Wairaakau Flora

Mamaku: Cyathea medullaris Black tree fern

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Feet: swollen and sore – bruise the pith and apply as a poultice

Eyes: inflamed and sore - bruise the pith and apply as a poultice

Skin: allergies, and white tail spider venom - bruise the pith and apply as a cold poultice or boil young fronds and use as a wash chafing, burns, ulcers, wounds, cancerous lumps, boil, abscesses

nBreasts: mastitis – pulp young fronds and use as a cold poultice

nDigestive: used stomach problems, soothing effect acts like slippery elm,
gentle laxative or for diarrhoea – boil young fronds drink as a tea or chew on the gel

nAssists with birthing: use only if delivery is difficult – crush young shoots mix with water and drink

    Do not use Mamaku during pregnancy baby will abort !

Wairaakau Flora

Manuka: Leptospermum Scoparium Tea tree

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New Zealand tea tree is 33% stronger than the Australian tea tree
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Lungs and Chest: Coughs, colds flu, chest infections, mucous build up fevers - boil leaves, twigs and flowers when available as an inhalation or as tea with honey and lemon mixed in

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Throat: infections and tonsillitis (natural antibiotic) soothes – Boil leaves twigs and flowers use as a gargle

nSkin: infections, wounds, rashes, acne, boils school sores natural antiseptic– boil leaves, twigs and flowers use as a wash or apply medicinal manuka honey

nKidneys: fluid build up in the body – manuka honey as a tea with lemon acts as a diuretic to get rid of fluid

 

nDigestive: gastric ulcers (destroys the bacteria) that cause this – manuka honey tea

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Fungal infections: crush leaves, twigs and flowers soak in oil use as a lotion or use medicinal manuka honey and apply

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Insect Repellent: throw manuka branches onto fire keep mosquitoes away or use as a lotion

Wairaakau Flora

Kumerahou: Pomaderris Kumerahou Gum Diggers soap

nLungs: Asthma, tuberculosis (TB), coughs, colds, bronchitis – leaves, flowers and young stems boiled in water, used as an inhalation or tea

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Brain: headaches, depression, has a calming affect – leaves, flowers and young stems boiled in water, drink as tea

Diabetes: Balances blood sugars

nBones and Muscle: arthritis, rheumatism, period pains – leaves, flowers and young stems pulped, heated as a poultice or boil as a tea

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Bowel: a laxative - drink as a tea

nSkin: acne, heals cuts and wounds, rashes, sores, skin cancer – make a

decoction of leaves flowers and young stems use as a wash

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Period pains: drink as a tea

    

Kidneys and Liver: flushes and detoxifies – drink as a tea

Digestive system: stomach ulcers - drink as a tea

nBlood and Glands: anaemia, tired and lethargic, blood disorders,  purifies the blood and rich in iron, energiser – drink as a tea

Wairaakau Flora

Kowhai: Sophora microphylla

nSkin: chicken pox, scabies, boils tumours, wounds, 

dandruff, ringworm, cuts, bruises, eczema and

dermatitis –  inner bark and outer rind

pulped and boiled in water. Used as a poultice or

mixed with fruit juice as a drink

nMuscles: Aching muscles, sprains– use a poultice as for skin

nBones: Hastens healing of fractures - boil leaves and use as a poultice only after bones have been reset

 

Sexually transmitted diseases: healing and cleansing boil the inner sap and

use as a wash

Wairaakau Flora

Koromiko: Hebe stricta

nMuscles: general aches and pains – put leaves into hot bath

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Skin: boils, abscesses, ulcers, acne and skin infections, wounds – boil tips in water use as a poultice or a wash

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Brain: headaches – boil tips in water use as a tea

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Digestive: stops diarrhoea, a laxative for constipation, soothes gastric problems – chew and eat tips only

nLungs: gets rid of phlegm – chew tips or have as a tea

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Blood: aids in production of blood and purifier – chew tips or have as a tea
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Fevers: reduces fevers - chew tips or have as a tea

Wairaakau Flora

Kawakawa: Macropiper excelsum Pepper tree

Most commonly used rongoa, easily obtained

Skin: Nappy rash, eczema, psoriasis and scabies acts as an anti-inflammatory – bruise leaves and apply to skin

nDigestive system: Indigestion and stomach ulcers, a soothing agent that protects the mucous membranes and relieves irritation – boil water, add crushed leaves stand for 10 minutes then drink as tea

Bones and Muscle: muscle and joint pain and swelling acts as an anti-inflammatory – boil crushed leaves in water, use as a poultice

Bowel: Irritable Bowel Syndrome and ulcerated conditions acts as a soothing agent that protects the mucous membranes and relieve irritation – boil crushed leaves stand for 10 minutes use as a tea
nBlood: Purifies, rich in iron and blood disorders – prepare as above
nLungs: inhaled for Asthma, tuberculosis (TB), coughs, colds, bronchitis – prepare as a tea
nKidneys and Liver: Flushes and detoxifies - prepare as a tea
 nFatigue or feeling run down: A natural energiser – have as a tea or cold drink

nFirst Aid: Bark used for dressing of wounds, swelling, lumps, abscesses and tumours

Wairaakau Flora



Harakeke

nHarakeke: Phormium tenax New Zealand flax/alovera
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Skin: Boils (drawing properties), burns acne and ulcers – gel used as a poultice
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Digestive system: (very small amounts) Draws toxins from the body into digestive tract for excretion and acts as a laxative – drink extracted gel with fruit juice

Blood: Purifies for gangrene, sexually transmitted diseases, and

cancer – poultice (pulp root),

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Kidneys: Diuretic – drink extracted gel with fruit juice