3 Native Plants Used In Māori Medicine

Prior to European contact, Māori in Aotearoa practised a traditional medicinal system known as rongoā Māori. Rongoā Māori was a holistic approach to health, addressing spiritual, psychological, physical, and whānau (family) wellbeing.

Expert practitioners known as tohunga were trained in this system. They held deep knowledge of rongoā rākau (medicinal plants) and would recite karakia (prayers) before treating patients. Illness was sometimes understood as a consequence of breaches of tapu.

The ngāhere (bush) was the primary source of rongoā rākau, and knowledge of plant uses was highly prized. Before European contact, Māori commonly experienced illnesses such as pneumonia, arthritis, and rheumatism, as well as injuries related to daily life and inter-tribal conflict. Additional diseases arrived with European settlement.

The Māori view of health continues to emphasise the interconnection of spiritual, psychological, physical, and whānau dimensions. Today, many Māori prefer healthcare providers who understand this worldview. At the same time, the range of illnesses affecting Māori has expanded, and Western pharmaceuticals and antibiotics are often required to treat modern conditions.

In 1907, the Tohunga Suppression Act was passed, partly in response to concerns about untrained practitioners providing unsafe care. The Act effectively forced rongoā Māori underground.

The Act was repealed in 1962, and in recent decades rongoā Māori has experienced a resurgence alongside broader cultural revitalisation.

Below are examples of three native plants used in our range that were also traditionally used in rongoā Māori: kawakawa, mānuka, and harakeke.

Kawakawa (Māori Pepper Tree)

Kawakawa leaves were traditionally chewed to relieve toothache, reduce facial swelling, and stimulate the kidneys and bowels. Boiled leaves were used to treat boils, bruises, arthritis, chest congestion, and a range of skin conditions.

Steam inhalation of kawakawa leaves and branches was used for respiratory ailments, while the roots were chewed to treat dysentery. Whole leaves were applied directly to wounds and used in bandaging.

Modern science suggests some of kawakawa’s healing effects may relate to phytochemicals such as myristicin and diayangambin. Myristicin has anti-inflammatory properties, while diayangambin has immunosuppressive effects.

Mānuka (Tea Tree)

Infusions of mānuka leaves were traditionally taken for kidney and urinary problems, fever, coughs, and stomach ailments. Bark decoctions were used for diarrhoea, dysentery, pain relief, inflamed breasts, and as a sedative.

The seeds were chewed or made into poultices for wound care and inflammation. Mānuka oil was used as an antiseptic, and the gum was applied to burns and used to soothe coughing.

Mānuka is now known to contain methylglyoxal, a compound with strong antibacterial properties.

Harakeke (Flax)

Harakeke roots and leaves were made into poultices to treat wounds, abscesses, swelling, and chilblains. Root juice was used for ringworm, skin irritations, flatulence, and toothache.

Crushed roots were taken for constipation, while boiled preparations treated diarrhoea, dysentery, and were used as blood purifiers. Harakeke gum was applied to rheumatic pain, burns, and sunburn.

Leaves were widely used for bandaging, stitching wounds, and making splints.

Long before pharmaceuticals arrived in Aotearoa, Māori relied on these native plant-based remedies to care for themselves and their mokopuna.

These traditional remedies, approached with respect and adapted thoughtfully for modern use, form the foundation of our Aotea Skincare range. Everything is sourced sustainably and created with our tīpuna in mind.