Identity & plant part
This woody aromatic shrub has hairy, veined leaves and small pale flower clusters. SANBI lists names including lemon bush, umsuzwane and fever tea. The smell is useful context, but it is not sufficient for identification. [Sources]
Traditional knowledge
Leaf preparations are recorded in traditional use for respiratory symptoms. Some accounts include mixtures with Artemisia afra. Evidence about a single species should not be transferred to an unspecified mixture. [Sources]
How the medicine is extracted
An infusion dissolves a selection of leaf constituents into water. Distillation, by contrast, separates volatile components and produces a concentrated oil. Neither the amount of leaf nor its aroma reliably predicts the chemical concentration. Product documentation should identify the plant, part and method rather than simply saying “herbal extract”. [Sources]
Scientific evidence & limitations
The botanical account is not a controlled trial of a respiratory medicine. The common name “fever tea” is a name, not evidence of an effect on body temperature or infection. Extraction chemistry provides a way to compare preparations, not a clinical recommendation. [Sources]
Safety & suitability
Do not inhale smoke from burning plants or swallow a concentrated essential oil. Fever or breathing problems that persist or worsen need assessment. [Sources]
Conservation & knowledge holders
Cultivation and correct botanical identification support a more traceable supply than mixed, unlabelled dried leaves. [Sources]
Sources & credits
Video resources
KTN News Kenya: KEMRI medicinal-plant research (23 March 2026). This is related research news, not a demonstration for this species.
Search YouTube for Lippia javanica. These search results are uncurated; check identity, credentials and evidence before relying on a video.