Eco-Psyc Journal 4 - Medicine Plant

Today, I found myself lost in thought about Buchu, that fascinating plant from the Cape Region.

Buchu, with its round or oval leaves (depending on the species - Agathosma betulina or Agathosma crenulata), seems to hold within it the essence of an entire culture. As I read about its history, I couldn't help but feel a recognition to the San and Khoi peoples who have revered this plant for generations.

What strikes me most is how integral Buchu was to their daily lives. It wasn't just a medicinal plant; it was a spiritual companion, a protector, a cleanser of body and soul. I try to imagine what it must have been like to carry dried Buchu leaves as a natural deodorant or to use them in healing rituals. There's something so pure and harmonious about that relationship with nature.

The more I learn about Buchu, the more I realize how different the Khoisan perspective on healing is from our modern, Western view. For them, there was no separation between medicine and fragrance, between physical and spiritual healing. It's a holistic approach that we seem to have lost along the way.

It's fascinating to trace Buchu's journey from indigenous remedy to global commodity. When European settlers first encountered it in the 17th century, they couldn't have imagined how far it would travel. Now it's in perfumes, skincare products, and herbal supplements worldwide. Part of me is glad that more people can benefit from this remarkable plant, but another part worries about the commercialization of something so sacred.

As I sit here,drinking .a cup of Buchu and Roobis tea with fresh local Fynbos Honey. It invites me to inhale the power of scent and its ability to heal, to transform, to connect us to something greater than ourselves. The Khoisan belief in Buchu's ability to "open people up" to spiritual energy resonates with me on a deep level. In our modern world, filled with synthetic fragrances and mass-produced medicines, have we lost touch with this profound connection between scent and healing?

Reference

Brendler, T., and Abdel-Tawab, M., (2022). Buchu (Agathosma betulina and A. crenulata): Rightfully Forgotten or Underutilized? Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.813142

Low, C. H. (2007). Different Histories of Buchu: Euro-American Appropriation of San and Khoekhoe Knowledge of Buchu Plants. Environment and History, 13(3), 333–361. https://doi.org/10.3197/096734007X228309