Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Wairaakau Flora Manuka


Manuka: Leptospermum Scoparium Tea tree
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New Zealand tea tree is 33% stronger than the Australian tea tree
nLungs and Chest: Coughs, colds fluchest 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

Monday, 2 April 2012

Wairaakau Flora Kumerahou


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 affectleaves, 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

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Wairaakau Flora Kowhai


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

Sunday, 11 March 2012

Wairaakau Flora Koromiko

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

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Wairaakau Flora Kawakawa


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




Wairaakau Flora Harakeke


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

Saturday, 18 February 2012

Wairaakau Flora Karaeo

Karaeo


Karaeo: Ripogonum scandens Supple jack vine


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Skin: wounds, burns, acne, eczema, ulcers, npsoriasis and scabies – use fluid from young shoots for wounds and burns. Crush root, apply directly to bleeding a wound or skin problems or crush root, place in water, boil and drink as tea or cold with fruit juice
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Kidneys: fluid retention (flushes kidney) – make a tea or have with fruit juice
Liver: detox tonic – flushes out toxins

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Blood: cleanser an energy booster after surgery, a cold or the flu or antibiotics - crush young roots  
and berries add fruit juice
nDigestive: hydration, get rid of worms, laxative - chew young shoots or drink fresh sap

Muscles: rheumatic and aching swollen joints - pulp young shoots apply as a warm/cold poultice