Editing Muti (section)

==Use of Isicakathi in the Eastern Cape==
[[Image:Street "Muti" vendor.jpg|thumb|Street ''muti'' vendor in South Africa]]
''Isicakathi'' is a term that is used by [[Xhosa people]] when referring to plants with supposed pharmacological
and therapeutic properties that are used as medicine for various ailments.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988>{{cite journal |doi=10.4102/abc.v18i1.995 |title=The identification of 'Isicakathi' and its medicinal use in Transkei |journal=Bothalia |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=125–30 |year=1988 |last1=Bolofo |first1=R. N |last2=Johnson |first2=C. T |doi-access=free }}</ref>

The people in the Eastern Cape of South Africa still strongly rely on traditional medicine and believe in its potency as an alternative to western medicine.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> There are various herbs that fall under ''isicakathi'' , used for [[pre-natal]] and [[post-natal]] medicine (although they can also be used for non-pregnancy related health issues).<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> The plants that fall under the ''isicakathi'' category differ according to the districts in the Eastern Cape, hence it is a general term used when referring to traditional medicine.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> There are eleven species of plants that fall under ''isicakathi'', namely ''[[Commelina africana]]'', ''[[Agapanthus praecox]]'', ''[[Chlorophytum comosum]]'', ''[[Ledebouria ovatifolia]]'', ''[[Ranunculus multifidus]]'', ''[[Thunbergia atriplicifolia]]'', ''[[Kohautia amatymbica]]'', ''[[Plantago major]]'', ''[[Gazania linearis]]'', ''[[Helichrysum pedunculatum]]'' and ''[[Senecio coronatus]]''.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> The use of these plants differs according to the various areas/ districts of the Eastern Cape.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> ''Commelina africana'' is used for menstrual problems, pelvic pains and bladder related issues.<ref>{{cite web|title=SANBI.Commelina Africana|url=http://pza.sanbi.org/commelina-africana|work=PlantZAfrica.com}}</ref> ''Agapanthus'' is found in pre-natal and post-natal medicine, which is used by pregnant women.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> ''Chlorophytum comosum'' is used as a protective charm against evil spirits for both mother and child.<ref>Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G. & Cunningham, A.B. 1996. Zulu medicinal plants. An inventory . University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg.{{page needed|date=October 2017}}</ref> ''Ledebouria ovatifolia'' is used for medicinal purposes, including pregnancy, diarrhoea, influenza, backaches, skin irritations and wounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=SANBI.Ledebouria |url=http://pza.sanbi.org/ledebouria-genus |work=PlantZAfrica.com}}</ref> ''Ranunculus multifidus'' is used for epileptic fits in adults, lung problems and used as an emetic.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> ''Kohautia amatymbica'' is also used as an emetic.<ref>{{cite web |work=Prota4u |url=https://www.prota4u.org/database/protav8.asp?g=psk&p=Kohautia+amatymbica+Eckl.+&+Zeyh |title=''Kohautia amatymbica'' Eckl.}}</ref> ''Plantago major'' is used for wounds, inflammations, and eye irritations.<ref>Gaby H et al.[https://books.google.com/books?id=7FJqgQ3_tnUC&pg=PA462 MedicinalPlants,Volume1].</ref> ''Gazania linearis'' is applied on small cuts made on the body close to the joints to protect someone from evil spirits.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> ''Helichrysum pedunculatum'' is used as a dressing after circumcision and to prevent the wound from getting septic.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> ''Senecio coronatus'' is used to get rid of pubic lice.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> Generally, ''isicakathi'' or plants that are regarded to fall under ''isicakathi'' are mostly used by pregnant women and children.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> Thus, it is also used as a protective measure against sorcery during pregnancy.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=12476719 |year=2002 |last1=Abrahams |first1=N |title=Indigenous healing practices and self-medication amongst pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa |journal=African Journal of Reproductive Health |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=79–86 |last2=Jewkes |first2=R |last3=Mvo |first3=Z |doi=10.2307/3583133 |jstor=3583133 }}</ref>

===Isicakathi for pre-natal and post-natal care===
''[[Agapanthus praecox]]'' is one of the plants that falls under ''isicakathi'' used during pregnancy. It is taken orally from the six month of pregnancy until delivery. The plant is put in a container full of water and half a cup of that water is taken orally, twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> It is believed that the plant’s growth determines the health of the unborn baby. The wilting of the plant is regarded as a symbol with regards to the baby's health, usually associated with death.
''Isicakathi'' is widely used to induce easy [[childbirth]].<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> It ensures that excess water is drained, reduces vaginal discharge and placental size.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0277-9536(96)00104-9 |title=Isihlambezo: Utilization patterns and potential health effects of pregnancy-related traditional herbal medicine |journal=Social Science & Medicine |volume=44 |issue=7 |pages=911–924 |year=1997 |last1=Varga |first1=C.A |last2=Veale |first2=D.J.H |pmid=9089914 }}</ref> The plants treat [[high blood pressure]] in both antenatal and postnatal care for women, whilst also preventing constipation.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1590/0001-3765201620150514 |pmid=27556330 |title=RDNA mapping, heterochromatin characterization and AT/GC content of Agapanthus africanus (L.) Hoffmanns (Agapanthaceae) |journal=Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |volume=88 |issue=3 suppl |pages=1727–1734 |year=2016 |last1=Reis |first1=Aryane C |last2=Franco |first2=ANA Luiza |last3=Campos |first3=Victória R |last4=Souza |first4=Flávia R |last5=Zorzatto |first5=Cristiane |last6=Viccini |first6=Lyderson F |last7=Sousa |first7=Saulo M |doi-access=free }}</ref>

''[[Rhoicissus tidentata]]'' is used to induce labour; its root can be used to prepare an [[enema]]. ''[[Erythrina lysistemon]]'' is used to induce labour pains during the childbirth process via pieces of the trunk's bark bound together and infused for the woman to drink. The crushed bulb of ''[[Gunnera perpensa]]'' is used to reduce swelling of the feet by infusing with boiling water and ingesting.<ref name=DlisaniBhat1999>{{cite journal |doi=10.1076/phbi.37.1.32.6316 |title=Traditional Health Practices in Transkei with Special Emphasis on Maternal and Child Health |journal=Pharmaceutical Biology |volume=37 |pages=32–36 |year=2008 |last1=Dlisani |first1=P.B |last2=Bhat |first2=R.B |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===The use of Isicakathi on the baby===
''[[Salvia scabra]]'', mixed with the mother’s milk, is given as medicine to infants. The mixture is given to the baby to ingest every day for two months.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/>
''Isicakathi'' is generally used to induce growth and prevent diseases. It is also used as an alternative to the mother’s milk and to counteract the milk’s sourness.<ref name=BolofoJohnson1988/> The use of ''Agapanthus praecox'' ensures that the baby is strong, whilst preventing bowel problems and crusts on its head.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1155/2017/3075638 |title=Micromorphological Characterization of the Leaf and Rhizome of Agapanthus praecox subsp. Praecox Willd. (Amaryllidaceae) |journal=Journal of Botany |volume=2017 |pages=1–10 |year=2017 |last1=Sharaibi |first1=Olubunmi Josephine |last2=Afolayan |first2=Anthony Jide |doi-access=free }}</ref>

An ointment is used to hasten the parturition of the baby and placenta using the leaves of ''[[Scutia mytina]]''. ''[[Erythrina humeana]]'' is used to heal the umbilical cord of the baby by burning the bark and using the powder to apply on the baby.<ref name=DlisaniBhat1999/>

[[File:Bluelily1900ppx.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Agapanthus praecox]]'' flower]]

[[File:Agapanthus africanus1.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Agapanthus africanus]]'' flower]]