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Sarcostemma viminale - Caustic Vine
Cynanchum viminale is a leafless succulent plant in the milkweed family. The species is native to West Africa, the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific region. The species' natural range extends from South Africa throughout much of Africa and the Middle East to India, Indochina, Southern China, Indomalaya and into Meganesia. The species is also found on several Indian Oceans islands including Mauritius, Réunion and the Seychelles.
In keeping with its wide distribution, the species is known by a range of common names, including caustic-creeper,caustic bush, sacred soma, soma, rou shan hu, Rapunzel plant, liane calle and kitupa.
The plant has been used a traditional medicine throughout its range to treat a range of conditions, including sores and wounds, smallpox, eye infections, diarrhoea, intestinal and skin parasites and insufficient milk production. The aerial parts, roots and latex of the plant are all used for medicine, and the method of use various from ingestion of plant parts, drinking a decoction of the plant, application of the sap to affected parts, exposure to smoke form the burning plant or placing patients onto bedding made from the plant. Care is usually required because of the poisonous and caustic nature of the sap, however in some locales toxixity is considered low, at least for part of the year.
