The Medical History of the Horopito Plant

Raena Morgan: Dr. Lepisto, you speak a lot about the Maori healers in New Zealand. Could you tell us what you learned from them, or about them? Dr. Christopher Lepisto: First of all I learned the traditional uses of the horopito plant from the Maori healers. And, I discovered that a lot of these traditional uses were being confirmed by modern science. For example, the Maoris used the herb to treat ringworm or skin fungal infections and, the greatest current science on horopito is all about what it does for fungus and what it does for skin and internal infections. Raena Morgan: That's a really old, old plant, isn't it? Dr. Christopher Lepisto: It's a very old plant. In fact, it comes, it's so old it's of the time in which plants were not even developing a deep root system for their water supply. And so, they have very porous tubes with in the actual shrub itself. It requires a very, very moist environment. Lo and behold New Zealand rain forest where there's a lot of moisture for it to thrive. And, it's because it's such an ancient plant it's kind of the caliber of Ginkgo. Ginkgo is one of the other ancient, ancient trees that are out there. Raena Morgan: Okay, and then there's a story about how the Maori women, how they wean their children from breast milk. Dr. Christopher Lepisto: Yes. Raena Morgan: How did they do that? Dr. Christopher Lepisto: Well, this is how they did it. They used the horopito plant which is a pepper family plant, and they rubbed it directly on the nipples. And so, that would make it a very spicy taste for these infants. Lo and behold, they didn't want to nurse anymore. Raena Morgan: Well, that sounds effective. Dr. Christopher Lepisto: It is and, you know, it's not unlike some stories I've heard of grandmothers putting Vicks on their nipples. Raena Morgan: Um hum, yes. Like my grandmother did. Dr. Christopher Lepisto: Like your grandmother. Exactly, like we are just talking about. Raena Morgan: All right. Well, thank you Dr. Lepisto.