THE MAGIC OF RAUVOLFIA CAFFRA
Rouvolfia is named after Leon hart Rauwolf who died in 1596 the
other term which is Caffra comes
from Arabic word Kafir meaning non-believer.In Tanzania this tree has been
named in different ways such as Muveriveri in Hehe tribe ,oljabokaryan in Masai
,Quinine tree in English and Mkufi in Swahili.
The
tree is most common in Ruaha but also it does occur in other variety locations
which are pre-dominated with seasonally waterlogged conditions like wetlands.
Point
of interest to this tree is that it the excellent indicator that the ground
water table is very high. Also at a certain time in a year the tree becomes
infested with froghoppers who excrete pure water which attracts variety of
birds.
Humans uses. It contains various alkaloids which is called
reserpine and has a tranquilizing effect and is used in the treatment of hypertension.
The milky white latex was once thought to cure malaria hence it is named
Quinine tree.
It
is also said to be a magic plant since it refrain some individual who have bad
intention not to affect you ,the powdered roots when carried are said to
protect one from the evil intentions of witches also the pegs made from the
branches of this tree are concealed in the thatch of ne home it will make the
visiting witches forget their evil intentions.
The
bark is used mostly by Hehe to increase the alcohol strength of the locally
made “ulanzi” which is the wine made from the bamboo sap, this is the same even
to home-brewed beer.
Medically ,the sap from the pounded seeds is dropped
into the ear. For hypertension constipation and abdominal pians a root
decoction is drunk. For rashes the pulverized stem is mixed with butter and
rubbed in skin. Epilepsy patients are told to inhale the vapors of a bark
decoction and then bathe in the same liquid.
This
shows how nature is of vital to our life as the authenticity indicated on the
above description.VITA VIVENDA
In the end, we will
conserve only what we love .we will only love what we understand. We will
understand only what we are taught by Baba Dioum –Senegalese ecologist.