Suurvy: a little plant, a mother’s care and a childhood memory

[letter to the editor]

Platinum Weekly newspaper | Rustenburg – Some childhood memories come back at the sight of a familiar plant. For me, suurvy brings back memories of my mother treating our mouth sores with its leaf juice – and the relief I remember afterwards. There was something comforting about that simple act: Mom knew what to reach for, and help was growing in the garden. Known as sour fig or Carpobrotus edulis, suurvy is a hardy South African succulent with fleshy, triangular leaves. It makes an attractive, water-wise groundcover, but its presence in our gardens and at local malls tells a story that goes beyond gardening. Its use for mouth and throat complaints is part of a documented tradition. The South African National Biodiversity Institute records the leaf juice’s traditional use for these purposes. That childhood memory belongs to a much wider story of knowledge passed down through generations. However, always speak to a healthcare professional before using plant remedies in a child’s mouth. We can treasure the remedies our mothers knew while taking care with how we pass that knowledge on. Sometimes a small plant holds a whole childhood’s worth of memories — and a reminder of the loving hands that cared for us.