KUMERAHOU PLANT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5515, 18 December 1929, Page 2

KUMERAHOU PLANT.

ITS MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. A. VICAR’S CLAIM. During the past week details have been broadcast of a claim made by the Rev. Edgar Ward, vicar of Point Chevalier, Auckland, that he has a compound which has been effacious in relieving tuberculosis (says the Matamata Record). The Rev. Edgar Ward is very well known in the Putaruru and Matamata districts, having been vicar of the former parish for several years. After leaving Putaruru he went to Kaitaia for a short time, and about six months ago took charge of the suburban parish in Auckland. It is said that one of the ingredients of the compound used by Mr Ward is the native shrub kumerahou (pomaderris ecliptica). The shrub, which is common on the gumfields of North Auckland, the slopes of Pirongia mountain, and in the Kawhia district, has long been known for its medicinal properties, and has been used with success for stomach troubles by two wellknown men in the Matamata district, who have been interviewed on the subject by a representative of the paper. Mr C. F. E. Barton, clerk to the Matamata County Council, stated that he had been familiar with the use of the kumerahou plant for years, and generally had a supply of the tonic and plant on hand. Mr Barton thereupon produced a branch of the plant and a bottle of the infusion, which is obtained by boiling the plant at any stage of its growth—but when in flower for preference—in ordinary water. The colour of the liquid is like strong tea, and, tasted by the reporter, it was found to be not unpleasant to rake, while its after-effects gave a sweetish taste and agreeable feeling in the mouth. According to Mi' Barton the “tea” is a most excellent tonic, and is efficacious in various stomach and kidney ailments. Its tonic effects on the whole system were ’ the most noteworthy, but he had never heard of any suggestion that it was regarded as being anything more than a most excellent tonic and a remedy for minoi’ internal troubles. The medicinal properties of the plant had been known for years, and Mr Barton stated that it was a matter for regret that more had not been done to record in permanent form some of. the many excellent compounds made by the tohungas. He had known of a case of severe rheumatism of the knee cured by the outward application of a salve compounded by an old Maori from native herbs. The older race of Maoris were very clever in concocting remedies from native plants, but they were also very secretive in regard to their formulae. As the younger generation of Maoris were not interested in the subject the formulae were becoming lost, because they were not now being handed on from generation to generation. The plant itself generally grew on poor soil, and was very abundant in certain parts of the Dominion. Another person approached on the subject, Mr J. J. Molloy, teacher in charge of the Te Poi school, largely corroborated Mr Barton’s remarks. Mr Molloy stated that the plant grew to a height of about three feet, and was very common in Kawhia and other parts. It grew abundantly where it was not disturbed by stock, which ate it greedily, and it was valued by Europeans and natives for its stomachic properties. The plant was gathered and dried and then made into a strong tea. It would not bear transplanting, but would grow from seed in any garden. It could be gathered at any time of the year for medicinal purposes, but was best picked w'hen flowering. It was a rare tonic, and relieved indigestion, flatulence, and fermentative troubles of the stomach. He had never heard of the kumerahou plant being used in cases of consumption. Ther : were a good many native plants with excellent properties of which no use was made. For instance, the ngaio bush was used as a specific for raging toothache, while a strong decoction of the root of ordinary flax was an excellent application to place on open wounds at any time. In 1923 he had written to the Government on this subject, and details were to be found in back numbers of the Journal of Agriculture.