The fresh leaves and flowers of this tree can be chewed to reduce thirst. Bark infusions are used to treat diarrhoea. Bark fibres of the fresh branches can be used to make ropes used for tying thatch roof structures and to make whips for herding goats and cattle. Bark consists of 18-20% tannin which is used to produce red-brown dye. There is evidence that this plant is used in most African countries by traditional medical practitioners for treating a variety of ailments like ulcers, and gastric and heart pains. Pods and seeds have been used as source of food during famine periods. A powder can be made from the dry pods for making nutritious porridge. Unripe pods can be used as a substitute for soap. Dry pods are roasted and ground into powder, and mixed with tobacco powder and ashes of the red-leaf Amaranthus to make cooking soda (alternative to bicarbonate of soda). This is used for cooking indigenous leafy vegetables such as Corchorus sp., Urera tenax, Pouzolzia mixta and Grewia occidentalis. It is also used as fire wood. It is an excellent shade tree in the savanna woodland areas.

Piliostigma thonningii young tree