Traditional herbal medicine in Transkei

The indigenous people of Transkei depend on natural plant resources from the forests for the medicinal, cultural, religious and other needs. This area, predominantly occupied by the Xhosa people, has remained ethnobotanically unexplored until recently. The present survey among the traditional doctors, herbalists, herb sellers, tribal priests and local people recorded medicinal uses of 26 plants. The firsthand information points out the significance of local plants to tribal groups and people of Transkei.