What is Intelezi
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`Intelezi' is a Nguni word for a fusion of herbs used for protective and cleansing purposes.
Krige (1965:329) identifies intelezi as "the generic name for all medicinal charms, the object of which is to counteract evil by rendering its causes innocuous". Intelezi is also a collective name for a variety of sprinkling charms. It is a special mixture of plant parts that is put into a container with cold water and used to sprinkle around the homestead for protection. It can also be boiled and used for bathing (but not eating).
Some plants are used as intelezi for their virtues to keep evil and misfortune away, calm fears, defeat rivals, prevent illness and bad luck, keep thieves away and shape the future.
Intelezi is a medicine said to possess the ability to render the evil of sorcery ineffective.
Certain plants are also added to intelezi mixtures to chase away snakes and pests.
Small containers containing intelezi are sometimes worn around the neck.
(The naturally hollowed out Dream-Seed Necklace is a perfect container for intelezi to be worn around the neck.)
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Amayeza esiXhosa :
The term amayeza esiXhosa can be directly translated to ‘Xhosa medicine’ although it incorporates far more than purely medicinal plant material.
In the Eastern Cape, up to 30% of plant species traded are used exclusively for cultural purposes, including ritual and spiritual requirements. The most commonly encountered use is that of iyeza lokuhlamba, meaning ‘medicine for washing’, whereby various plant species, called intelezi, are used as a ritual body wash to achieve health, wealth and good fortune, as well as to counteract misfortune such as disease, poverty, crime, jealousy and evil spirits etc.
Intelezi plants :
Although iNtelezi plants have been described as magical charms, protective medicines, or medico-magical plants with purely symbolic value they are nevertheless important ingredients of traditional medicine.
iNtelezi plants are used for culturally related problems or ritual requirements. These include, primarily, for washing the body (iYeza lokuhlamba), spraying (ukuTshiza), and fumigating (ukuGxhotha) the home or specific objects, and steaming the body or face (ukuFutha) as counteractive and protective medicines.
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Pure Intelezi Mixture :
(This is a Zulu sprinkling mixture to be mixed with water or placed into a necklace,
and is absolutely not for consumption.)
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