MEDICINES OF THE MAORI

Te Ao Hou, June 1975, Page 63

MEDICINES OF THE MAORI by Christina Macdonald illustrated by Lorna McArtney Collins, $3.95 reviewed by Sheila Natusch Once again Christina Macdonald shares her interest in herbs: this time, the native herbal remedies of the New Zealand bush and open country. And once again she is abetted by her artist friend Lorna McArtney. Her text is based on lore that will be familiar to many readers of Te Ao Hou, who will perhaps be encouraged to write down remedies their mothers and grandmothers used — because the old way of passing on recipes by word of mouth is not as widespread as it used to be. ‘Used to be’—for a great many of the poultices and potions are described in the past tense, as if no longer used. But I'd back koromiko any day against antibiotics! And an old Maori friend at Stewart Island told me about the flax cure: ‘Crikey it give you a pain — but it did the trick.’ The book is written in a browsing leisurely way, plant by plant, not ailment by ailment or cure by cure. That would have made a much shorter book, because the cures for (say) rheumatism came from many plants; and one plant was often good for many complaints. The use of sphaghnum moss and other natural waddings in baby care is particularly interesting. The drawings are informal, lively line and wash, not a bit ‘botanical’. Yet there is a case for botanical treatment where one species must be carefully distinguished from another, if the drawings are all one has to go by. But here the text gives the botanical as well as the Maori name, and descriptions are clear. It's a pity, though, when the two don't match: how many slits on a manuka capsule make five? It is pleasing to see a drawing of native mint, better known for its elusive tang than by sight. This book does not pretend to be the last word on what is after all a huge subject, but it should start people thinking — and remembering. It adds interest to other books on New Zealand plants, and is perhaps best used with them.