At the intersection of ancient healing and cutting-edge science stands La-Africa Soother, a natural anti-inflammatory gel developed by Professor Keolebogile Motaung, a biomedical scientist and founder of Global Health Biotech. Designed to relieve muscle and joint pain, the product is the result of years of collaboration between scientists and traditional healers.
The journey began with a story: a fractured hand healed unexpectedly after treatment from a traditional healer. Intrigued, Motaung, a Full Professor and leading figure in musculoskeletal research, set out to validate the science behind traditional remedies.
“Traditional healers often face skepticism because their methods haven’t been scientifically proven,” Motaung explained.
“I wanted to bridge that gap.”
With support from healer Dr Johannah Mpilu and doctoral students Dr Makwese Maepa and Dr Mapula Razwinani, Motaung founded Global Health Biotech at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria. Between 2015 and 2017, the team identified a plant used for pain relief and validated its anti-inflammatory properties. By 2019, La-Africa Soother had its first sale—just before COVID-19 disrupted operations.
Unlike conventional pain relievers, the ointment is affordable, plant-based, and culturally resonant.
“People are tired of expensive, chemical-heavy products,” says Motaung.
“This is about reconnecting people with nature—safely and scientifically.”
Now sold online, the gel is backed by patents in both South Africa and Europe. The company is scaling up and developing new products, including a plant-based morphogenetic factor to regenerate bone and cartilage tissue—currently undergoing animal studies.
Motaung advises others in the traditional medicine space that they must test and prove their product(s) before bringing it to market.
“Evidence is key.”
Through La-Africa Soother, Professor Motaung is not just easing pain—she’s transforming how we value indigenous knowledge in global health innovation.
Editor’s note: This story highlights how traditional African medicine, when validated through rigorous science, can offer culturally resonant, affordable healthcare solutions. With rising demand for natural products and increasing skepticism of pharmaceuticals, La-Africa Soother represents innovation rooted in both heritage and evidence. It’s a powerful case of African-led biotech solving local health problems with global relevance.
Description: Developed by Professor Keolebogile Motaung, La-Africa Soother is a South African-made, plant-based anti-inflammatory gel that blends indigenous healing knowledge with biomedical research—offering a natural alternative to chemical-heavy pain relief.
Editor: Thato Mahlangu
Project manager: Do4SA
