Aether African Potato Tincture 30ml

Description

The incorrectly used name ‘African Potato’ was most likely introduced by the media in early 1997, when the hype around this plant arose, possibly after the Afrikaans “Afrika-patat”, since the tuber resembled a ‘patat’ or sweet potato. However, it is a corm (compressed underground stem, developing vertically) and not a tuber, like the potato, developing horizontally

This amazing grass species has been used extensively by the many tribes of South Africa, as well as neighbouring countries.

Inyanga’s and Sangoma’s use infusions of the corm to treat dizziness and bladder infections, and decoctions are given as tonics or applied to burns – it is also a go-to for immune support and sinus related issues. With modern research we can see that anti-cancer, anti-HIV and anti-inflammatory activity are ascribed to this plant’s vast array of phytochemicals. African potato contains several active ingredients that are of interest, including a nor- lignan glycoside called hypoxoside, rooperol and beta-sitosterol, it also has a high sterol and sterolin content.

Once in the body, the chemical hypoxoside is converted into its aglycone – rooperol, a potent antioxidant. Rooperol has several biological activities, it is antimutagenic and cytotoxic to cancer cells, and ongoing research into hypoxis shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anticonvulsant and anti-cancer activity. We also know that this small grass can help in the treatment of benign prostate hypertrophy because of the activity of sitosterols which are ascribed to inhibition of 5α – reductase which decreases binding of dihydrotestosterone within the prostate.

Sterols and sterolins have been shown to be beneficial at enhancing an under-active immune system. Research has shown that these chemicals appear to alert the immune system to produce more CD4 – T cells – lymphocytes which are then made available to destroy invading viruses and bacteria which cause bodily harm.

Because of African potato’s success in treating many ailments, this plant is fast becoming over harvested in the wild. We create hydro-ethanolic extracts with ethically harvested wild African potato corm. Our powdered African potato is created with grown plants to minimize the effect on rapid declining reserves.