bogfrog Posted October 28, 2012 Sorry i should watch my colloquial gibber-jabber! Yeah whatever happened to this book Tortsen? Dunno if these are relavent but here's a couple plants that are on a Maori herbal medicine poster in my room: Tataramoa - bush lawyer (rubus cissoides) the leaves were * soaked in water and liquid drunk for sore throats, chest congestion and bad colds *chewed and swallowed to ease toothache and stomach ache the bark was *soaked in water and used to treat dysentry and diarrhea Patete - seven finger (schefflera digitata) The sap was *used on ring worm, skin diseases and infections kamahi (weinmannia racemosa) The bark was boiled in water and used as *a laxative * a tonic *a warm ointment was made to treat burns Kohekohe - NZ cedar (dysoxylum spectabile) Leaves were soaked in boiling water and used for * steam inhilations to help treat colds and fevers * washing boils and absesses *gargling for sore throats The boiled leaves were used as a poultice & the leaves and bark were combined to make a cough medicine Pohutukawa - (metrosideros excelsa) The bark was *placed in boiling water and the liquid drunk for dysentry and diarrhea. or used as a mouthwash *placed in the mouth to ease toothache *Made into a poultice to stop bleeding from wounds Honey made from the flowers was used to soothe sore throats kowhai (sophora tetrapetra) The bark was *boiled and liquid applied to itchy skin, bruises and fractures *crushed, soaked in water, the liquid drunk to help colds and sore throats (Sophora microphylla) The bark was mixed with manuka bark to make a medicine for internal pains, rubbed on the body for pains in the back and sides *mixed with wood ash to make a medicine wash which was rubbed on the body to treat skin diseases. To be continued....(clumsy smartfone fingers are lazy) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 28, 2012 (edited) Rubus cissoides is very interesting, I find Rubus species in general manifold, and they are easy to grow, the Rubus arcticus and Rubus thibetanus on my balcony survived -15°C. Here in nature Rubus caesius grows in the danube alluvial forests, Rubus fruticosus we find on ruderal locations and Rubus idaeus in the mountains, westside. More rare are Rubus odoratus, Rubus saxatilis, R. bertramii and many more. My two favourites are the sweet tasting Rubus suavissimus- leaves from China and Rubus chamaemorus- fruits from Sweden. I have brought Kowhai- seeds from NZ but they didn't germinate, maybe I should try it with the GA3. Edited October 28, 2012 by mindperformer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
solomon Posted October 28, 2012 Rubus australis (could be another species or a hybrid) had nice berries, a bit on the small side so they were seedy. Bush Lawyer would probably benefit from training in the same manner as blackberry etc Happy to send you some fresh Kowhai seed of the species microphylla, molloyi and tetraptera and probably some cultivars if you like Mindperformer This is probably the best book on Rongoa / NZ ethnobotany I have found. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 28, 2012 Thanks very much for the offer, but its getting winter here and I now I have space-problems. There is no warm place anymore, for even one plant :-( Rubus probus is also a nice Aussie-berry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bogfrog Posted October 28, 2012 Did you nip or scarify your kowhai seeds MP? They take a few years to sprout without scarification, so your seeds might be just fine and if you snip a little off the seed coats with nail clippers next spring they should germinate within a month. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
planthelper Posted October 29, 2012 from this site: http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/garden/gowm.html Maori medicine Arthropodium cirratum, Coprosma robusta, Cordyline australis, Fuchsia excorticata, Halaragis erecta, Hebe salicifolia, Hibiscus trionum, Leptospermum scoparium, Macropiper excelsum, Phormium tenax, Sophora microphylla, Tetragonia tetragonioides i fondly remeber my often visits, to the chelsea physic garden, i highly recommand a visit if you are over there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) interesting, I didn't know that Cordyline is also used in Maori- medicine Cordyline australis is also used on many polynesian islands, including Rarotonga, Samoa and Hawaii Leptospermum scoparium could be the most known NZ-plant in Europe Edited October 29, 2012 by mindperformer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bogfrog Posted October 29, 2012 Cordyline australis was/is supposedly harvested for its root which contains a powerful morphine like pain-killer. I think only the most respected and experienced members of the tribe are allowed to consume it. And it kills the tree :-( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theuserformallyknownasd00d Posted October 29, 2012 That's interesting bogfrog, I did a search and couldn't find any info... Do u know if anybody has done an extraction? These things are everywhere in my area Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theuserformallyknownasd00d Posted October 29, 2012 I did however find this article on producing alcohol from it... http://aut.researchgateway.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10292/894/PatelM.pdf?sequence=3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bogfrog Posted October 30, 2012 My information only derrives from anecdotes others have passed on, but i do know they take it very seriously and place strict controls on who can and who cant use it. I think there is also a danger of over-dosing so tread carefully dood, if at all :-) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) Oh now I remembered, Cordyline australis is the famous cabbage tree, I heard much of it in NZ, but not about intoxication. They told me that the core/pulp of the stem can be eaten and was a staple food in ancient times. But this does not mean, that its not used entheogenic. Edited October 30, 2012 by mindperformer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 30, 2012 http://www.google.at/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CD4QFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Faut.researchgateway.ac.nz%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10292%2F894%2FPatelM.pdf%3Fsequence%3D3&ei=dqePUKSSEsvMsgb_5oDABA&usg=AFQjCNEBpIBlA3lbzfFQ203fjHVmDiPQBg&sig2=WLmiQK0WSnGe2qpP76Eh3g "Similarly, to the agave having a fermentable core, ti kōuka has carbohydrate (inulin) content in its young stems and roots that can be hydrolysed in acidic suspensions or by enzyme hydrolysis to yield fructose." "When ready for harvesting, the carbohydrate rich piñas are dug out of the ground (with its roots). The roots, stalk and leaves are cut off from the piña leaving the piña looking like a pineapple (Kretchmer, 1999)." "In 1934, Lyon showed that the roots of Cordyline terminalis contained a water-soluble polysaccharide built of fructofuranosyl residues (as reported by Tanimoto, 1939)." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
solomon Posted October 30, 2012 All species of Cordyline were used as food by Maori and some were cultivated. Missionaries experimented with the root of Cordyline australis and brewed an apparently quite palatable beer. Also found a report of a rum made from the root. A lot of mention of using it as a laxative, to treat dysentery. Not much mention of use as an analgesic, once using the juice from the leaves as an external remedy for bruises was all I could find. Great thread Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) interesting, the action on bruises could also come from antioxidant, cooling and antiinflammatory actions, as Gynura procumbens, chamomile, Bulbine frutescens, Aloe vera, A. ferox, A. arborescens and many more wound healing leaves. Jurema- stembark worked best for me... Edited October 30, 2012 by mindperformer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) http://www.mythichaw...m/tiki-gods.htm "Placing leaves of the ti (Cordyline sp.) around one's home is said to keep away all evil spirits, and will cause the huaka'i po to avoid the area." My fotos from the NZ- North Island: at the Maori- cultural centre: Myrsine australis (former Pukatea): Cordyline australis: Edited October 31, 2012 by mindperformer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) From the book "Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific": Cordyline fruticosa (L.) Chev. Agavaceae [syn. Cordyline terminalis (L.) Kunth] Local Names : kototodamu, vasilidamu, vasili ni toga, lolokulu, qai, masawe, vakota, tikula (Fiji); ti (Samoa); si (Tonga); rau ti (Cook Islands); dili lalabe (Solomon Islands). Description. Sparingly branched shrub arising from subterranean tuber, with slender stem to 5 m tall. Leaves spirally arranged and borne in terminal clusters, elongate-lanceolate, parallel-veined, to 80 cm long. Flowers borne in compound spikes up to 1 m long, subtended by leafy pinkish bracts, each flower 3-parted, up to 20 cm broad, white to pink coloured. Fruit a small red berry with small black seeds. Flowers and fruit available throughout the year. Habitat. Common in a wide variety of habitats (including cultivated) ranging from coastal to over 1000 m elevation. Distribution. Widely distributed throughout the tropics. Constituents1,2. Smilagenin, sarsapogenin, imidazole alkaloids, linoleic acid, tyramine, sterols. Biological Activity. None reported. Traditional Uses1,3-5. In Fiji, the leaf buds are used to treat lower chest pains. Filariasis is treated with a solution made from the new plant shoots. Liquid from the stem is used to treat sickness after childbirth and also to help expel the afterbirth. The root is used to treat baldness. The juice of the leaves is used to treat earache, infected eyes, colds and coughs, stomachache, eczyma and gastritis. The roots are used in treating toothache and laryngitis. Samoans use an infusion of the leaves as a remedy for swellings, inflammations and for dry fevers. In Tonga, the leaves are crushed with oil and applied to abscesses of the gums. The root is used to treat inflammations. The juice of the leaves is used to treat aching limbs and fever. Edited October 30, 2012 by mindperformer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 30, 2012 This is a Marae in the rainforest of Rarotonga fringed with Cordyline fruticosa and Alpinia zerumbet (a HIV-integrase- inhibitor) The Alpinia zerumbet- flower: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nemisty Posted October 30, 2012 The plant next to the pukatea sign isn't pukatea. I think its a pittosporum of some kind. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bogfrog Posted October 30, 2012 ^ Still playing tricks on the pakeha i see lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 31, 2012 (edited) I thought so too, there were growing a few other plants around, maybe the pukatea is too small. The serrated edges of real Pukatea can't be seen on the big plant under the sign, I don't think its pittosporum but maybe Pennantia corymbosa or rather Myrsine australis Edited October 31, 2012 by mindperformer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 31, 2012 (edited) look this picture of Myrsine australis, it's very similar, http://www.bushmansfriend.co.nz/xurl/PageID/9165/ArticleID/-23939/function/moreinfo/content.html Most of "us" Pakeha don't respect trees and maybe they dislabeled it to save it from bark scrapers Edited October 31, 2012 by mindperformer 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2meke Posted October 31, 2012 awesome thread. i'd say theres a big pukatea out of view of the sign. i doubt they'd make a nice sign like that for a seedling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mindperformer Posted October 31, 2012 I didn't saw a big Pukatea- tree near the sign, although I saw it on pictures before and knew what to look for... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bogfrog Posted October 31, 2012 I'd say you'd be spot on with the 'protecting it from the barkscrapers' comment Luckily most people would lack the interest or attention to detail to notice the tree on the sign isn't there. I have enough of a moral delima tipping my bonsai's spring growth, its really horrible to hear about people mutilating mature trees :-( Mindperformer have you come across any information regarding psychoactive ferns? I have only heard rumours, but if anyone was to know a bit more i would imagine its you. Btw, if you don't mind me asking, how are you such an incredible wealth of information? Lifelong self directed study? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
