What are the benefits of Portulacaria afra?
The leaves are chewed as a treatment for sore throat and mouth infections while the astringent juice is used for soothing ailments of the skin such as pimples, rashes and insect stings. The juice is also used as an antiseptic and as a treatment for sunburn. It is a favoured food of black rhinos, elephants and kudus. The good news is that we can eat it too. With a slightly lemony taste, Spekboom leaves are juicy and full of moisture, making them the perfect ‘pick-me-up’ during a long day’s hiking in the arid Karoo.Sucking a leaf to quench thirst, treat exhaustion, dehydration and heatstroke. Using crushed leaves to provide relief for blisters. Chewing leaves can treat a sore throat and mouth infections.Crushed spekboom leaves are applied as a balm and antiseptic for blisters and sores, and chewing the leaf is known to relieve sore throats and mouth infections. Like many of South Africa’s succulents, the Spekboom not only survives the rough elements of the wild but actually thrives on it.