Inspired by a great post

on Olives and Carob by @trucklife-family (which you can find here), I decided to create my own post on medicinal plants - running with the theme of what is growing locally.

In New Zealand, and in Wellington where I live - you can go no further than Kawakawa in terms of a highly medicinal plant. This is plentiful everywhere, I am 20 minutes from the centre city and I have a limitless supply of this plant.

Tangata Whenua

In New Zealand we say we are Tangata Whenua, which means we are the people of the land. In being people of the land we have an association with the plants, and animals, and the spirit of the land. We belong here, and we respect the land - we are the people of the land.

It doesn't really have anything to do with ethnicity, or time spent. You could be a recent immigrant or refugee and still be Tangata Whenua, because this is your home and you are in communion with the land.

In this piece I have consulted my friend Arihana who is also Tangata Whenua. As a wise woman with an interest in foraging and natural medicines, Ari was a good choice to get some more information about this beautiful plant.

Arihana

Kawakawa the healer

The Indigenous Maori people of New Zealand believe Kawakawa to be an immensely powerful plant. Kawakawa is commonly used to assist with:

• Digestive problems, calming the stomach and relieving constipation.
• Detoxification
• Stimulate blood flow and circulation
• A general immune boost and enliven-er

It's a 'yang' plant which is highly stimulating.
The leaves are what is used, which have a strong flavor, somewhere on the spectrum of basil, or bay-leaf, something almost mouth numbing but not quite. The leaves can be chewed on as they are, but they are generally brewed into a tea. On it's own or as one component in a powerful medicinal brew. Flavor wise ginger works well.

We select only the 'holy' leaves, which literally haves holes in them from being chewed by insects. In this sense we let the insects choose which leaves are the right ones to use. Strangely no one ever seems to see the insects that chew the leaves, they probably drop to the forest floor when they hear people coming. There is also a rumor that in chewing the leaves the insects create an enzymatic effect which helps to activate them. I am not sure if that is true, but I wouldn't be surprised one bit if it was.

'Holy' Kawakawa leaf

A Powerful Plant

The mythology of Kawakawa goes so far as to say that this plant has an incredible spiritual power. Some locals believe that Kawakawa has the potential to receive our intention and can be directed as to how to heal almost anything, by amplifying and activating that intention.

Needless to say, in Maori culture it is among the sacred plants. Kawakawa has a strong benevolent spirit.

Kawakawa can be seen as a guardian of the forest and the native bush. It is often seen where civilization and nature meet, and is a second phase plant in terms of reforestation. When the forerunners have done their work, Kawakawa will be among the next set of plants to take hold - making way for the larger trees.

This plant prefers shaded areas, and the leaves will purportedly turn yellow or even red when subjected to intense sunlight. Ari has told me that Kawakawa may actually be able to shut off it's photosynthesis - and this may have something to do with the color change in the leaves.

As a healer and a guardian, Kawakawa will also grow in places where people need healing. Bringing it's benevolent and helpful energy.