THE MAGIC OF RAUVOLFIA CAFFRA

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.