To provide a context where patterns of usage can be easily observed, the plants have been arranged in phylogenetic order, following the generic numbering system used in the most South African herbaria.
This publication provides a comprehensive and scientifically accurate guide to the best-known and most important medicinal plants, including those of special commercial or historical interest. It includes descriptions of more than 300 medicinal plants and their close relatives, with each entry summarising botanical background, geographical origin, therapeutic category, historical and modern uses, active ingredients, and pharmacological effects. Over 500 full-color photographs are included to assist in the identification of the plants.
With over 50,000 distinct species in sub-Saharan Africa alone, the African continent is endowed with an enormous wealth of plant resources. While more than 25 percent of known species have been used for several centuries in traditional African medicine for the prevention and treatment of diseases, Africa remains a minor player in the global natural
Zulu plant names do not just identify plants, they tell us much more about the plant, as well as how it is perceived or used in Zulu culture. For example, the plant name umhlulambazo ('what defeats the axe') tells us that this is a tree with hard, dense wood, and that usondelangange ('come closer so I can embrace you') is a tree with large thorns that snags the passer-by. In a similar vein, both umakuphole ('let it cool down') and icishamlilo ('put out the fire') refer to plants that are used medicinally to treat fevers and inflammations. Plants used as the base of love-charms have names that are particularly colorful, such as unginakile ('she has noticed me'), uvelabahleke ('appear and they smile'), and the wonderfully named ungcingci-wafika-umntakwethu ('how happy I am that you have arrived, my sweetheart!'). And then, there are those plant names that are just plain intriguing, if not mystifying: umakhandakansele ('the heads of Mr Ratel'), isandlasonwabu ('hand of a chameleon'), intombikayibhinci ('the girl does not wear clothes'), and ukhuningomile ('piece of firewood, I am thirsty'). This book details the complex relationship between these plants, the Zulu language, and Zulu culture. [Subject: Botany, African Studies, Cultural Studies, Language]
In Biomedical Hegemony and Democracy in South Africa Ngambouk Vitalis Pemunta and Tabi Chama-James Tabenyang unpack the contentious South African government’s post-apartheid policy framework of the ‘‘return to tradition policy’’. The conjuncture between deep sociopolitical crises, witchcraft, the ravaging HIV/AIDS pandemic and the government’s initial reluctance to adopt antiretroviral therapy turned away desperate HIV/AIDS patients to traditional healers. Drawing on historical sources, policy documents and ethnographic interviews, Pemunta and Tabenyang convincingly demonstrate that despite biomedical hegemony, patients and members of their therapy-seeking group often shuttle between modern and traditional medicine, thereby making both systems of healthcare complementary rather than alternatives. They draw the attention of policy-makers to the need to be aware of ‘‘subaltern health narratives’’ in designing health policy.
4e de couv.: People's Plants is a scientific review of all of the most important useful plants of southern Africa. It remains the first and only fully illustrated ethnobotanical reference source for southern Africa. In this expanded and updated second edition, traditional and contemporary uses of more than 700 plants are described and illustrated in 20 chapters, each dealing with a specific category of plant use. This fascinating book is a must for anyone interested in useful plants, new crop plants, medicinal plants, new product development, ecotourism, rural development, traditional crafts, African culture, ethnobotany and botany in general--Publisher's website.