Uzara (Xysmalobium undulatum)
Uzara is the root of Xysmalobium undulatum, a plant native to South Africa. The root has been used for generations in the traditional herbal knowledge of South African peoples, including the Zulu. Uzara is not officially part of the group of plants known as Ubulawu (herbs used in parts of South Africa around dreaming and ancestor rituals), but it is often mentioned alongside them in the smartshop world.
The root contains a group of compounds called cardenolide glycosides, including uzarin, xysmalorin and the aglycones uzarigenin and xysmalogenin. These belong to the same class of substances as the well-known cardiac glycosides; partly because of this, Uzara found its way into the European herbal cabinet in the early twentieth century through German colonial medicine and was registered in Germany as a phytopharmaceutical. This makes Uzara one of the first African herbs to receive formal pharmaceutical recognition in Europe.
Dosage
For the dried root, no fixed, widely accepted dosing guideline exists outside of standardised pharmacy preparations. Start with a small amount, for example a small piece of root in a cup of water, and only build up once you know how you respond to the herb.
Use
Prepare a small piece of the root as a tea: bring water to the boil, add the root and let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain the infusion before drinking. Do not combine Uzara with heart medication or other cardiac glycosides, and consult a doctor or pharmacist if in doubt, because of the cardenolide glycosides in the root.
Storage
Store the root dry, dark and airtight; this keeps the herb at its best quality for longest.
Uzara pairs well with other dream herbs in the Dutch-Smart range, such as Catunaregam spinosa (Dreamnuts) and Devil's Claw. Check out the full dream herbs category for the complete range.
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