Aswan Botanical Garden: Natural remedies and aromatic plants

CAIRO - 19 August 2026: People search pharmacies for various chemically synthesized medications and antibiotics, while the botanical garden in Aswan boasts natural remedies for numerous health problems without side effects – fruits of nature.

 

The Aswan Botanical Garden features many beautiful and distinctive plant collections. Among the most impactful and beautiful are the medicinal and aromatic plants found there, valued for their high health benefits.

 

 

These trees, some over 100 years old, possess a distinctive appearance and bear beautiful fruits with numerous and varied health and medicinal benefits.

 

Egypt Today visited the Botanical Garden to explore this collection of plants and historically significant trees, which constitute a complete pharmacy.

 

The "Makhit" tree for treating stomach ulcers: One such tree is the "Makhit," which produces fruit beneficial for treating stomach ulcers and is generally soothing to the stomach.

 

 

Tamarind: The Antibiotic Drink

 

Among the trees in the garden is the tamarind tree, which yields the delicious and medicinal tamarind drink. The fruit grows in the form of brown pods, a specialty of Aswan Governorate.

 

Tamarind is a natural antibiotic for the body, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, we recommended consuming it frequently, both hot and cold. It is also used to treat throat and respiratory ailments.

 

 

The Well-Known Cinnamon Tree

 

The garden also features the distinctive cinnamon tree, which offers numerous health benefits. It is added to food and helps lower blood sugar levels.

 

Cinnamon is extracted from the outer bark of the tree's trunk.

 

 

Ginger: A Complete Pharmacy

 

The garden also includes a ginger tree, considered a complete pharmacy due to its many health benefits. It provides the body with various nutrients and can be consumed as a drink or added to food.

 

 

 

The Cassia Fistula (Cucumber)

 

Among the island's beneficial trees is the Cassia fistula, also known as the Golden Shower tree. This tree is beautiful and boasts distinctive flowers, making it suitable for decoration as well as for its medicinal uses. It is considered a remarkable remedy for stomach and digestive problems.

 

 

 

 

 

The Moringa Tree

 

The Moringa tree is highly valued and used to treat various ailments, including diabetes and high blood pressure. It is often called the "complete healing tree."

 

The original Moringa tree is found in the Botanical Garden and yields a large quantity of fruit and seeds. This tree represents a comprehensive therapeutic breakthrough, used to treat all aspects of the body.

 

 

 

 

History of the Botanical Garden

 

The historic Aswan Botanical Garden continues its role in preserving rare plants and highlighting their scientific, economic, and environmental value.

 

It houses a vast collection of trees and plants that represent a unique natural treasure. The garden is a scientific and tourist destination, attracting researchers, students, and visitors from around the world who come to explore this unique plant diversity.

 

Dr. Amr Mahmoud, Director General of the Aswan Botanical Garden, confirmed that the trees currently in the garden are over 100 years old. This is clearly reflected in the size of their trunks and stems, which have reached remarkable levels of growth and developed rare, natural shapes not commonly seen elsewhere.

 

He pointed out that the Aswan Botanical Garden is located on an island in the middle of the Nile River. It is a world-class open-air botanical museum spanning nearly 18 acres and contains more than 820 species of tropical and subtropical plants, distributed across 27 plant collections.

 

It is considered one of the most prominent tourist, environmental, and scientific destinations in southern Egypt, thanks to its collection of rare trees and plants, some of which are over a century old.