Common Name:

General Information

Aspilia africana is a very rapid growing, semi-woody herb producing usually annual stems about 2 metres tall from a perennial woody root-stock[]. It has a somewhat aromatic carroty smell[].
It is widely gathered from the wild and used locally in traditional medicine[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Widespread in tropical Africa.

Habitat

Waste land of the savannah and forested zones[]. Often a weed of cultivated land and fallows[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is often a weed of cultivated land and fallows within its native range[].
The plant has a high crude protein content[].
A very polymorphic plant, with at least four varieties recognized in Africa[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The fresh, bruised leaves and flowers of the plant are said to have extraordinary properties of stopping bleeding[], in Liberia the plant is even credited with the capacity of arresting the bleeding of a severed artery[]. Their application is said to draw up exudations (hence the Hausa vernacular name meaning ’draw up mucus’) and to promote rapid healing[]. Their haemostatic activity is thought to be due to vaso-constriction[].
A decoction of the plant has been recommended for internal use in treating pulmonary haemorrhage[].

In addition to their use as a haemostatic, the leaves are also used to treat a range of other conditions:- they are made into a cough-medicine for children; a leaf-concoction is taken for gonorrhoea; a decoction is used to wash the face and eyes to relieve feverish headache; a leaf-infusion is taken to assist in childbirth and also to increase milk flow; an infusion, mixed with white clay, is taken to treat stomach-troubles[].
Water in which leaves have been squeezed with a little salt and lime-juice added is much used as an eye-medicine to remove corneal opacities[]. The water, with only salt added, is used as an eye-lotion for sun-blindness[].

In Tanganyika a root-decoction is taken for tuberculosis[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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