The kowhai tree has bark that can be used to treat high blood pressure and bruises. For high blood pressure, the bark is boiled for 10-20 minutes and 1 tablespoon is consumed daily to lower blood pressure. For bruises, the bark is added to a warm bath and the bruised skin is lightly scratched before soaking for a few days to help heal bruises, as was done successfully for a rugby player in the 1920s. The kowhai bark has traditional medicinal uses that are prepared by boiling or soaking externally or internally.

1. Kowhai

2. The Kowhai tree is also
known as:
Sophora microphylla.
It grows yellow flowers
hence the name
“kowhai”.
The kowhai tree shown
does not have yellow
flowers as its the month
of May.

3. What can it be used for?
 Kowhai tree bark can be used as a remedy to lower high blood
pressure
 Bruises (Williams, 1996).
How can it be used?
 Kowhai tree bark can be prepared for external application to the
body and internally consumed.

4. Kowhai uses

5. High blood pressure
• The bark is cut off the tree and boiled in a pot of water for 10-20 minutes.
• Take 1 Tablespoon a day.
• You may leave this in the fridge in an air tight container up to 2 weeks.
• Do not take more than the recommended amount as it is possible to have an
overdose (R. Smith, personal communication, May 6, 2015).

6. Bruises
• According to the Nepia story, All Black George Nepia returned from England in 1924-
25 with bruises all over his body. He was informed by his physiotherapist he wasn’t to
play that season however on holiday in Dannevirke at the home of his friend Lui
Paewai, Lui’s mother said she would cure him.
• She broke a bottle and with the sharp edges lightly scratched the bruises and blood
parts.
• She had George get into a warm to hot bath prepared with kowhai bark.
• This procedure was repeated for a few days and, a week or so later, George palyed
football again.
• True story (Williams, 1996).

7. References
Williams, P.M.E. (1996). Te Rongoa Maori. Hong Kong: Reed Publishers.