| Dedicated to the Co-existence of People and Nature in Africa | |
|
|
MAGIC PLANTS
LELECHWA by AFRICA BOTANICA Used since time immemorial by the tribe of Maasai in Kenya as a natural deodorant, lelechwa (= The white bush) is a shrub that can reach the height of 10/12 feet and grows in poor murram red soil on the Highlands of the Kenyan Great Rift Valley. Suited to the prevailing dry conditions of the area, Lelechwa is unpalatable to wildlife , has no natural pests, and does not need to be protected... Indeed, lelechwa was up to now widely considered an invasive”weed”, practically impossible to get rid of .  The Lelechwa plant Conscious of the fact that every living thing has a purpose, and determined to prove that the environment of Africa has it in itself to survive out of the creative, ecological and sustainable use of its natural resources,- through The Gallmann Memorial Foundation (GMF), a trust she started to honour the memory of her husband and son, who both died tragically in Kenya- she initiated research into any possible use of such hardy plant. With permission by the Kenyan ministry of environment, there she began a series of stunning and revolutionary with the team of the foundation’s botanists. It is now proven scientifically that lelechwa’s roots do not die even if the plant is cut, but that indeed the plant thrives by regular harvesting, making its use sustainable. The dried roots have an exquisite grain that make them suitable for carvings and crafts. The stems make first class firewood and slow burning high grade charcoal, an impressive discovery, since cheap wood- fuel from a renewable source of energy has long been Africa’s dream: lelechwa is therefore the eco-friendly alternative that allows the protection of forest trees in a country where 80% of the population must still rely on wood fuel for all domestic uses. Kuki also observed that wild animals seemed to favour thick groves of lelechwa and chose to sleep below it and rubbing against its aromatic leaves, without eating them. Indeed, during wildlife-protection operations in Ol ari Nyiro, performed by the GMF in the early ‘80, she noticed how the skin of rhino , elephants and buffalo was totally unblemished and free from the usual infected scratches, septic wounds, fungal infections and parasites that are common in wild animals elsewhere in Kenya. There she began to extract by steam distillation the essential oil of lelechwa, and to analyze it.  Ngigi in the Laboratory Lelechwa water can be safely used on pets and horses: it improves considerably their skin and coats, and acts as an insect repellent. A line of cosmetics with medicinal properties based on lelechwa is now being developed that includes face gel, skin toners, bath foams and soaps, shampoos, body lotions, massage oil etc, under the distinct label Africa Botanica® . Research into making charcoal briquettes and paper out of the leaves once the oil is extracted are now underway, and this final utilzation will make of a plant up to now considered practically useless, a sustainable natural resource and a great success story. The project benefits the local Kenyan communities by employing large numbers of labour, particularly women harvesters. Several other common plants are at this time being tested by the Gallmann Memorial Foundation for eco-friendly use, with the assistance of herbalists of the Pokot , Turkana and Samburu tribes and the Herbarium of the National Museums of Kenya, in respect of traditional tribal users rights. LELECHWA products by AFRICA BOTANICA have organic certification by Ecocert |
|
Home
