Plant Details

• Family: Polygonaceae.
• Growth: An annual herb that can grow up to 1 meter tall, with ribbed stems and ovate-elliptic leaves often featuring lobes.
• Habitat: Found in drier areas across Africa, from Niger to South Africa, thriving in grasslands, roadsides, and cultivated fields.
• Flowers: Small, clustered in spike-like inflorescences.
• Fruits: Trigonous nuts with prickles, aiding in seed dispersal.

Preparation and Uses

1. Medicinal Uses:
   • Leaves:
     • Applied as a poultice to treat boils.
     • Juice is used to treat fungal infections on legs and feet, as well as eye infections like conjunctivitis.
   • Stems:
     • Chewed to alleviate tonsillitis.
   • Roots:
     • Used in remedies for venereal diseases and skin infections.
   • Whole Plant:
     • Ground and mixed with water to treat boils.
     • A cold infusion is used to manage diabetes.
   • Decoction:
     • Strong leaf decoctions are used to treat threadworms.
2. Edible Uses:
   • Leaves:
     • Consumed raw or cooked as a vegetable, often mixed with other greens like Amaranthus or Bidens species.
     • Dried and powdered leaves are stored for future use, offering a milder flavor than fresh leaves.
   • Famine Food:
     • In some regions, it is considered a survival food during scarcity.

Health Conditions Tackled

• Skin Conditions: Boils, fungal infections, and general skin irritations.
• Digestive Issues: Threadworms and diabetes management.
• Respiratory Problems: Tonsillitis relief.
• Eye Health: Conjunctivitis treatment.
• Venereal Diseases: Traditional remedies for infections.

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