So whats all the fuss about NZ native herbs?  well Kawakawa is a versatile herb and one of the most important in Māori traditional medicine. It is still used to treat cuts, wounds, stomach and rheumatic pain, skin disorders, toothache and most recently after getting "inked".

The plant is popular with many non-Māori too. "A basinful of these leaves steeped with boiling water mixture, applied to the bruise, has great curative powers."

Kawakawa's antimicrobial and analgesic properties make it useful for treating skin infections, and reducing inflammation of psoriasis, eczema and rashes. It is also antidyspectic (counters dyspepsia or indigestion) and antispasmotic (eases muscle spasms or cramps), so it makes an excellent digestion tonic.