The true extent of the use of psychoactive plants in Africa, and the context
of this use, is not yet fully appreciated or understood.
With the rapid pace of acculturation, much of the original knowledge of the
use of psychotropic plants has become fragmentary, with extant magical or charm
uses sometimes the only remaining clue.
Many African psychoactive plants undoubtedly await rediscovery, and scientific
studies of these plants are likely to reveal new psychoactive molecules, novel
mechanisms of action, and the potential to develop effective new drugs for the
treatment of pain, migraine, epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia and other mental
health conditions.
Alepidea amatymbica (Apiaceae) -
Indigenous names :
Ikhathazo (Zulu), lesoko (Sotho), and iqwili (Xhosa).
Botanical description :
The plant is a robust perennial with dark green rosettes of oblong, markedly
toothed leaves arising from a single or branched rhizome.
The flowering stalk is hollow and up to two meters in height, with numerous
small flowers arranged in dense, rounded heads.
The shape of the basal leaves and the serrations and hairs along the leaf margins
are important to distinguish the different species of Alepidea.
There are two distinct forms of A. amatymbica; the typical form has leaves which
gradually taper towards their bases; a northern form with distinctly heart-shaped
leaves.
Plant parts used :
Rhizomes and roots are used.
Ritual & Magical uses :
The dry rhizome and roots are smoked, or powdered and taken as snuff by diviners
and healers to assist in divination and communication with the ancestors.
Smoking the roots results in sedation and vivid dreams.
Elderly people powder the dry rhizome and take it as a snuff, or smoke the roots
for headache. The rhizome is carried as a lucky charm, and is used for colds,
asthma, and flu.
The roots are also used as a smoking admixture, and the smoke disguises the
smell of whatever it is that is being smoked in conjunction with this admixture.
Medicinal uses :
Used for colds and chest complaints, as well as for asthma, influenza and abdominal
cramps. An infusion is made, together with Cannabis sativa, for treating asthma.
Active ingredients :
The rhizomes and roots contain high concentrations of several diterpenoids of
the kaurene type.
The major compounds are dehydrokaurenoic acids and kaurenoic acids, of which
ent-16-kauren-19-oic acid is usually present in the greatest quantity.
