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Medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years to treat and cure a range of ailments and illnesses. One of the most well-known plants with effective healing properties is African ginger. This medicinal plant has many health benefits, from lowering blood pressure and reducing fevers to soothing coughs and curing infections.
African ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus) is also commonly called wild ginger or Natal ginger. It is commonly used in Traditional African Medicine to treat many ailments and to improve digestion. The multiple medicinal uses of African ginger make it a versatile plant and an important species to nurture.
Source of Health offers a few products that contain African ginger; Clear Lungs for healthy breathing, Anti-inflammation for swelling, Healthy Digestion for gut functioning and Immunity for overall health. These products use African ginger for its ability to reduce inflammation, ease sore throats, improve digestion and support other bodily functions.
African ginger is a popular plant for use in traditional African remedies. “Wild Ginger is by far the most highly sought-after medicinal plant on South African muti markets,” says the Mountain Herb Estate Nursery. “The rhizomes and roots are chewed fresh to treat asthma, hysteria, colds, coughs and flu. It is used to treat malaria and is chewed by women during painful menstruation,” the nursery adds.
In addition, African ginger can be used “as an anti-inflammatory. It can be effective in treatment of dyspepsia, migraine headache, morning sickness, nausea (chemo-induced), post-operative nausea and/or vomiting, osteoarthritis, respiratory infections, rheumatoid arthritis and for SSRI taper/discontinuation,” according to RxList, a popular pharmaceutical website that identifies and explains the uses of medicinal compounds.
The roots and rhizomes of the plant are most commonly used. They can either be chewed or dried and used in a tea-like infusion containing water. African ginger has a sweet but spicy taste, like regular ginger. It is a pleasant and unmistakable taste and aroma. A hot African ginger tea is ideal for reducing fevers, expelling phlegm and relieving heavy coughs.
This wonderful medicinal plant has almost endless healing properties and no short-term side effects from its use. It is a natural remedy that can be used to treat almost any ailment, which is why we have included it in many of our Isiphethu Sempilo products.
African ginger is an endangered plant in the wild, due to its popularity in traditional medicines. However, it is easy to grow and cultivate provided there is enough drainage and water available. We sustainably source our African ginger from local growers and agricultural projects. The plant is native to Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, as well as parts of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It is a deciduous plant with large purple and yellow flowers and lance-shaped leaves that sprout from a cone-shaped rhizome. Small berry-like fruits are borne below or above the ground.
African ginger is easy to grow at home in pots. It requires compost-rich soil and good drainage. The plant prefers warm but shady spots – too much sunlight will dry the soil and it is imperative that the soil is kept damp at all times. During winter months, watering should be kept to a minimum while the plant is dormant.
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To learn more about African medicines and traditional plant-based remedies, please do not hesitate to contact us. Source of Health is a manufacturer of Traditional African Medicines under the brand Isiphethu Sempilo. We use biomedicine processes to create herbal remedies, combined with scientific methods to ensure the finest quality and trustworthy herbal extracts.
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Source of Health offers a range of herbal products that are effective as natural remedies for pain, depression, illnesses and more. The use of medicinal plants as part of traditional African healthcare is one of the oldest and most assorted of all therapeutic systems. It has been used through the ages to maintain health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses.
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