Medicinal plants make a revival
Making use of healing plants found in the backyard or nearby forest is experiencing a revival.
There are a surprising number of plants with health giving properties out there, something Maori have known for many years.
Rongoa is traditional Maori medicine made from plants, and using mirimiri [massage] and prayer [karakia]. It’s becoming increasingly popular in Northland.
Te Tii couple Rawi Pere and Ngawati Hei Hei use Rongoa in their Healing Hands practice at Te Whare Wairua Healing Centre in Kerikeri and in their daily lives. They visit Puketi Forest regularly for native plants Kawakawa and Tupakihi.
‘‘Kawakawa is a universal plant; you can eat it, drink it and bathe in it,’’ Pere says. ‘‘You can use that to cleanse your body as well. We [Maori] used to use it [Rongoa] all the time before pharmaceuticals. It’s good to have it daily. It’s good to get back to nature.’’
Design artist Robert van der Touw has spent more than 20 years studying, teaching and researching the medicinal properties of native plants in Holland and New Zealand. Though he’s not strictly practicing Rongoa, his practice and beliefs are in line with it, he says.
‘‘It’s developing a relationship with nature, where nature is respected and seen as being part of us, and being a healer for us.
‘‘When you learn to connect to nature in a deep sense and strengthen our sense of belonging we have less and less need for making medicine out of nature as our relationship with nature is the medicine itself.’’
According to Te Ara, Maori traditionally used more than 200 plant species for medicinal purposes.
There are also plenty of weeds that are useful, including Oxeye Daisy, for whooping cough, calming nerves and soothing conjunctivitis, and Cleavers which is a good cleansing tonic for the blood and lymphatic system. A weed called Self-Heal, also known as Woundwort, has been used for healing cuts, bruises and minor burns.
Van der Touw, a classical homeopath, moved to NZ in 1990, and headed up North in 2002. He holds courses about native plants every year, taking groups of people for guided walks through Puketi Forest.
He’s developed a new way of learning, which involves letting people connect to and work with plants they are naturally drawn to.
‘‘When I came to NZ I was teaching homeopathy and I taught all the medical uses overseas. When I went into the forest here I was so inspired by the atmosphere, with the energy in the forest...there were all these plants and a lot have never been thoroughly researched. I thought ‘why use these overseas remedies when we have got these ones here’? I believe that nature provides everything, particularly in our own environment.’’
But before you head for the nearest forest armed with secateurs - van der Touw says there’s no need to take the foliage. He recommends simply taking a bottle of water and holding it near a plant to retrieve its properties then taking the water home.
Here are some of his top healing plants: Good for self esteem. Used for people with illness related to depression or patterns of abuse.
Good for the heart and blood. Traditionally, the leaves and bark were used for stomach pains and cuts. Good for poverty consciousness; for those who feel they haven’t got enough. Beneficial for male confidence and leadership.
Good for grief. Multipurpose plant useful for flexibility, including joints and ligaments, and skin. In traditional Rongoa, flax leaves or roots were used for skin infections.
Helps heal wounds. Maori also used the ashes to rub on the scalp to cure dandruff.