Muthi and Myths from Africa

Muthi and Myths from Africa presents fifty-two compelling tales leading
readers on a year-long journey of discovery across the African continent,
tracking the ancient grail of traditional African medicine or muthi. With one
story for each week of the year, this richly illustrated book captures many
stories from Africa’s oral tradition, committed to paper for the first time.
The ancient African people were the first aromatherapists, innately
understanding plants’ effects on body, mind and soul. Across thousands of
years, countless African lineages have used plant medicines for healing, always
with ancestral blessings. This book endeavours to illuminate the deep history
of fifty-two indigenous medicinal plants before this precious knowledge is lost
forever.

Focusing on Southern Africa—a hotspot of cultural and botanical diversity—
the authors hope readers will experience Africa’s magnetism, mystery and
wisdom. Unlike the recorded healing knowledge of India or China, little
of Africa’s healing history has been documented, making this collection
particularly valuable.

Through these stories about prominent indigenous plant cures, readers
gain deeper understanding of themselves and humanity whilst preserving
irreplaceable traditional knowledge.

Also available in Afrikaans as Muti en Mites uit Afrika.