Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat various respiratory problems in rural areas of KwaDlangezwa, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Indigenous knowledge has long been crucial for health and healing, significantly impacting healthcare in areas with limited access to conventional treatments. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasised the importance of this knowledge, particularly regarding medicinal plants. Given the ongoing challenge of communicable respiratory diseases, there is a pressing need to document this indigenous knowledge. This study aimed to explore and document indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat respiratory problems within the KwaDlangezwa region. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 100 participants selected based on their willingness to contribute, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and quantitative analysis. The study revealed that 99% of participants had knowledge of medicinal plants for treating respiratory diseases. A total of 34 plant species from 23 families were identified for the treatment of 16 respiratory problems. The Asteraceae family was the most noted family. The five most frequently cited species were Tetradenia riparia , Lippia javanica , Eucalyptus spp ., Melia azedarach , and Aloe marlothii . Berkheya speciosa , Carpobrotus dimidiatus , Diospyrus galpinii, Eucomis bicolor , Hypoxis argentea , Phoenix reclinata , Searsia pentheri , Solanum campylacanthum , and Vernicia fordii were recorded for the first time to treat respiratory problems. Additionally, three Zulu vernacular names (ucukudwane, umgwaqeni, and umanqandisi) were found to be undocumented in existing literature. This research highlights the wealth of indigenous knowledge present in KwaDlangezwa regarding medicinal plants for respiratory treatment, emphasising the need for ongoing preservation and documentation of this indigenous knowledge.