KAWAKAWA BALM

Yesterday we drove to the other side of Kerikeri to a Kawakawa balm making workshop (Kawakawa is a native plant). 

There were seven of us taking the workshop and we thoroughly enjoyed the day.  We had an introduction and then drove a short distance to the bush where we learnt not only about the medicinal properties of Kawakawa but of other native plants as well.

Then it was back to the house for a shared lunch followed by the making of the balm as well as  a lip balm.

As my cough had worsened during the past week and I had a coughing session while there we purchased some dried kumaraho and, when we got home made a tea which I drank and, I must say, the cough was a lot better last night and I managed to get some sleep.  It was interesting that it was kumaraho that is the plant for coughs as that is a plant that Doug was excited to see on a previous walk we did in Kerikeri.  He hadn't seen it in years as it only grows in poor soil and does not like fertiliser so is only found in barren land.  It needs to be harvested when in flower which is why we bought some dried material rather than picking some.

We went home via Paihia as a young lady needed a lift there.  It was still a sunny day when we were there but a short time later we were in a storm and, although we managed to keep going slowly for a while, we eventually pulled over with some other cars until the worst of the torrential rain had passed over.  When we got home there had been some rain but not a lot still it saved having to water the garden.