Lion's Tail

Description:

Leonotis leonurus, also known as Lion's Tail and Wild Dagga, is a plant species in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. The plant is a broad-leaf evergreen large shrub native to South Africa and southern Africa, where it is very common.It is known for its medicinal and mild psychoactive properties. The shrub grows 3 to 6 ft (1 to 2 m) tall by 1.5 to 3.5 feet (0.46 to 1.1 m) wide. The medum-dark green 2–4 inches (5.1–10 cm) long leaves are aromatic when crushed. The plant has tubular orange flowers in tiered whorls, typical to the mint family, that encircle the square stems. They rise above the foliage mass during the summer season, with flowering continuing into winter in warmer climates.

Habitat:

native to Africa. Grown in California as an ornamental plant because of its beautiful orange flowers.

Notes:

Leonotis leonurus has long been used in African traditional medicine as a treatment for fevers, headaches, dysentery, flu, chest infections, epilepsy, constipation, delayed menstruation, intestinal worms, spider bites, scorpion stings, hypertension and snakebites. Externally, it is often used for hemorrhoids, eczema, skin rashs and boils. Leonotis leonurus can enhance the effects of blood pressure medications and other medications. Research shows that Leonotis leonurus can be used to help benefit people with anxiety and depression due to its calming effects. It helps regulate the dopamine section of the brain for people who may have irregular dopamine release. One experimental animal study suggests that "the aqueous leaf extract of Leonotis leonurus possesses antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties; thus lending pharmacological credence to folk usage of the herb in the management and/or control of painful, arthritic, and other inflammatory conditions, as well as for adult-onset, type-2 diabetes mellitus in some communities of South Africa." Another experimental study indicated that in high doses, lion's tail can cause changes in organs, red blood cells, white blood cells and other important bodily functions.