The Fever Tree or Acacia xanthophloea.

The genus name Acacia is derived from the greek word acantha meaning spine, thorn or prickle and the species name xanthophloea is derived from the greek words xanthos meaning yellow and phloios (phloea) meaning bark.

Indigenous to southern Africa it primarily grows in Zimbabwe and South Africa. It favours low lying areas where annual rains accumulate, this trait in combination with its distinctive yellow bark convinced early explorers that it was the cause of their malarial fevers. Hence it's English name Fever Tree.

The Acacia genus in general is known for its Alkaloid (e.g. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and N-methyltryptamine (NMT, and sometime Cyanogenic Glycoside (enzyme catalysed hydrogen cyanide production) content. The productions of these compounds and others have given the Acacia genus a very wide ancestral spiritual mythology base. DMT, if ingested produces intense hallucinations and hydrogen cyanide in even small quantities can kill humans and livestock. This being said I have yet to read research revealing these qualities in Acacia xanthophloea, but it does add to the psychological/spiritual properties for the traditional medicine practitioner/user rooted in ancestral mythology.

Mooka-kwena (Northern Sotho), UmHlosinga (Zulu), Nkelenga (Tsonga), Munzhelenga (Venda) or Acacia xanthophloea is a popular traditional medicinal ingredient. It rates at six out of a top two hundred medicinal ingredients traded and sold in annually in South Africa. It is the bark that is primarily used in traditional medicinal preparations and functions as an emetic (induces nausea), for low fevers and eye infections. It also serves as a spiritual ingredient in various preparations for psychological/spiritual conditions. Like much of traditional medicine the complete uses of Acacia xanthophloea are shrouded in the traditional healing practice, and those mentioned should be assumed to be the tip of the iceberg. More recently at San Diego State University graduate students began researching the bark, roots, and leaves after discovering a possible connection toward curing breast cancer.

In southern Africa, the Acacia xanthophloea bark is widely available at any market stall that sells or trades in traditional medicinal ingredients. Like so many unique species all over the world used in traditional medicine there is a pressing need to interview and learn from traditional healers. To record, catalogue, and perform chemical breakdowns before this precious knowledge is lost through climatic and cultural changes.

Learn more about this author, Ivor W. Hartmann.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Healing qualities of a fever tree?
We want to hear your view. Write now!