Charles Henry Stevens, an Englishman with lung disease, was cured of his lung disease in 1897 by a native doctor in South Africa, Mike Chichitse (Kijitse). He tried to introduce the remedy in England, published in Secret remedies. A medical and legal dispute began, which lasted for decades, see Lit stelle 5.
In 1930 Dr. Adrien Sechehaye published a study on 800 patients for the treatment of tuberculosis. Phytotherapeutically, Umckaloabo is used today to treat colds with respiratory symptoms.
Phytotherapeutically used are the dried, underground parts (Pelargonium root - Pelargonii radix).