Origin

Africa

Folk medicinal uses

R. caffra acts as a purgative and/or an emetic.

Root - The root of the plant, R. caffra is traditionally used for treating insomnia and insecurity. The root juice, mixed with honey, is applied to fractures. Harjula (1980) observed that the root bark is dried and ground or pounded while fresh and an infusion prepared for remedy of roundworms and tapeworm.

Bark - Kokwaro (1976) reports that a bark decoction is drunk as a medicine for general body swellings, rheumatism and pneumonia. The bark has been used as an astringent and as a colic remedy. The R. caffra bark is used as a cure for coughs, stitch and toothache.

Stem and root bark - Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962) observed that the stem and root bark are used as an ascaricide a",the powdered unopened inflorescence as a local application to sores on the legs.

Some medicinal forest plants of Africa and Latin America 67/ FAO. – FAO: Rome, 1986. – p. 200.