The wonders of Bulbinella
Bulbinella, geel katstert - some even refer to it as SA's own aloe vera. Call it what you may, this plant is more useful than it may seem.
Boasting an abundance of indigenous flora, the lush Lowveld bush is home to a remarkable little plant, unassuming in appearance and almost as common as grass. Bulbine frutescens’ popularity may be due to the fact that it grows easily and quickly in dry and rocky areas – hence, though you may not know its name, you may surely recognise it.
This drought-resistant herb’s sap contains glycoproteins which have soothing, protective and antibacterial properties.
Home remedies are becoming all the more popular, no longer only among greenies, as the negative effects to medication are becoming more and more obvious – and the costs thereof more unaffordable. A clear shift to alternative medicine has taken place as some prescription drugs have increased in price by more than 300 per cent, Reuters reported in February.
According to The South African National Biodiversity Institute, this fresh leaf’s juice works for burns, rashes, blisters, insect bites, cracked lips, acne, cold sores, mouth ulcers and areas of cracked skin. Take note day cares and preschools. This plant is an ideal first-aid remedy for childrens’ daily knocks and scrapes.
The Rastafarians even make an infusion of a few fresh leaves in a cup of boiling water. The strained drink is taken for coughs, colds and arthritis. The use of herbal medicinal products and supplements has increased tremendously over the past four decades, with not less than 80 per cent of people worldwide relying on them for some part of primary health care, an article from National Centre for Biotechnology Information reads.
Local landscape architect, Estelle du Toit, truly discovered the usefulness of this plant when she was stung multiple times in the face by bees at a nursery. Staff gave her the fat yet small green leaf, and though highly sceptical, she continually applied the translucent fluid in order to attend an important meeting mere hours later. To say the strange plant helped would be an understatement: the swelling had gone down completely and redness had subsided.
This lover of plants now uses bulbinella to cure any and all skin-related ills – even insect bites on her dogs. Du Toit’s revelation soon influenced her brother, who applied the jelly-like juice to a sore on his nose – silently wondering if it could have been skin cancer. Within weeks, the mark was completely gone.
I myself smeared the goo on an area, half-heartedly, even forgetting for a week or two, only to find the mole (and the accompanying moles created by trying to remove it with salt and ice) had cleared completely. Now a passionate bulbinella fan, imagine my surprise when arriving at my new home, potted plant at the ready, to find my former housemate’s garden peppered with the bulging-leaf beauty.
It may be common in the Lowveld, as this plant is perfect for businesses and families alike that might not have the time or the water but seek some green for rocky or dry patches.
Feel free to send a mail to Hancu Louw at hancu@lowvelder.co.za if you too have a wonderful account of this fantastic flora.
