Bulbine
Courtesy of Jimmy Symmonds BSc BVSc
www.happinessis.co.za
(visit the Happiness Is site to see if you qualify for free Bulbine seeds!)
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Bulbine should be in everyone’s home. She is indigenous, water wise and can thrive in pretty much any soil. She is an essential herb to have in your animal wellbeing garden.
In herbal medicine, Bulbine is known as a vulnerary. A vulnerary is a plant that helps wounds to heal. Bulbine helps animals heal from minor cuts, scrapes, bites, burns and stings.
If you pick one of the succulent leaves and squeeze it, you will discover it contains a clear slimy sap or gel. Because of the properties of the sap, Bulbine has a natural cooling, soothing, moistening and protective affect on the skin. As such she has many first-aid uses for animals. And she flowers for the bees most of the year. She is naturally good, green and beautiful.
Names for Bulbine
Scientific: Bulbine frutescens
Afrikaans: balsemkopiva, copaiba, geelkatstert, katstert
English: snake flower, cat’s tail, burn jelly plant, stalked bulbine, grass aloe
Sotho: Khomo-ya-Ntsukammele, sehlare-sa-pekane, sehlare-sa-mollo
Tswana: Ibhucu
Xhosa: intelezi, ingelwane
Zulu: ibhucu, ithethe elimpofu
The Latin Vulnus means ‘wound’. Vulnus is also the root of the word ’vulnerable’. Vulnerary herbs help to heal wounds and other vulnerabilities. Cuts, scrapes, knocks, stings, blisters – Bulbine’s succulent leaves can help with them all. She reminds us of our innate invulnerability.
Bulbine sap contains glycoproteins (such as aloctin A and aloctin B). These glycoproteins are also found in Aloe vera and are thought to be partly responsible for Bulbine’s topical healing effects. Bulbine sap, as it dries, forms a naturally flexible cover over the wound, reducing the chances of infection, and preventing the wound from drying out.
Bulbine is indigenous to large parts of South Africa, and she thrives over a wide area. Bulbine is also a common garden plant, and widely available. There are, therefore, no conservation concerns.
When to use Bulbine
First-aid
Bulbine is useful topically for for a wide variety of minor skin lesions in animals, including:
§ cuts
§ grazes
§ rashes
§ insect bites
§ burns
§ ringworm
§ sunburn
How to use Bulbine
Direct - here the sap is used, just as it is, directly on the wound.
1. clean wound
2. break off single leaf
3. squeeze out sap
4. smear gel over wound
5. allow to dry
6. repeat as often as required
Poultice - ideal for larger areas, like a graze.
1. clean wound
2. break off a small number of leaves
3. cut up finely or squeeze out sap
4. spread on clean cloth or gauze swap
5. place over lesion
6. bandage lightly to hold in place
7. replace 2-3 times a day as required
Bulbine is the signature herb for the Herbs for Animals Workshops. Participants in the Herbs for Animals – Module 1 workshop take home Bulbine, along with four other happy herbs. Bulbine is also an ingredient in the first-aid herbal wound cream made during the practical session.
Growing Bulbine
Bulbine is very easy to grow, requiring little water and minimum care. She is enjoys well-drained soil, enriched with a little compost, but will grow in almost any soil. Bulbine likes full sun, but will grow well in semi-shade. Bulbine can be successfully grown indoors, although she will require a light, sunny position.
Bulbine is easily propogated from seed, cuttings or dividing the plant into clumps at the base. Propogation is best done in Spring, although any time of year is possible, especially in sunny climates. New plants can be easily transplanted at the four-leaf stage when rootlets are well established.
In herbal medicine, Bulbine is known as a vulnerary. A vulnerary is a plant that helps wounds to heal. Bulbine helps animals heal from minor cuts, scrapes, bites, burns and stings.
If you pick one of the succulent leaves and squeeze it, you will discover it contains a clear slimy sap or gel. Because of the properties of the sap, Bulbine has a natural cooling, soothing, moistening and protective affect on the skin. As such she has many first-aid uses for animals. And she flowers for the bees most of the year. She is naturally good, green and beautiful.
Names for Bulbine
Scientific: Bulbine frutescens
Afrikaans: balsemkopiva, copaiba, geelkatstert, katstert
English: snake flower, cat’s tail, burn jelly plant, stalked bulbine, grass aloe
Sotho: Khomo-ya-Ntsukammele, sehlare-sa-pekane, sehlare-sa-mollo
Tswana: Ibhucu
Xhosa: intelezi, ingelwane
Zulu: ibhucu, ithethe elimpofu
The Latin Vulnus means ‘wound’. Vulnus is also the root of the word ’vulnerable’. Vulnerary herbs help to heal wounds and other vulnerabilities. Cuts, scrapes, knocks, stings, blisters – Bulbine’s succulent leaves can help with them all. She reminds us of our innate invulnerability.
Bulbine sap contains glycoproteins (such as aloctin A and aloctin B). These glycoproteins are also found in Aloe vera and are thought to be partly responsible for Bulbine’s topical healing effects. Bulbine sap, as it dries, forms a naturally flexible cover over the wound, reducing the chances of infection, and preventing the wound from drying out.
Bulbine is indigenous to large parts of South Africa, and she thrives over a wide area. Bulbine is also a common garden plant, and widely available. There are, therefore, no conservation concerns.
When to use Bulbine
First-aid
Bulbine is useful topically for for a wide variety of minor skin lesions in animals, including:
§ cuts
§ grazes
§ rashes
§ insect bites
§ burns
§ ringworm
§ sunburn
How to use Bulbine
Direct - here the sap is used, just as it is, directly on the wound.
1. clean wound
2. break off single leaf
3. squeeze out sap
4. smear gel over wound
5. allow to dry
6. repeat as often as required
Poultice - ideal for larger areas, like a graze.
1. clean wound
2. break off a small number of leaves
3. cut up finely or squeeze out sap
4. spread on clean cloth or gauze swap
5. place over lesion
6. bandage lightly to hold in place
7. replace 2-3 times a day as required
Bulbine is the signature herb for the Herbs for Animals Workshops. Participants in the Herbs for Animals – Module 1 workshop take home Bulbine, along with four other happy herbs. Bulbine is also an ingredient in the first-aid herbal wound cream made during the practical session.
Growing Bulbine
Bulbine is very easy to grow, requiring little water and minimum care. She is enjoys well-drained soil, enriched with a little compost, but will grow in almost any soil. Bulbine likes full sun, but will grow well in semi-shade. Bulbine can be successfully grown indoors, although she will require a light, sunny position.
Bulbine is easily propogated from seed, cuttings or dividing the plant into clumps at the base. Propogation is best done in Spring, although any time of year is possible, especially in sunny climates. New plants can be easily transplanted at the four-leaf stage when rootlets are well established.