NDLI: An ethnobotany of Western Cape Rasta bush medicine.

Content Provider	World Health Organization (WHO)-Global Index Medicus
Author	Aston Philander, Lisa
Spatial Coverage	South Africa
Description	Country affiliation: United States Author Affiliation: Aston Philander L ( University of Arizona, Arid Lands Resource Sciences, 1955 East Sixth Street, PO Box 210184, Tucson, AZ, USA. lisaphilander@gmail.com)
Abstract	AIMS OF THIS STUDY: This descriptive ethnobiological research is the first documentation of the materials utilized in the pharmacopeia of a novel group of herbalists, Rasta bush doctors, found in the botanically diverse Western Cape of South Africa. This article suggests that medicinal plants used by bush doctors unite the disparate ethnomedicines found in South Africa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnospecies name and parts used were recorded during detailed inventories of 39 bush doctors. Collection of voucher specimens for botanical identification occurred in 15 locations. Herbal remedies were classified into use categories and were compared to historical ethnobotanical literature to ascertain previous cultural affiliations. RESULTS: There were 205 ethnospecies found in the Rastafari ethnobiology, 181 were used medicinally. Ethnospecies belong to 71 plant families and 71% belonged to six plant families: Rutaceae (13), Asteraceae (13), Apiaceae (9), Lamiaceae (8), Fabaceae (8), and Euphorbiaceae (7). The majority of remedies (49%) were foliage. Medicinal plants treated over 30 ailments including: gastrointestinal symptoms (11%), urogential complaints (11%), skin ailments (9%), and cardiovascular diseases (8%). Bush doctors appropriated remedies traditionally important to Zulu, KhoiSan, European and Xhosa healing traditions. Novel plants and plant utilization were noted for 22 plant species. CONCLUSIONS: Use of previously undocumented plant materials as medicinals denote distinct local knowledge including novel Rastafarian utilization of herbs for spiritual and ritual purposes. The range of the largely herbaceous pharmacopeia is narrow compared to the region's highly biodiverse materials and historical records of medicinal use. Bush doctors' experimentation with known herbal remedies illustrates a striking level of cross-cultural adaptation. This syncretic pharmacopeia reflects the cultural diversity of Southern Africa, drawing upon recent invasive species, European influence and traditional herbs used by the KhoiSan, Zulu and Xhosa peoples.
File Format	HTM / HTML
ISSN	03788741
Issue Number	2
Journal	Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Volume Number	138
e-ISSN	18727573
Language	English
Publisher	Elsevier
Publisher Date	2011-11-18
Publisher Place	Ireland
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Discipline Ethnopharmacology Ethnobotany Medicine, African Traditional Plants, Medicinal South Africa Species Specificity Journal Article Research Support, Non-u.s. Gov't
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Drug Discovery Pharmacology

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