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In East Africa a root infusion is drunk to cure dizziness and headache and it is also used as an aphrodisiac or to treat venereal diseases. A root infusion is drunk, fresh roots are chewed and the wound washed with it to treat snakebites. The Luo people of Kenya drink decoctions and infusions of leaves, bark and roots as a cure for stomach-ache and diarrhoea. Chewing a piece of stem helps to overcome a dry cough. The ash of burned leaves is taken as an antidote for poison. The Dorobo people of northern Kenya chew the leaves, mix them with ashes and use this mixture as a dressing for boils. Leaves are soaked in water and the water is applied as an eye lotion.
In Ethiopia the leaves are cooked and eaten during food-shortage. In Kenya during periods of famine the roots were carefully boiled to remove toxic substances and prepared as porridge. The leaves and fruits yield a yellow dye. The Maasai people consider the foliage a good fodder, especially for donkeys and goats. The wood is used for poles, tools, building and beehives. The branches are used for firewood, the trunk is used to produce charcoal. ''Maerua triphylla'' is planted especially in rocky sites for soil reclamation and is often spared when clearing land. Branches and roots of several ''Maerua '' species are used to clarify water, but this should be discouraged as the plants could be toxic. The flowers attract many bees and butterflies. The fruits are eaten.
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