5 Hawaiian Medicinal Plants

Throughout the history, native Hawaiian healers have conventionally used the medicinal herbs for many healing purposes. The application of herbs differed according to the tribes using them. Over time, these herbs were recognized for many other benefits beyond their medicinal properties. Today, they are preferred for improve dietary health and promoting a healthier lifestyle. Here are given five prized herbs used by Hawaiian healers that you must know about:

1. Kava – Piper Methysticum:

Also known as Kava-Kava or awa, is consumed traditionally as a beverage that causes a slight loss of muscle control with euphoric feel. However, the mind remains clear and the drinkers do not lose self-control. Also, they have pain-relieving properties that can reduce headaches and back pains. Traditionally, Kava was consumed as a ceremonial beverage or a medicinal potion in Hawaii. The modern preparations of this herb include powdered Kava available in the form of capsules. For making tea, the Kava roots are pounded in a pot and the crushed parts are soaked in water for making this drink. The active ingredients are then extracted and enjoyed warm or cooled after straining. They include lactones that are mildly psychoactive. There are many strains of kava found in Hawaii that were brought to this region by the Polynesian sailors. The most popular ones are Purple moi, Hiwa, Mahakea, and Nene varieties. this plant is mostly found in shady places in the tropics. Learn more or Buy Hawaiian Kava Extract, Powder, Brew and Chew or Capsules.

2. Mamaki – Pipturus Albidus:

Hawaiians mainly use Mamaki for making a tea. Its leaves are harvested and dried to be brewed. It bears good flavor when mixed with honey and has strong medicinal properties. It can be brewed with lemon grass, honey, or lemon to add some flavor. This herb helps in relieving cough and sore throat when consumed as tea. The ripe fruits of this plant can cure thrush. The traditional practitioners of Hawaiian medicine use different type of leaves for diverse medicinal effects. This is an endemic species also called as Mamake or Waimea. It belongs to the nettle family but the Hawaiian varieties have shed their ability to sting over time. This plant grows as a shrub with a height up to 18 feet. It is native to almost every Hawaiian island except Niihau and Kahoolawe. It is commonly found in wet and seasonally wet forests. Learn more or Buy Mamaki Tea.

The traditional healers soften these leaves and on cooling, apply it to the affected areas of skin. The fruit or Noni berry is legendary and well-renowned for its distinctive cheese-like flavor. When mixed with ginger or orange juice, it can be very effective in curing severe ailments like high blood pressure, heart diseases, and diabetes. Noni has a strong and pungent rotting-like smell. It has been conventionally used as a famine food and a healthy concoction for curing gastrointestinal diseases as well. This canoe plant is also known as Indian Mulberry, Cheese Fruit, or Beach Mulberry. It is a traditional Hawaiian medicinal herb that grows from 10-20 feet. It has shiny dark green leaves that are deeply veined and used for topical treatments in skin infections and tumors. Learn more or Buy Noni Juice, Tea, Capsules or body oil.

4. Turmeric – ‘Olena:

Also called as Curcuma Longa, this is an amazing herbal medicine known for its strong anti-inflammatory properties. The traditional Hawaiian healers used turmeric topically for skin rashes and sores. When mixed with honey and herbs, it can also help in curing cough and sore throat. It is believed that original Polynesian settlers brought this herb to Hawaii when they arrived here in the sixth century. Since it was carried in their canoes, it is one among the canoe plant. In Hawaiian language, ‘Olena means yellow. It was also traditionally used as a dye for clothes. It is closely related to the ginger family and similarly has a thick rootstock or rhizome that is used for making juice or powdered medicine. Turmeric is effective for inflammation and sinus problems. Some The patients are required to sniff a few droplets of freshly extracted juice into the nasal passages for curing sinus infection. Learn more or Buy Turmeric Extract or Capsules.

Kukui was brought by Polynesian sailors on their canoes when they arrived Hawaiian Islands. Since then, this wonderful herb is used for many medicinal purposes in this region.

Today the Kukui nut is most commonly used for its many amazing medicinal properties that benefit the skin. Traditionally, healers picked green nuts, separate the stem from its husk, and gather the sap collected in a small hole resulting from this process. This sap was topically applied on the sores or mixed with water for curing sores inside the mouth as a mouthwash. This attractive plant, also known as the Candlenut tree, is commonly grown in the lower elevation of hillsides in Hawaii. The oil extracted from its white kernels was used by Hawaiians as a fuel for lighting the flames. Hence, it got the name of candlenut tree. The shells were removed and nuts were pierced for making the lights. They were hung from the stem of coconut frond and the top nut was lit to ignite the flame that ran from top to bottom like a candle. Learn more or Buy Kukui Nut Oil.

These are the top 5 medicinal herbs found in Hawaii.