8-Day Healing Bush - a little bush with big powers!

Lobostemon fruticosus is an amazing indigenous plant belonging to the Borage and Comfrey family. It is a common little shrub in the Cape Floristic Region, with tough hairy leaves and flowers that range from pink through purples to blues, often on the same bush and in the same flower at the same time.
Chew some fresh leaf and you will see why it is also called 'Pleisterbos' - a gummy mass will quickly form!
 Other names include Agtdaegeneesbossie and Douwurmbos. Said to heal any condition in 8 days, this plant has properties that are typical of the family - it is soothing and cooling and moisturising to the skin and is a wonderful wound healer. I make a fantastic rich cream from the plant and it can be used for all manner of skin problems. Lobostemon cream or gel is perfect for dry eczemas and psoriasis, helping to cool and moisturise the skin. It is a soothing application for sunburn, so common at this time of the year, and indeed can help repair sun damage and even help precancerous skin changes if used consistently. It is also helpful for fungal skin conditions such as ringworm or tinea versicolor and may be used by people with seborrhoeic dermatitis. Its wound healing properties make it an excellent application for cuts, grazes and minor wounds as well as bumps and bruises. It has very similar properties to the related famous wound healer Comfrey (Symphytum), but is indigenous and easy to grow in a waterwise garden. Internally, Lobostemon may have applications as a lung medicine, for soothing and healing the stomach (e.g. ulcers) and may act as an anti-depressant, but more research is necessary before I could recommend it in these conditions.  Look out for Lobostemon - a perfect plant for our outdoor South African lifestyle....!http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/plimagesklm/lobostemfrut.jpg