbaria, which is used to treat skin rashes
- Callilepis laureola, which helps to soothe stomach cramps.
