TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINE IN TRANSKEI

The indigenous people of Transkei depend on natural plant resources fr om the forests for the medicinal, cultural, religious and other needs. This area, predominantly occupied by the Xhosa people, has remained e thnobotanically unexplored until recently. The present survey among th e traditional doctors, herbalists, herb sellers, tribal priests and lo cal people recorded medicinal uses of 26 plants. The firsthand informa tion points out the significance of local plants to tribal groups and people of Transkei.