Manuka (Tea Tree)

Rongoā Māori

Manuka (Tea Tree) – Cold, flu & cough

Types – Red Manuka  Leptospermum scoparium, Tea Tree White Manuka-Kunzea ericoides

Description; Manuka is grown throughout New Zealand.  In Rongoā Māori, Manuka is traditionally used for headaches and stomach complaints such as constipation and diarrhoea.  Manuka (Tea Tree) has pointy leaves & flakey bark.

East Cape Manuka Oil was seen to have antibiotic properties due to high levels of Leptospermone seen in studies to act against methicillin-resistant bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (the hospital superbug). It is thought that not all Manuka Oil/Tea Tree oil has this property.

Manuka flowers in Northland from August and later in cooler areas of New Zealand but always in Spring.  Its cousin Kanuka flowers in Autumn and doesn’t have the pointy leaves of Manuka, this is two ways you can tell the difference between these two similar-looking trees.

Primary Use; Cold, flu, cough

Manuka Honey; is excellent for cold symptoms due to its active enzymes, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.  Take a teaspoon in warm lemon water and sip or make a tea tree tea see below for details.

Soothing lemon & honey drink for colds & flu; add a large squeeze of lemon or 1/2 lemon cut into four & 1 teaspoon of honey into 1 cup of hot water and sip slowly.

For a cough, place honey into the fridge to become solid. Then spoon onto a teaspoon and lick like a lollipop.  The licking will help to move mucous, and the manuka honey’s anti-viral/bacterial properties help to combat illness.

Tea Tree Essential Oil; 

Inhalation; place 3 drops into half a litre of near-boiling water (see inhalation sheet for details) you can place sprigs of Tea Tree into the boiling water if the essential oil is unavailable.

Use 3 to 4 drops in a diffuser, and place in the bedroom at night or in the living area.

Portable Inhaler; place a couple of drops onto a handkerchief and take deep breaths through the cloth as required.

Manuka Tea (Tea Tree); is excellent for colds, flu & viruses. Strip the younger leaves from the stalk and grind or chop.  Place them into a teapot or a cup. One packed teaspoon per cup of tea.  Add near boiling 80-degree water and infuse for 10 minutes with the lid on.  Add honey if you wish, and sip slowly.

Manuka Bath; place a handful of leaves into a muslin bag or wrap it into a cotton cloth. Run the bath water through the clothe and then place them into the bath.  You can add other herbs such as calendula and lavender to your herb bundle.  Add in Epsom salt 2 cups for a bath and 1 cup for a foot bath. Excellent for colds, flus and congestion.

Secondary Uses; 

Cooling an area (traditional use in Rongoā Māori) in a plaster-style application.  Crush up leaves in pestle and mortar or with a rolling pin, apply them to an area of the skin, and then wrap a bandage to contain the plant matter.  Used to reduce inflammation and cool an area.  

Also can use in a hot or cold compress/plaster (see instruction sheet for details)

Ear infections – Ear Drops (see instruction sheet for details)

Fungal infections; make up a tea tree oil see sheet on medicinal oils for details. Patch test and apply to fungal infections such as athlete’s foot & nail infections.  

Headaches apply a cool compress made from a tea to the area see compress sheet for preparation.

Constipation & Diahorrea; prepare a Tea Tree or Manuka Tea place leaves into a teapot, one packed teaspoon per cup, and add in 80 degrees just under boiling water, steep for 5 to 10 minutes.  Can add honey. Sip slowly. 

Contra-indications – pregnant or nursing using Tea Tree or Manuka Essential Oil is not advised.  Before using any herbal medicines, seek professional medical advice. The above is for interest only, and your own research is advised.

Shopping list; 

Tea Tree Essential Oil 

Manuka Honey

Tea Tree leaves dried into a jar.

https://teara.govt.nz/en/plant-extracts/page-3

Maori Healing Remedies Ronga Maori by Murdoch Riley

The Modern Herbal Dispensatory, A Medicine-Making Guide by Thomas Easley & Stev