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

Wairaakau Flora Koromiko

Koromiko: Hebe stricta

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

n

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

n

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

n

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

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
n

Skin: Boils (drawing properties), burns acne and ulcers – gel used as a poultice
n
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),
n

Kidneys: Diuretic – drink extracted gel with fruit juice

Wairaakau Flora Karaeo

Karaeo



Karaeo: Ripogonum scandens Supple jack vine

n

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

n
Kidneys: fluid retention (flushes kidney) – make a tea or have with fruit juice

Liver: detox tonic – flushes out toxins

n
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

Wairaakau Flora Horopito

Horopito: Pseudowintera axillaris Pepper tree

Skin: Wounds, rashes, sores, psoriasis, eczema, burns and boils – Chew leaf use as a poultice, bruise leaves soak in water or use sap as a wash, inner bark boiled apply warm to burns

Muscles: Cramps in legs, feet and arms - make hot tea with leaves or bark

n

Digestive: chronic or acute stomach problems, diarrhoea - boil inner bark and drink as a hot/cold tea or with fruit juice

nBlood: Anaemia – boil inner bark use as hot/cold tea or with fruit juice

n

Lungs: asthma, in the recovery of  fevers, colds, flu, inflammation, bronchitis and pneumonia – use as above

nBrain: headaches – cold tea or with fruit juice

Pain reliever: has sedative effect – hot/cold tea or with fruit juice

Wairaakau Flora Houhere

Houhere: Houheria populnea Lacebark or ribbon wood

n
Has the same elements as slippery elm
n
Skin: eczema, psoriasis, scabies, abscesses and tumours (anti-inflammatory) – soak bark in water, use as a wash or lotion or tease out ribbon wood jackets use as a poultice/dressing

nMuscles: muscle, joint pain and swelling – prepare as above

nDigestive and Bowel Syndrome: ulcers (soothing agent) protects the mucous membranes and relieves irritation in the bowel - soak bark in cold water, have as a cold drink

n

Detoxifier: makes you sweat when you drink it –prepare as above