What are external wounds?
A wound is a type of damage that occurs on the body, breaking the continuity of living organ, tissue, or fluid membrane. An external wound occurs outside the body, usually on the surface of the skin, resulting in the break of the skin.
External wounds can be superficial or deep:
- Superficial wounds only affect the epidermis, the top layer of the skin.
- Deeply penetrating wounds affect two or all three layers of the skin and can expose underlying tissue or bone.
What causes them?
An external wound can occur while performing different daily activities, such as walking or running, cooking, getting dressed, etc. They may be caused by
- A skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis.
- An infection such as syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection.
- An injury
- A surgery
- A fire
- An accident
Examples of external wounds
- An Abrasion – a superficial wound on the surface of the skin that can be caused by the skin brushing against a hard and rough surface.
- A bruise – a wound caused by a cut or tearing of the skin.
- An incision or surgical wound – a wound caused by a cut from a sharp object moving up-down or across, such as a scalpel or razor.
- A gunshot – a wound caused by a bullet. A gunshot wound can have an entry and an exit wound.
- A laceration – a wound caused by a blunt object resulting in irregular tearing of tissue.
- A puncture – a wound caused by a sharp object poking a hole on the skin.
- A stab wound – a wound caused by a sharp object, such as a knife, going in-out of the skin.
How to treat them?
There are many different ways of treating external wounds. The following lists the plants that are used to treat external wounds in traditional medicine.
- Amasende enkawu
Family: Apocynaceae
Scientific name: Tabernaemontana ventricosa
Authority: Hochst. Ex A.D.C.
Synonym: Conopharyngia rutshurensis De Wild., Conopharyngia usambarensis (K.Schum. ex Engl.) Stapf, Conopharyngia ventricosa (Hochst. ex A.DC.) Stapf, Tabernaemontana usambarensis K.Schum. ex Engl.
Zulu names: amasende enkawu, isende lenkawu, indokonde, umcikimanzi, ukhakhamasane, ukhamamasane, umkhandlu, umkhahlu, umkhathu, umhlahlu, unokhahlu, umkhahlwana, umondane,
Other names: forest toad tree, small fruited toad tree,
Description: T. ventricosa is a small to medium-sized tree that can grow up to 15 m in height and occurs in disturbed shady areas of forests and woodlands. It has paired glossy dark green leaves that are clustered near the ends of the branch, a white milky latex, fragrant whitish-yellow flowers, and edible fruits are dark green pods on the outside with an orange pulp that has seed on the inside.
Preparation: The latex is applied externally to promote wound healing.
- Ibhande
Family: Asteraceae
Scientific name: Helichrysum appendiculatum
Authority: (L.f.) Less.
Zulu names: ibhande, indlebe yemvu,
Other names: sheep’s ears, sheep’s ears everlasting, (English) sewejaartjie, skaapoorbossie, (Afrikaans) senkotoana, (Sotho) isicwe, (Xhosa)
Description: H. appendiculatum is a perennial herb that grows in grassland and fynbos habitat. It has greyish oblong-elliptic leaves with a woolly surface, creamy white and yellow flowers, and barrel-shaped achene.
Preparations:
- The leaves are pounded and applied externally for wound dressing.
- The fresh leaves are used as an antiseptic to induce fast healing especially after circumcision to prevent inflammation.
- Crushed leaves are used as a bandage on the sores and wounds caused by hot water or fire.
- Ikhala
Family: Asphodelaceae
Scientific name: Aloe marlothii
Authority: A. Berger
Zulu names: ikhala, imihlaba, inhlaba, inhlabane, umhlaba,
Other names: flat-flowered aloe, mountain aloe, (English) bergaalwyn, boomaalwyn, snuifaalwyn, (Afrikaans)
Description: A. marlothii is a perennial single stemmed evergreen succulent. It has thick and fleshy rosette leaves with spiny reddish-brown margins and flowers that range from yellow through orange to bright red arranged in spikes, and capsule fruit.
Preparation: The leaves are burnt and apply the hot sap or powder that’s applied topically (as a cover or wash)
- Iklolo
Family: Malvaceae
Scientific name: Grewia occidentalis
Authority: L.
Synonyms: Grewia chirindae Baker f., Grewia microphylla Weim.
Zulu names: iklolo, iklolo elimhlophe, ilalanyathi, imanhlele, isinqonqothwane, umjiwana, umlalanyathi, umnqabazi,
Other names: assegai wood, bow wood, button wood, cross berry, (English) kruisbesse, (Afrikaans) umqabaza, unvileni, umqaqoba, (Xhosa)
Description: G. occidentalis is a scrambling shrub (or small tree) that grows along the forest margins, bushveld, grassland, and thicket habitats. It has lanceolate to ovate leaves with finely toothed margins, star-shaped mauve or pink flowers, and four-lobed berry fruits that turn reddish brown to purple when ripe.
Preparations:
- The plant is used to make an infusion that is used externally to wash wounds.
- The bruised bark is soaked in hot water and is used to dress wounds.
- The leaves are made into a poultice that is used to treat head sores that form scabs of fungus.
- The leaves are made into an infusion that is applied on the skin to treat sores.
- Indola
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Scientific name: Gnidia calocephala
Authority: (Meisn.) Gilg
Synonyms: Arthrosolen calocephalus (Meisn.) C.A.Mey., Lasiosiphon calocephalus (C.A.Mey.) Domke, Passerina calocephalus Meisn.
Zulu names: indola, isidikili esimhlophe,
Other names: shrubby white pincushion, (English)
Description: G. calocephala is a perennial shrub found in the grassland. It has oblong-lanceolate leaves, few hairy white flowers in terminal heads, and achene fruits.
Preparation: The roots are pounded into a paste that is applied to open wounds.
- Isifece
Family: Anacardiaceae
Scientific name: Ozoroa obovata
Authority: (Oliv.) R. Fern. & A. Fern.
Zulu names: isifice,
Other names: broad leafed resin tree, (English) breeblaarharpuisboom, (Afrikaans)
Description: O. obovata is a branched shrub that occurs in the bushveld. It has 3 whorl leaves with broad obovate or elliptic leaves, aromatic small creamy white flowers, and kidney-shaped drupe fruit that turns black and wrinkly when ripe.
Preparation: The roots are used to make a cold infusion that’s applied topically (as a wash) to treat wounds
- Ugobho
Family: Gunneraceae
Scientific name: Gunnera perpensa
Authority: L.
Zulu names: imfe yesele, izibu, ugobho, ugobhe, uklenya,
Other names:buttercup, river pumpkin, wild rhubarb, (English) rivierpampoen, wilde ramenas, (Afrikaans) rambala-vhadzimu, shambala-vhadzimu, (Venda) iphuzi lomlambo, igangashane, igobho, (Xhosa)
Description: G. perpensa is a herbaceous perennial that grows near water. It has large leaves with irregularly dentate margins, brownish flowers in spikes, and subspherical fruits.
Preparation: The roots are used to make an infusion that is applied externally to cancerous sores.
To buy ugobho (click): https://imithiyesintu.co.za/shop/ugobho-powder-50g/
- Ugagane
Family: Fabaceae
Scientific name: Dichrostachys cinerea
Authority: (L.) Wight & Arn.
Synonyms: Dichrostachys cinerea (Forssk.) Chiov.
Zulu names: ugagane,
Other names: sickle bush, bell mimosa, Chinese lantern, Kalahari christmas tree, (English) mumhangara, mupangara, musekera, (Shona) ugagu, (Ndebele)
Description: D. cinerea is a spiny small tree (or shrub) that grows in the grassland and woodland habitat. It has bipinnately compound leaves with linear tooblong leaflets , yellow and pink flowers in cylindrical spikes that resemble a Chinese lantern, and twisted brownish pods.
Preparation: The fruits are burnt into a powder that’s applied topically
- Umvongothi
Family: Bignoniaceae
Scientific name: Kigelia africana
Authority: (Lam.) Benth.
Zulu names: umvongothi
Other names: sausage tree, (English) worsboom, (Afrikaans)
Description: K. africana is a medium to large tree that occurs in the bushveld. It has 3-whorled leaves, drooping dark maroon flowers with yellow venation, and hanging sausage-shaped fruits.
Preparation: The fruits are ground to powder and mixed with the R. communis seed oil then applied topically to treat deep wounds. The wounds are first covered with honey before applying the mixture.
To buy umvongothi (click): https://imithiyesintu.co.za/shop/umvongothi-fruit-powder-50g/
- Isiphofu
Family: Annonaceae
Scientific name: Annona senegalensis
Authority: Pers.
Zulu names: isiphofu,
Other names: African custard apple, wild custard apple, wild soursop, abo ibobo, sunkungo, dorgot, (English) wildesuikerappel, (Afrikaans)
Description: A. senegalensis is a small tree (or shrub). It has broadly ovate leaves, cream to yellow flowers, and fleshy fruits that turn yellow to orange when ripe.
Preparation: The roots are used to make a cold infusion that’s applied topically (wash)
Bonus
- Ikomfe
Family: Hypoxidaceae
Scientific name: Hypoxis hemerocallidea
Authority: Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall.
Synonyms: Hypoxis obconica Nel, Hypoxis patula Nel, Hypoxis rooperi T.Moore
Zulu names: inkomfe, inkomfe elikhulu, inongwe, inkomfe, ilabatheka, ilabatheka elimnyama,
Other names: African potato
Description: H. hemerocallidea is a herbaceous perennial that is widespread in Southern Africa and can be found in the grassland habitats. It has strap-like leaves with hairs underneath, star-shaped yellow flowers, and edible roots. The seeds of this plant are stimulated to germinate by fire.
Preparation: The corms are boiled in water (to make a decoction) that is taken orally (as a drink) to treat internal & external sores and wounds, particularly those caused by opportunistic infections. The corms can also be used to make a cold infusion that is taken orally to treat internal sores and wounds.
To buy ikomfe (click): https://imithiyesintu.co.za/shop/african-potato-ikomfe-50g/
- Amangwe
Family: Combretaceae
Scientific name: Terminalia sericea
Authority: Burch. ex DC.
Synonyms: Myrobalanus sericea (Burch. ex DC.) Kuntze, Myrobalanus brosogiana (Engl. & Diels) Kuntze, Terminalia angolensis O.Hoffm., Terminalia brosigiana Engl. & Diels, Terminalia bubu De Wild. & Ledoux, Terminalia fischeri Engl., Terminalia nyassensis Engl.
Zulu names: amangwe, amangwamhlophe, amangwebomvu, umkhonono, imkhononono,
Other names: silver cluster leaf, (English) vaalboom, (Afrikaans) mususu, (Venda)
Description: T. sericea is a small-to-medium sized tree that is native to Southern Africa and occurs in woodland and bushveld habitats, typically growing in sandy soils. It has dark green leaves that are clustered at the end of the branch and have hair underneath. The flowers are small, white, with a strong and unpleasant scent. The fruits are held in clusters as nuts surrounded by a hard ribbed wind with a pale green colour when young and brown or pinkish brown when ripe.
Preparation: The root bark is dried and grounds to a powder that’s applied topically (wash) to treat internal and external sores and wounds.
- Acanthospermum hispidium DC. – The leaves are used to make a cold infusion that is applied topically to treat wounds
- Hugonia orientalis Engl. – The roots are used to make a cold infusion that is applied topically to treat wounds by washing
References and further reading
- De Wet, H., Nzama, V.N. and Van Vuuren, S.F., 2012. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections by lay people in northern Maputaland, KwaZulu–Natal Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 78, pp.12-20.
- De Wet, H. and Ngubane, S.C., 2014. Traditional herbal remedies used by women in a rural community in northern Maputaland (South Africa) for the treatment of gynaecology and obstetric complaints. South African Journal of Botany, 94, pp.129-139.
- Grieve, G. and Grieve, K., 2014. Plants and people in Pondoland. Veld & Flora, 100(2), pp.58-59.
- Koopman, A., 2015. Zulu plant names. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
- Van Meygaarden, G.L. 2007. Guidelines for the formation of a community conservation and eco-tourist site of the KwaNibela Peninsula – KwaZulu-Natal. Dissertation. University of Johannesburg (South Africa).
- Williams, V.L., Wojtasik, E.M. and Witkowski, E.T.F., 2011. Ethno-ecological evidence for Hydnora abyssinica occurring in Johannesburg and Durban traditional medicine markets. South African Journal of Botany, 77(2), pp.268-279.