Conservation of Endangered Medicinal Plants through Homeopathy

This is a collaborative project, involving traditional medicinal practitioners, the ENTC and the Eswatini Homeopathy Project. The initiative was begun in 2015, initially focussing on Warburgia salutaris (Pepperbark tree, sibhaha), then on Siphonochilus aethiopicus (African ginger, sidvungolo), and currently on Alepidea cordifolia (previously known as Alepidea amatymbica, likhatsato).

The concept of the project is to reduce pressure on the natural populations of priority medicinal species through propagation of the plants and use of tinctures and homeopathic remedies to reduce quantities of plant material required. The choice of species for this project has been determined by the traditional medicinal practitioners, based on scarcity and desirability.

Sibhaha (Warburgia salutaris)

This was the first species selected. Activities included:

• Workshops with local traditional medicinal practitioners.
• Homeopathic proving and preparation of remedies.
• Sourcing of tree seedlings for distribution.
• Seed collection from trees within Eswatini for propagation.
• Additional workshops to distribute seedlings, follow up on their success, and determine further priorities.
• Monitoring and evaluation.

Project Report (pdf)

Sidvungolo (Siphonochilus aethiopicus)

The second plant species which was selected was Siphonochilus aethiopicus (African Ginger, sidvungolo), and the same approach was used as for sibhaha, including workshops, sourcing and distributing plants, homeopathic provings and creation of rememdies.

Likhatsato (Alepidea cordifolia)

The third plant selected was Alepidea cordifolia (likhatsato). This was previously known as Alepidea amatymbica, but plant taxonomists have determined that the populations found in Lesotho, KwaZulu Natal and northwards belong to Alepidea cordifolia, and A. amatymbica is found in the Eastern Cape Province (B.-E, Van Wyk et al. (2008) A new species of Alepidea (Apiaceae, subfamily Saniculoideae). South African Journal of Botany 74).

So far, one naturally occurring population has been located within Eswatini, in Malolotja Nature Reserve, but it appears that this species is severely threatened within the country. Material has been obtained for the homeopathic proving and creation of rememdies, and some seed has been obtained for propagation.