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Plants & Herbs

The Khemisi database is a living archive of indigenous plant medicines, mapping the connections between root, leaf, and seed. Plants hold memory, speaking through soil and fungi networks. This open-source database gathers their stories, honoring their role in healing, resistance, and communication.

More than ritual, the archive explores the broader web of life, acknowledging the delicate balance between the sacred and the extractive. Khemisi bridges the material and immaterial, recognizing plants as companions in resilience and remembrance. This is an invitation to listen, learn, and reconnect with the quiet knowledge carried by the land.

  • Iningizimu (Dianthus)  

    Dianthus (pinks/carnations) are beloved flowering plants with traditional medicinal uses, particularly in South Africa. Beyond their ornamental beauty, these flowers hold cultural significance in healing practices and ceremonies, where they're associated with love and spiritual harmony.

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  • Isidala Esikhulu (Lobelia coronopifolia)  

    Lobelia coronopifolia ("Isidala Esikhulu") is a sacred plant in Xhosa traditional medicine, valued for its role in spiritual healing and divination practices in South Africa's Eastern Cape region. Traditional healers use this revered herb to connect with ancestral wisdom and facilitate spiritual guidance.

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  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)  

    Ashwagandha, a sacred herb in Ayurvedic tradition, derives its Sanskrit name from its horse-like aroma and strength-giving properties. Gifted to humanity by the god Indra, this revered adaptogenic herb has been used for centuries in India for spiritual enlightenment, warrior strength, and overall vitality.

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  • African Dream Root (Silene Capensis)  

    African Dream Root is a sacred plant used by indigenous African cultures for dream enhancement, divination, and spiritual ceremonies. Traditional healers have long employed it to facilitate connections with ancestors and the spirit world.

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  • Kola nut (Cola acuminata)  

    In Igboland in the east of Nigeria, the people say, Onye wetalu oji, wetalu ndu, He who brings kola, brings life.

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  • Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)  

    This aromatic perennial grass, native to Nigeria, is prized for its antiinflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Its leaves are used in traditional medicine and cooking, particularly in teas and soups.

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  • Mukanya Kude (Vachellia xanthophloea)  

    Mukanya Kude, a sacred acacia in South African cultures, symbolizes wisdom and immortality. Believed to house ancestral spirits, this majestic tree is planted near sacred sites, and its bark is used in spiritual rituals.

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  • Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)  

    Rooibos, or Aspalathus linearis, is a unique plant native to the Cedarberg mountains of South Africa. It has been used for centuries by the Khoisan people for its medicinalproperties and pleasant taste.

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  • elmoschus esculentus)

    Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)  

    In the Western world, okra is often referred to as the vegetable marshmallow and originally comes from the highlands of East Africa, Ethiopia. From there, the miraculous pod has made its way to Asia and West Africa. Nowadays, it is mainly exported from India and Nigeria all over the world. Even in ancient Egypt, it occupied an important place in the daily diet, so that even today it is indispensable in the cuisine of many African and Mediterranean countries

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Ready to contribute your knowledge?

Feel free to contact us via email or fill out our contact form to discuss the details for your contribution. We’re excited to work with you and share plant wisdom with the world.

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