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| kawakawa [2026/01/08 11:34] – [Description] goulash51 | kawakawa [2026/01/15 06:56] (current) – [Foraging] goulash51 |
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| ======Kawakawa====== | ======Kawakawa====== |
| {{:kawakawa_id.png?direct |Kawakawa}} | {{ :kawakawa_id.png?direct|Kawakawa}} |
| Common Names: Pepper tree | Common Names: Pepper tree |
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| ====Foraging==== | ====Foraging==== |
| {{ :kawakawa_lopper_moth_caterpillar.png?direct&400|Kawakawa lopper moth caterpillar}} | {{ :kawakawa_lopper_moth_caterpillar.png?direct&200|Kawakawa lopper moth caterpillar}} |
| Kawakawa it is best to collect from a healthy plant, away from areas of pollution, i.e. roads, agri-sprays. Collect leaves that have holes in caused by the lopper moth caterpillar. The act of chewing these leaves, makes the plant release chemicals to heal and defend itself, it is these extra chemicals that give Kawakawa its medicinal qualities. | Kawakawa it is best to collect from a healthy plant, away from areas of pollution, i.e. roads, agri-sprays. Collect leaves that have holes in caused by the lopper moth caterpillar. The act of chewing these leaves, makes the plant release chemicals to heal and defend itself, it is these extra chemicals that give Kawakawa its medicinal qualities. |
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| I wished to plant Kawakawa seeds for a number of reasons. I have several young Kawakawa trees on my property and I love them, I think they are such a potent herb. I have seen the leaves when used raw heal serious skin infections, ease tooth ache, infusion and decoctions ease urinary infection, ease joint pain, balms that heal skin and generally also used help a person feel better all over when used as a tonic. It is also an essential part of the land I am developing into a food forest, and would make an excellent native understory plant. | I wished to plant Kawakawa seeds for a number of reasons. I have several young Kawakawa trees on my property and I love them, I think they are such a potent herb. I have seen the leaves when used raw heal serious skin infections, ease tooth ache, infusion and decoctions ease urinary infection, ease joint pain, balms that heal skin and generally also used help a person feel better all over when used as a tonic. It is also an essential part of the land I am developing into a food forest, and would make an excellent native understory plant. |
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| {{:kawakawa_seed_preparation.jpg?direct&400 |Kawakawa seed preparation}} I gathered some Kawakawa fruit from Faulkner reserve in the middle of January, I notice a lot of birds enjoying these. The reserve has a great number of Kawakawa trees and is a spray free area. The trees were fruiting during this time, I was able to get a plentiful supple of female catkins in order to get seeds from. | I gathered some Kawakawa fruit from Faulkner reserve in the middle of January, I notice a lot of birds enjoying these. The reserve has a great number of Kawakawa trees and is a spray free area. The trees were fruiting during this time, I was able to get a plentiful supple of female catkins in order to get seeds from. |
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| I pressed the fruit through a sieve in order to extract the seeds. I then rinsed these and let them to dry. Once dry I kept some to plant for my sample. I am aware that Kawakawa would not be the fastest crop to grow but I wanted to see what I could grow during this time. Unsurprisingly I only grew little shrubs, which would not be big enough to havest however they will go onto be gorgeous trees. I am looking forward to watching them grow. | {{:kawakawa_seed_preparation.jpg?direct&200 |Kawakawa seed preparation}} |
| | I pressed the fruit through a sieve in order to extract the seeds. |
| | I then rinsed these and left them to dry. Once dry I kept some to plant for my sample. I am aware that Kawakawa would not be the fastest crop to grow but I wanted to see what I could grow during this time. Unsurprisingly I only grew little shrubs, which would not be big enough to havest however they will go onto be gorgeous trees. I am looking forward to watching them grow. |
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| ====Constituents and Properties==== | ====Constituents and Properties==== |
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| ====Medicine==== | ====Medicine==== |
| {{:kawakawa_wreath_maaori_tangi.png?direct&400 |}} | {{:kawakawa_wreath_maaori_tangi.png?direct&200 |}} |
| Traditionally Kawakawa was a sign of mourning, often worn by those grieving or waved by the host of a Marae (Maoori spiritual gathering place) at a Tangihana (funeral). | Traditionally Kawakawa was a sign of mourning, often worn by those grieving or waved by the host of a Marae (Maoori spiritual gathering place) at a Tangihana (funeral). |
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| A 57 year old female client who’s sleep is poor and problems with chronic eczema, anxiety, depression, digestive issues, arthritis, macular degeneration, blood pressure and hypothyroidism. There is an indication of intolerance to gluten and dairy however the client has no wish to change her diet. She drinks 15-20 cups of 300ml coffee per day, she rarely drinks water, even though she has been advised of the beneficial impact it would have on her if she increased her water consumption and decreased her coffee. Her diet poor, her family make wholesome meals, which she eats occasionally, otherwise she will eat poor quality processed food. The client is also a shift worker. They take thyroxine, Ibuprofen and propanol medication on a daily basis. No adverse effects are known between Kawakawa and these medication, however there is a limited amount of information on medicinal interactions as a whole for the native plants of New Zealand. The did however wish to try a herbal medicine to help with her achy joints. Kawakawa seemed perfect, not only is it a form of treatment for this condition it is also indicated in the signatory of the plant with its swollen nodes/joints. The plant is also a blood purifier, supporting the heart, again indicated by the shape of its leaves and supporting the liver in detoxification. | A 57 year old female client who’s sleep is poor and problems with chronic eczema, anxiety, depression, digestive issues, arthritis, macular degeneration, blood pressure and hypothyroidism. There is an indication of intolerance to gluten and dairy however the client has no wish to change her diet. She drinks 15-20 cups of 300ml coffee per day, she rarely drinks water, even though she has been advised of the beneficial impact it would have on her if she increased her water consumption and decreased her coffee. Her diet poor, her family make wholesome meals, which she eats occasionally, otherwise she will eat poor quality processed food. The client is also a shift worker. They take thyroxine, Ibuprofen and propanol medication on a daily basis. No adverse effects are known between Kawakawa and these medication, however there is a limited amount of information on medicinal interactions as a whole for the native plants of New Zealand. The did however wish to try a herbal medicine to help with her achy joints. Kawakawa seemed perfect, not only is it a form of treatment for this condition it is also indicated in the signatory of the plant with its swollen nodes/joints. The plant is also a blood purifier, supporting the heart, again indicated by the shape of its leaves and supporting the liver in detoxification. |
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| {{ :decoction.jpeg?direct&400|decoction}}The client was shown how to make a decoction. This was done by boiling then simmering Kawakawa leaves in a saucepan for 20 minutes. It is important to keep the lid on the prevent the active ingredients being lost, the tea has to be cool before taking the lid off. 3 teaspoons of leaves were used to 3 cups of water until the water had halved. A half cup of this was drank three times a day. Double the amount could be made and stored in a fridge for 48 hours. This was taken for 7 days. Kawakawa should not be taken for longer 10 days, then a 10 day break is needed before restarting. This cycle then repeats. The client took this for a period of a week, drinking between 2 and 3 half cups a day. They reported that they had experienced an alleviation of some of their joint pain. Although they were still experiencing discomfort this seemed to of reduced in the level of intensity. Prior to the decoction they rated this at 5/10 on a bad day (0 being no pain and 10 the worst it could be) and 3-4 on most day. At the end of the week of taking the decoction this had reduced to 4 on a bad day and 2-3 on a good day. Obviously the clients health status as a whole and their choices would be effecting the outcome. Based on the use of the decoction for just the period of a week, it would be interesting to see what the result would be, either with a longer cycle of herbal therapy or if the client choose to make nutritional and lifestyle changes. \\ \\ | {{ :decoction.jpeg?direct&300|decoction}}The client was shown how to make a decoction. This was done by boiling then simmering Kawakawa leaves in a saucepan for 20 minutes. It is important to keep the lid on the prevent the active ingredients being lost, the tea has to be cool before taking the lid off. 3 teaspoons of leaves were used to 3 cups of water until the water had halved. A half cup of this was drank three times a day. Double the amount could be made and stored in a fridge for 48 hours. This was taken for 7 days. Kawakawa should not be taken for longer 10 days, then a 10 day break is needed before restarting. This cycle then repeats. The client took this for a period of a week, drinking between 2 and 3 half cups a day. They reported that they had experienced an alleviation of some of their joint pain. Although they were still experiencing discomfort this seemed to of reduced in the level of intensity. Prior to the decoction they rated this at 5/10 on a bad day (0 being no pain and 10 the worst it could be) and 3-4 on most day. At the end of the week of taking the decoction this had reduced to 4 on a bad day and 2-3 on a good day. Obviously the clients health status as a whole and their choices would be effecting the outcome. Based on the use of the decoction for just the period of a week, it would be interesting to see what the result would be, either with a longer cycle of herbal therapy or if the client choose to make nutritional and lifestyle changes. \\ \\ |
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| © Vitae Essentia 2026 | © Vitae Essentia 2026 |
