The cancer bush plant has been a cornerstone of traditional healing for the longest time, praised for its extraordinary ability to strengthen the body in the face of illness. While its name might suggest a cancer cure, its true magic lies in its potential to boost immunity, reduce stress, and support patients battling chronic diseases.
“I’ve been using the cancer bush plant for close to five years now. I started using it to regulate my blood pressure, and it’s been a game-changer for me,” shares Deno Makue from Johannesburg.
“The best part is I haven’t used commercial medications ever since. I use it as tea, and I drink a cup three times a day. No flu and good health is what I’ve experienced since using the cancer bush.”
Deno Makue
Massimo Zaccaria from KwaZulu-Natal shares that about 10 years ago, a friend who was struggling with diabetes prompted him to search for natural alternatives. This search led him to discover the cancer bush plant with its remarkable healing properties.
“I have seen firsthand the positive impact of the cancer bush plant on various health issues. A person with feeling stronger and better, menstruation with no more pain, cancer with a better life, a person with painful stomach problems was healed, and it is also helping my family to overcome different sicknesses,” he explains.
Sharing the healing impact
Zaccaria says he prepares it as a tea to get positive results. “People are reporting to feel better with regular use, and I also use it from time to time and achieve good results.”
For Ronel Williams from Johannesburg, the cancer bush plant has transformed her health and the health of those around her.
“In 2012, my father gave me the cancer bush plant for my diabetes. I didn’t believe in it and never touched it. After a few months, I started to use it, and the results were so impressive. I still use it; my friends and family use it, and I started to sell it.
“I sell tea, capsules, and ointments from it. It is an immune booster for colds and flu, diabetes, and arthritis. My family also uses it for high blood pressure, cancer, and stress.”
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Senior horticulturist Minenhle Cele from Durban explains that the cancer bush plant is an indigenous small shrub found in most parts of the country.
“Cancer bush is from the Fabaceae family, which is the seed and pod family. The leaves have a bitter taste, and the fruit is a large and inflated papery pod that is almost transparent.”
Medicinal properties of cancer bush
“It can be used in dry flower arrangements. This plant occurs naturally in the dry parts of the country and even right up to the north of the country, e.g., Botswana and Namibia.”
Cele highlights the plant’s unique common name, cancer bush, derived from its potential cancer-healing properties.
“The plant is one of the most talked about in the ethnobotanical world because it has a strong reputation for curing cancer and being an immune booster in HIV patients,” Cele adds.
“The Khoi San people used it to treat wounds and fevers, while early colonists employed it to treat various ailments, including chickenpox, stomach problems, internal cancers, asthma, TB, bronchitis, rheumatism, liver problems, and diabetes, to name a few.”
While it has been used to treat numerous health issues, Cele emphasises that scientific evidence is lacking. However, preliminary clinical evidence suggests that the plant has direct anti-cancer effects in some cancers and that it’s an immune stimulant.
Cele further describes it as a fast-growing, easy-to-grow shrub that thrives in full sun and various soil types.
“The cancer bush plant generally self-seeds, but if you need to propagate it yourself, you can just soak the seeds in hot water to break dormancy, then plant and sow in autumn or spring in well-drained soil. Using sterile soil with Apron (a.i. metalaxyl) effectively combats fungal infection. “
“Keep your trays warm and damp but not wet. Germination should occur in two to three weeks, then the seedlings can be transplanted as soon as they can be handled.”
He adds that the plant is short-lived as a garden plant but makes a beautiful temporary border.
“I hope more research can be done on this particular plant since it’s a super plant with a plethora of benefits.”
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