Cancer Bush: The Resilient Shrub Prized for Immune Support and Traditional Healing

Common Name(s): Cancer Bush, Kankerbos (Afrikaans), Insiswa (Zulu), Phetola (Tswana), Lerumo Lamadi (North Sotho)

Scientific Name: Lessertia frutescens (syn. Sutherlandia frutescens)

Plant Type: Evergreen to semi-deciduous shrub

Family: Fabaceae (legume family)

Origin and Endemism: Endemic to southern Africa, primarily South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and parts of Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Natural Distribution: Widespread in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and parts of Gauteng and Limpopo in South Africa. Grows in a variety of habitats from coastal dunes to inland arid areas.

Habitat & Growing Conditions: Dry fynbos, karoo, savanna, and disturbed areas. Extremely drought-resistant and fast-growing; prefers full sun and well-drained, sandy or rocky soils. Tolerates poor soils and coastal conditions.

Physical Description: Compact shrub 0.5–2 m tall with silvery-green, pinnate leaves (soft and slightly hairy). Bright red to orange pea-like flowers in clusters, followed by inflated, papery seed pods. The whole plant has a bitter taste when crushed and a characteristic herbal aroma.

Ecological Role: Nitrogen-fixing legume that improves soil fertility. Flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Leaves and pods provide browse for some herbivores. Resilient pioneer species in disturbed or arid landscapes.

Reproduction & Lifespan: Flowers mainly in spring and summer; pollinated by bees. Produces abundant seeds that germinate readily after rain. Fast-growing and relatively short-lived (several years to a decade) but regenerates quickly from seed.

Human Uses & Cultural Significance: One of the most important and widely used medicinal plants in southern African traditional medicine. Leaves and stems are brewed as a bitter tea or taken as a tincture for:

• Immune support and general wellness
• Cancer (traditional use for internal cancers; modern interest in anti-proliferative effects)
• HIV/AIDS support (as an immune booster and to reduce side effects)
• Diabetes, inflammation, rheumatism, and stomach ailments
• Colds, flu, and respiratory issues

Rich in amino acids (including L-canavanine), flavonoids, and saponins. Used by healers across Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, and other communities. Now studied scientifically and available as supplements.

Conservation Status and Threats: Not currently listed as threatened on a global scale (Least Concern in many assessments), but wild harvesting for medicinal use has increased pressure in some areas. Easy to cultivate, which helps reduce demand on wild populations.

Fun Facts / Did You Know? • Extremely bitter taste — traditionally taken as a strong tea despite the flavour. • One of the few South African plants promoted for HIV support in the early 2000s. • Seed pods look like small inflated balloons. • Fast-growing and drought-hardy — ideal for arid gardens and restoration. • Contains high levels of the amino acid L-canavanine, which has been linked to its traditional anticancer reputation.

Best Places to See It in the Wild: Fynbos and karoo regions of the Western and Northern Cape (South Africa), along roadsides and in disturbed areas, or in botanical gardens like Kirstenbosch (Cape Town).