Tūpākihi, toot or tutu is widely known amongst farmers as toxic. Cattle and pets who eat the berries or leaves succumb to the active ingredient ‘Tutin’. Poisonous or toxic is a pākehā word and when treated carefully it’s a powerful medicine. But never consume internally. It grows along streams and roads.
Uses:
- Growing in the cracks and the scars of the earth Tūpākihi is a deep acting Rongoā used to treat broken bones, aches, muscles strains. Used in a balm or bathing in it is the most effective way to harness its medicinal properties.