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Kawakawa for toothache

Chewing kawakawa leaves, or using an infusion as a mouth rinse: a Māori remedy for toothache.

Traditional use

Time
15 minutes
Makes
1 mouth rinse
Kawakawa

Kawakawa is a shrub from Aotearoa New Zealand with heart-shaped leaves, often full of holes made by a caterpillar. In rongoā Māori an infusion of the leaves or roots was used, or the leaves were chewed, to relieve toothache. Wounds were bound in kawakawa leaves.

Ingredients

  • 3–4 kawakawa leaves, fresh or dried
  • 250 ml boiling water

Step by step

  1. Pour the boiling water over the leaves and steep for 10 minutes.
  2. Strain and let cool to lukewarm.
  3. Rinse your mouth with it a few times. Or chew a fresh leaf on the side of the aching tooth.

Tips

  • Rongoā Māori is more than a plant: healers also work with karakia and with the whole person. This is only the simple, public use of the leaf.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 23

    Kawakawa

    Piper excelsum

    In rongoā Māori the leaf is used for toothache, skin complaints, wounds and bladder and kidney complaints. It contains myristicin among other compounds; clinical evidence for these uses is lacking.

    Rongoā Māori+1

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

The herbs in this recipe also appear in these traditions.