Cancer Bush – 10 Seeds

Cancer Bush (Lessertia frutescens)Seeds.
Common names: sutherlandia, cancer bush, balloon pea (Eng.); umnwele(Xhosa & Zulu); kankerbos, blaasbossie, blaas-ertjie, eendjies, gansiekeurtjie, klappers, hoenderbelletjie (Afr.)

It is a much-respected and long-used medicinal plant that is also an attractive garden plant, and has been cultivated in gardens for many years for its fine form, striking color and luminous flowers. It was previously known as Sutherlandia frutescens.

This attractive, soft-wooded shrub, grows to a height of 0.5 to 1 m. The leaves are pinnately compound, the leaflets 4-10 mm long, grey-green in color, giving the bush a silvery appearance. They have a very bitter taste.

The plant occurs naturally throughout the dry parts of southern Africa — in Western Cape and up the west coast as far north as Namibia and into Botswana, and in the western Karoo to Eastern Cape. It is also found in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. It shows remarkable variation within its distribution.

Lessertia frutescens has many common names. It has become widely known as sutherlandia, The name cancer bush, kankerbos, comes from its reputation as a cure for cancer. The names balloon-pea, blaasbossie or blaas-ertjie (meaning bladder-bush or bladder-pea) all refer to the inflated, bladder-like fruits.

Cancer Bush Benefits

• The original inhabitants of the Cape, the Khoi San and Nama people, used it mainly as a decoction for the washing of wounds and took it internally to bring down fevers.
• The early colonists regarded it as giving successful results in the treatment of chicken pox, stomach problems, and in the treatment of internal cancers.
• It is known to have been used in the treatment of eye troubles, the eyes being bathed with a decoction of the plant.
• It is also used in the treatment of mental and emotional stress, including irritability, anxiety and depression and is used as a gentle tranquilizer.
• It is said to be a useful bitter tonic and that a little taken before meals will aid digestion and improve the appetite. It is considered to be a good general medicine.
• Cancer patients, as well as TB and AIDS patients, lose weight and tend to waste away. This plant dramatically improves the appetite, and wasted patients start to gain weight.
• It is also known to improve energy levels and gives an enhanced sense of well-being.

Growing Cancer Bush

Indoor Sowing: Spring.

Direct Sowing: Spring and Autumn

• Lessertia frutescens is fast growing and easy to grow, but short-lived as a garden subject.
• It is a tough, hardy plant that does well in full sun and tolerates all soil types.
• It occurs both in summer and winter rainfall regions, and is quite drought-tolerant so does not require much watering.
• Sow Cancer Bush seeds in autumn or spring in well-drained soil.
• Germination is improved if seeds are left to soak for about 4 hours or overnight in water hot enough for you to put your hand in.
• When growing it in containers, make sure that it is well drained and don’t over-water. The plant is also quite pest-resistant.
• Cancer Bush plants reseeds themselves readily.
• It makes interesting temporary filler in the mixed border, rockery or shrubbery, especially if it is planted in groups or en masse.
• It is also a good contrast foliage plant against a green backdrop and can be used effectively to punctuate a soft landscape planting.
• It is also a must for the herb garden. It grows well in containers, and can be used as a temporary decoration for the patio or courtyard.
• Because they are fast and tough, they also work quite well as pioneers in a new garden, where they give cover and color while the slower growing perennials get going.