MEDICINAL TREES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 650, 29 October 1909, Page 8

MEDICINAL TREES.

- ! WHAT THE NATIVES KNXW. " The annuk Departmental report, on vforestr*, . which'is a * very comprehensive . volume aha cost "J8191165. for printing,'-quite apartfrom cost of preparation aad. photographs, gives an v 'interesting list of .-the radical properties of New Zealand trees-and shrubs', as stated by old Maoris/- The following'is the list-which mav have-.a certain , value in thebackblockß;— ' Flax.—Juice of roots and thick puds of loaves, in large doses an emetic, small doses daily given ■ when - Buffeting from boils.. Tha red' portion-,of 'flax-roots boile^l—the extract ■ .therefrom is jused as a purgative... Flax-gum-is, al6o used for dressing open.wounds.' : ■ Kareao ; (supplejack).—A';decoction :irom thl roots .'givien in "cases of-weaknesses; or,, general debility; used in the same:-manner- as-, sarsa-: parilla.' " '• , KawakawalrMp of leayes'and.'fmt.retained •« in the ;iriouth', to relieve toothache. "An infusion, ■ ' of the"lbaves used to. prevent swelling, and i. taken internally for stomaoh-ache,; The leaves : burnt in a' room kill mo'squitos,. and; will al60: ■ render' human'beings insensible. Kawakawa i» sometimes l used 'as a substitute for 'tea. y ! Koromiko.—The tender shoots are mastitfated and .swallowed.' for diarrhoea and 1 dysentery.,: It relieves the pain of stomath-ache. very quickly. ■ ■ • ■■'■/■■■■ ' i-Kohekohe—Used as a tonic.:. Aifand of bitter.:.beer .','macte .'.from.,' itsßeaves., is.: used;. u'ys. stomachic.. .> ■....' ,i . -AAA'; v- ,' Kahikatoa. —Berries masticated' and. saliva swallowed to allay pains in tho.stomach.)and „ euros diarrhoea. >«A weak infusion., of. leaves • givon in. fever .cases. -i: 1 • Ngaio.—The tender shoots rubbed on insootbites allay irritation. Also it. cures tooth- • ache. , -Nikau.—When cooked,, used by, Native wo.. men for medicinal purposes. ■; ; ..i l^ Rimu —Gum used in dressing Severn .wounds. Tipau.—Tender. shoots masticated and 6\rallowed 'in cases of costivcness.' . . > ■ Titoki.-rAn- oil- is Expressed '.from the< nuts ■> and fused) f6i .d4rachd, ,;weak eyes, soros, bruises,, sprains, etc. Tupald, or. Tutu.—The juice from the bornes . mado: a ■ 6ort t of' wine, which ; the • old.' Maoris •' were 'vBrJ- fond, 'of, ,--. it, is-'rather.;laxative r ,aiid,,v is: sfuf ; .'tp.' < coUnbefait.',thfi postive Effects of j;. such'foods ,as fehi'-root and.' karaka-nnts.'; t - - :, Tataramoa :(buih-liwyer).-rA\y6ry.,'goad,- remedy for toothache; ; : ■ '■■■''- ' Kohnkohu, (tree-moss and, lichens)!— Reduced to fine'dust a'nd mixed, with , hinu-kohia, is a specific for hakihaki (itch) and' other skindlseases. Hinu-khia' is oil from the kohia- , 'seeds., ■ ■ " l: , ''■ 'v ,-1 "' Raurokau, or New' Zealand cotfoe tree.—lnfu--sion of;-inuer bark,.used' to roduco.swellings, sprains, etc. ■ Rata Vine.—The inner portion of the bark 1 ; cut into strips .and boiled; until it bacomei ■ .' black—the extract is used :for the,curt.of iali;' with very, good results. AA>