Sutherlandia frutescens

The Herb Spiral
Home Page
Supplement
Guide
the herb spiral
Some Products using Sutherland Frutescens
Product Health Issue Other Herbal Ingredients
Gastronic Dr. from Native Remedies digestion chamomile, meadowsweet, slippery elm,
Return
Return
Learn which herbs are commonly used to treat

 

Traditional Uses

Sutherlandia frutescens, also known as 'Cancer Bush' or 'Kankerbossie' is a medicinal herb exclusively found in Southern Africa and has been used by indigenous people for thousands of years to treat chronic and acute digestive complaints, internal cancers and as a powerful tonic.

Current uses

It is currently used in the treatment of cancer, gastric ailments, gynaecological problems, backache, rheumatism, oedema and fevers; also as a bitter tonic or blood purifier.  

It is used externally for the treatment of eye infections and wounds

.

Precautions and side effects (refer also to statements below)

Sutherlandia has a relatively long history of seemingly safe usage in Africa. Known side effects include occasional mild diarrhea, dry mouth, mild diuresis, and dizzyness in cachectic patients

Reference: African herbal medicines in the treatment of HIV: Hypoxis and Sutherlandia . An overview of evidence and pharmacology

Research

Recent research has confirmed Sutherlandia frutescen's adaptogenic properties. Sutherlandia contains a number of highly active compounds, including pinitol, L-canavanine and the amino acid, GABA. L-canavanine is a strong L-argine antagonist that has documented anti-cancer and anti-viral activity

(Swaffer et al. 1995, Crooks and Rosenthal, 1994, Ostlund and Sherman, 1996)