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A healthy chest is important to stave off seasonal colds, influenza and viral outbreaks. The lungs are exposed to airborne pathogens and irritants on a regular basis, so they need to be looked after. Luckily, Mother Nature has provided us with some natural remedies that support chest functioning. Alepidea is one such plant that can be used to help the lungs.
The plant’s scientific name is Alepidea amatymbica, but it has local names too, such as kalmoes (Afrikaans), ikhathazo (Zulu), iqwili (Xhosa) and lesoko (Sotho). Alepidea is most commonly used in Traditional African Medicine to treat chest ailments, from asthma and sore throats to colds and flu. It can also be used to treat complications arising from other illnesses, such as inflammations, abdominal cramps and wounds.
Source of Health offers a couple of products that contain Alepidea; Clear Lungs for healthy breathing and Male Libido for men’s health. These two products use the plant for its ability to provide chest and breathing support in both products.
Alepidea is a popular plant for use in traditional remedies. “This species is highly regarded as a remedy for respiratory tract infections, asthma, sore throat, gastrointestinal complaints, fever, rheumatism, bleeding wounds, and headache and extracts are also reported to be active against HIV,” writes Wintola and Afolayan in their academic study of the uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Alepidea.
The roots and rhizomes of the plant are used. They can either be chewed or dried and used in an infusion containing water and other liquid ingredients. Sometimes, the dried rhizomes and roots are crushed into a powder and taken as snuff by diviners and healers when communicating with ancestors.
Other pharmacological properties of Alepidea have been revealed through further studies. “These include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antihelmintic (de-worming), antimalarial, antihypertensive (to lower high blood pressure), and diuretic activities,” writes Wintola and Afolayan. While these properties are yet to be scientifically-proven, the chemical compounds contained in the Alepidea plant do point to their existence.
“The ability of the herb to inhibit the growth of various bacteria and fungi species is an indication of the broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential of A. amatymbica; this further validates the use of the herb for various diseases by the people of the Eastern Cape,” writes Afolayan and Lewu in their academic study on the antimicrobial activity of Alepidea.
Alepidea is an endangered plant that can be found in the grasslands of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. It also grows in other Southern African countries, such as Lesotho, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. It is usually found in damp grassland near streams, between 1500m to 2600m in altitude.
When the roots and rhizomes are harvested, the rest of the plant dies – which is why it has become endangered. It has been overexploited in the wild. Source of Health only uses suppliers that follow strict sustainability practices; all of our products come from conservational sources.
The plant has dark green leaves arising from a single or branched rhizome. It can grow up to two metres tall. The leaves form a loose rosette and the edges of the leaves are prominently toothed; each tooth ending in a bristle. Alepidea grows numerous small, star-shaped white flowers arranged in dense, rounded heads.
In winter, the plant enters a dormant state where all the above-ground parts become withered and dry. The strong, thick roots and underground stems of Alepidea enable it to survive the heat of grass fires, allowing it to regenerate in spring.
Our 100% natural products contain herbal concentrates and last up to 20 days for R185, making them a cost-effective option in the traditional African medicine industry.
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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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