Mānuka
Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is New Zealand’s most abundant native shrub, in places growing into small trees. Most famous for the honey that is made from the flower and the essential oil that is extracted from the leaf the whole plant has many wonderful properties. While being similar to Australia’s Tea Tree, New Zealand’s Mānuka is thought to have much stronger anti-microbial properties.
-
Natural Antibiotic - One of Mānuka’s strongest properties is how it may help with many different types of infections. It was used extensively in traditional use for a wide range of fungal infections from tinea and candida and also many different types of bacterial infections. It may be very effective in helping to combat Staph. aureus bacterial infections which have an increasingly high resistance to many antibiotics used today.
-
Coughs and Colds - Not only may it help with the underlying infections which have caused the cold but it also may help as a diaphoretic which helps support sweating to clear the cold from the body.
-
Digestive Complaints - Used traditionally as a tea substitute and as a cure for scurvy, Mānuka was thought to have a strong healing action on the digestive function. It was used for many different types of complaints including diarrhoea, irritable bowel, indigestion and colic.
-
Urinary Complaints - Another area where Mānuka was used extensively to help with a large number of complaints including bedwetting, incontinence and fluid retention.