People have always used plants as medicines and cosmetics. Today in South Africa, about 80% of the population use traditional medicines, and most of these are made from indigenous plants. In southern Africa, about 4 000 plant species are used as medicine. Some plants like Rooibos and Honeybush have been taken as tonics for thousands of years. They are now popular teas that are exported all over the world.

In this section we will find out about some indigenous plants with medicinal and cosmetic uses in the lowlands of Cape Town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click the links to find out more about indigenous plants used for healing and beauty:
 
Cape May (Coleonema album)
Mountain Buchu (Agathosma betulina)
Carpet Geranium (Geranium incanum)
Rose-Scented Pelargonium (Pelargonium capitatum)
Sour Fig (Carpobrotus edulis)