Table 1 Medicinal plants used to cure various ailments in Oshikoto region, Namibia

Acacia ataxacantha

Fabaceae

Mukoro

Headache

3 days

Pneumonia

3-5 days

Acacia mellifera

Fabaceae

Okadilanghono

Snake bite

1-2 days

Acanthosycios naudiniana

Cucurbitaceae

Ruputwi

Mental illnesses

2 - 3 days, up to 16 months

Inflammation

Vary

Aloe littorals

Asphodelaceae

Endombo

Bilharzia

1 year

Asparagus nelsii

Asparagaceae

Okawekamuthithi

Eczema

1 - 7 day

Asparagus virgatus

Asparagaceae

Runkwanana

Mental illnesses

2 - 3 days, up to 16 months

Baphia massaiensis

Fabaceae

Omulyambambi

Fertility/impotent

1 day

Boscia albitrunca

Capparaceae

Munkudi

Syphilis

4 days (depends on the severity)

Chicken pox

2 days

Clerodendrum ternatum

Lamiaceae

Shanyu

Eczema

1 - 7 day

Colophospermum mopane

Fabaceae

Omusati

Swollen legs

One week

Combretum collinum

Combretaceae

Mububu

Coughing

1 week

Panaritium

1 week

Combretum imberbe

Combretaceae

Omukuku

Gonorrhea

2 -7days

Fertility/impotent

1 day

Male dysfunction

1-4 day

Croton gratissimus

Euphorbiaceae

Ongonyo

Tetanus

2 - 3 days

Lightening burn

One day

Cyperus papyrus

Cyperaceae

Onziku

Giving birth

1 day

Datura stramonium

Solanaceae

Egwitha

Mental illnesses

2 - 3 days, up to 16 months

Dicoma tomentosa

Asteraceae

Okalupulupu

Intestine cram

1 -3 days, 4 - 5 Months

Diospyros lycoides

Ebenaceae

Oshimumu

Bleeding

1 - 4 days

Higher fever

1 day

Diospyros mespiliformis

Ebenaceae

Omwandi

Male dysfunction

1- 4 day

Dregia macrantha

Apocynaceae

Ondhingulula

Male dysfunction

1- 4 day

Easing birth

Few hours

Mental illnesses

2 - 3 days, up to 16 months

Erythropheum africanum

Erythroxylaceae

Mupako

Gonorrhea

2 -7days

Mental illnesses

2 - 3 days, up to 16 months

Euclea divinorum

Ebenaceae

Omudime

Bleeding

1 - 4 days

Euphorbia monteiroi

Euphorbiaceae

Oshilalanamawadi

Mental illnesses

2 - 3 days, up to 16 months

Ficus sycomorus

Moraceae

Omukwiyu

Dermatitis

1 month

Gloriosa virescens

Colchicaceae

Ompilu

Intestine cram

1 -3 days, 4 - 5 Months

Harpagophytum procumbens

Pedaliaceae

Ekakata

Epilepsy

1 month

Harpagophytum zeyheri

Pedaliaceae

Ekakata

Epilepsy

1 month

Helinus intergrifolius

Rhamnaceae

Murora

Leg pains

2 -7days

Stroke

2 weeks, 4 -6 months

Helinus spartoides

Rhamnaceae

Omutiwoheva

Leg pains

2 -7days

Stroke

2 weeks, 4 -6 months

Heliotropium sp.

Boraginaceae

Ohanauni

Inflammation

Vary

Kleinia longiflora

Asteraceae

Elangelamwali

Mental illnesses

2 - 3 days, up to 16 months

Colloid

Vary

Kohautia angolensis

Rubiaceae

Omutingulula

Intestine cram

1 -3 days, 4 - 5 Months

Lonchocarpus nelsii

Fabaceae

Mupanda

Back pains

2 days

Peltophorum africanum

Fabaceae

Omupalala

Leg pains

2 -7days

Pergularia daemia

Apocynaceae

Eriko

Mental illnesses

2 - 3 days, up to 16 months

Plumbago zeylanica

Plumbaginaceae

Okadimeti

Bleeding

1 - 4 days

Pterocarpus angolensis

Fabaceae

Uguva

Coughing

1 week

Leg pains

2 -7days

Bleeding

1 - 4 days

Rhigozum brevispinosum

Bignoniaceae

Ngandu

Syphilis

4 days (depends on the severity)

Ricinus communis

Euphorbiaceae

Olumono

Epilepsy

1 month

Securidaca longepedunculata

Polygalaceae

Omudhiku

Stroke

2 weeks, 4 -6 months

Senna italic

Fabaceae

Okatundangu

Abscess

depends

Spirostachys africana

Euphorbiaceae

Omuhongo

Leg pains

2 -7days

Strychnos cocculoides

Loganiaceae

Maguni

Culture bound syndrome

2-3 Days

Swartzia madagascariensis

Fabaceae

Omukonati

Bleeding

1 - 4 days

Terminalia sericea

Combretaceae

Omugolo

Leg pains

2 -7days

Tragia okanyua

Euphorbiaceae

Okalilifa

Generalised oedema

4 - 5 months

Unidentified

Munzwe

Ear infection

1 day

Unidentified

Xhangau

Diarrhoea

2 - 3 days

Unidentified

!hare

Abdomen pain

2 days

Unidentified

Guturoa

Worms

2 - 3 days

Unidentified

Okayekaathithi

Meningitis

Vary

Unidentified

Oshihangena

Barren

Vary

Unidentified

Onzingankelo

High Blood Pressure

Vary

Unidentified

okasisiti

Fatigue

4-5 days

Unidentified

Oshihangena

Easing birth

Few hours

Vangueria infausta

Rubiaceae

Oshimbu

Dermatitis

1 month

Vigna dinteri

Fabaceae

Muyimbo

Herpes

1 year

Ximenia americanum

Olacaceae

Kakukuru

Scoliosis

1 week

Culture bound syndrome

2-4 Days

Gonorrhea

2 -7days

Ximenia caffra

Olacaceae

Ompeke

Fertility/impotent

1 day

Culture bound syndrome

2-5 Days

Gonorrhea

2 -7days

Ziziphus mucronata

Rhamnaceae

Mukekete

Gonorrhea

2 -7days