- Region
- Oceania
- Origin
- Endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand
- Traditions
- Rongoā Māori
Oceania · Herb · № 175
Pittosporum eugenioides
Herb · Oceania
Tarata (lemonwood)
Pittosporum eugenioides
Mainly a fragrant plant: leaves, flowers and gum smell of lemon. Medicinal uses have not been studied.
Safety notes
Nothing is known about internal use; do not ingest. Scented oils may irritate the skin.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Healing traditions of Oceania: Do not ingest; fragrant oils can irritate the skin.
Preparation
Crushed leaves, flowers and gum mixed with plant oil as scented oil; the gum was chewed. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Māori used tarata gum and crushed leaves and flowers for scent, often mixed with tītoki oil or bird fat to make hair oil and perfume. The gum was chewed for bad breath. This knowledge is part of rongoā and mātauranga Māori.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Healing traditions of Oceania
Attributed effects
Resin, leaf and flowers as a fragrance in hair oil and perfume; the resin was chewed against bad breath.
Preparation and amount
Crushed leaves and flowers mixed with plant oil.
Caution: Do not ingest; fragrant oils can irritate the skin.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Compress, poultice and paste