Ngaio or Mousehole tree Scrophulariaceae
Endemic to New Zealand (North Island, South Island, offshore islands, Chatham Island) Pacific Grove, California (Cultivated) Early Māori rubbed the leaves on their skin to repel mosquitoes and sandflies. An infusion of the leaves and the sap from the stem is used for skin ailments, cuts, bruises, swellings and fractures. The boiled leaves are also applied directly to the skin to relieve itch and as a poultice for septic wounds. A vapour bath containing ngaio leaves and leaves from kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum
) and tātarāmoa (Rubus fruticosus
) is useful in treating rheumatism. The young leaf tips are used as a beauty treatment for the hair and scalp and would also remove dandruff. The bark is steeped in water and the liquid used to cure skin ailments. Chewing the leaves or the inner bark is used to cure toothache. Leaf infusions are used to treat digestive complaints, diarrhoea or to facilitate blood flow during menstruation. Infusions of the inner green bark are also used for the treatment of internal complaints. The juice from the inner bark is taken for venereal disease. However despite these medicinal benefits the high content of the liver toxin ngaione in the leaves indicates that the leaves are best considered to be POISONOUS if taken internally. web.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/science/about/departments/sbs/newz...