Kūmarahou’s special gift is to heal the whenua (land) after she has been scorched by fire. The Kūmarahou [Pomaderris Kumeraho] plant helps to heal poor soils so that in time it can sustain more life after she had done her work. Kūmarahou is diverse in her healing properties and as she does for the land, she does for us too. She is taken internally for respiratory complaints and digestive disorders and used topically for skin conditions. Kūmarahou has a healing effect on our lungs by aiding the body to heal damaged lung tissue. This is one of the reasons it is an immensely respected plant by Māori. It is a blood purifier and detoxes your lungs, liver kidneys, skin, lymphatic and urinary systems.
Kūmarahou is in full flower around the northern regions, August – October. The emerging kūmarahou flower signals the time to plant your Kūmarahou seedlings and the fattening of kina. Kūmarahou used to be very abundant in the top half of Aotearoa New Zealand's North Island, and especially so in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland). As people move more and more into its natural habitat it has become less widespread. When she is in flower, many in their excitement, rush to harvest as much as they can while she is easily identifiable by her golden flowers. If we harvest Kūmarahou while she is flowering, she will not set seed for the next generation. Our native Kūmarahou growing in the bush is rapidly diminishing. There is great opinion, that the large number of people harvesting at the wrong time of year is contributing to her decline. Resist harvesting Kūmarahou when she is flowering unless absolutely necessary. Natures Therapeutics is committed to sustainability – we do not harvest from the bush. All our Kūmarahou comes from purpose designed grow areas and are harvested in line with tikanga (Māori custom). As well as ensuring we do not contribute further to the decline, our kūmarahou is spray and pesticide free.
The best time to harvest is in January or February after she has set her seed and a new flush of growth has begun. The plant is strong and healthy with an abundance of leaves at this time. If we do this there will be as many, if not more, Kūmarahou plants next year to harvest from and store for the coming winter months.
Kūmarahou was and continues to be a significant botanical in rongoā Māori. Although there has been very little scientific research conducted, Māori have passed down generations of knowledge.
Actions of this product -
- Expectorant
- Antimicrobial
- Analgesic
- Antiseptic
- Antioxidant
- Vulnerary
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-dyspeptic
- Antiviral
Benefits that may be experienced -
- Improve breathing difficulty
- Break up and shift mucus
- Clear congestion
- Reduce throat tickle and cough
- Promote a productive cough
- Soothe a sore throat
- Relieve a runny nose
- Expel toxins and pathogens from the body
- Helps many skin conditions
Ailments that may benefit -
Asthma, Emphysema, COPD, COVID-19, flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, common cold, sinus, hay-fever, and other respiratory allergies. Burns, sores, cuts, grazes, eczema and, psoriasis. Some kidney, liver, lymphatic and, urinary system conditions.
The following are directions for making your own traditional tonic using kūmarahou.
Prior to harvesting a hand full of leaves offer a quiet karakia to acknowledge Tāne’s gift and the purpose for which we need to harvest this taonga.
Method
Cover your kūmarahou leaves with cold water (about 1.5 litres) in a stainless steel pot. Bring this to the boil and simmer gently for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and strain the plant material from the water using a clean cloth or muslin. This water is your wairākau (tonic). When the liquid has cooled you can store it in the fridge until needed. For health reasons use your wairākau within 7 days. Return the spent leaves to Papatūānuka. Never discard your used leaves in the rubbish.
Dosage
Mix half a cup of cold wairākau with half a cup of hot water. Drink 2 – 3 cups each day. The taste gets better as you become accustomed to the initial kawa (sour) bite of the first mouthful.
its not magic, its nature® - ehara i te mahi tūmatarau, ko te ao tuturu
DISCLAIMER -
Natures Therapeutics Limited™ incorporate hemp seed oil and/or botanicals traditionally used successfully by Māori to treat ailments and conditions and/or simply aid overall better health and well-being. Our product range has been developed allowing both tradition and science to merge and provide a modern delivery of ancient well-being applications and techniques. Natures Therapeutics Limited™ make no claim that our products can heal/cure any condition or ailment.
Product manufactured, bottled and/or packaged by Medicorp New Zealand Limited™ under licence from Natures Therapeutics Limited.