by Selma Siekert, of the University of Vermont
Human beings and other animals alike interact with their natural environment for the relief of physical ailments. The Ocimum americanum, the Wild Basil plant, a part of the Lamicae (mint) family, grows throughout Botswana. It is used largely in the East and Central parts of the country to combat high blood pressure. The leaves are dried, boiled, and made into tea. The drying of the leaves is an important step – undried leaves made into tea produce a powerful laxative.
Ocimum americanum in the Khwai Community Campsite NG19 (Photo Credit: Selma Siekert)
Ziziphus mucronata, the Buffalo Thorn Acacia tree, is used by the Bayei communities in Botswana. The trees grow berries that are boiled and made into an ointment to treat chicken pox rashes. The leaves also carry medicinal properties: they are chewed up and applied to cysts to open up skin and allow for pus drainage.
The Bayei people also make use of the Cocculus hirsutus – the Python Climber. In traditional medicine, one can burn the bark, mix it with other plants, and apply it to the skin of babies of under three months of age in order to heal navel wounds associated with the umbilical cord.
Another Acacia tree, the Acacia hebeclada, is dubbed the Candle Pod Acacia for its seed pods that grow vertically, resembling candles. Both the Bayei and Bushmen communities utilize this tree – the roots are boiled into tea to alleviate stomach aches.
Acacia hebeclada in the Khwai Community Campsite NG19 (Photo Credit: Selma Siekert)
The leaves of the Candle Pod Acacia, The Acacia heteracantha (Umbrella Thorn Acacia), and the Acacia erioloba (Camel Thorn Acacia) are chewed on and the sap is sucked from them, also to treat stomach pain.
The earth is a beautiful and plentiful source of comforts – one just has to know where to look.