Lets talk about…KAWAKAWA balm!
Why every raver should have some Kawakawa balm handy at all times. Every one who has been to a festival can attest to the inevitability of picking up some cuts, scrapes and bruises by the end of the journey, some badges of courage, some potential new scars that you’re going to tell festival tales to the soulmate you will definitely find in the future about-unless of course you’ve already met this soulmate, and then you’re already set, you’ll already have some loving care for your healing aftermath already waiting for you.
Today, we’re giving you an amazing tool for your medicine bag, that will prevent any infections from forming, help skin regeneration, moisturizing to prevent scabs from cracking.
What is Kawakawa?
Kawakawa is a Native shrub or tree in New Zealand, it has incredibly aromatic leaves and fruits. When the fruits are in season, they ripen to a red colour, and are incredibly sweet and nutritious. The leaves are harvested which have the little holes that form on mature leaves. DO NOT pick the leaves which don’t have holes on them yet. It is related to kava, in the Piperaceae family, which is the true pepper family.
What Does Kawakawa Do?
The Māori tradition states that Kawakawa is useful for a range of applications both topical, and ingested.
Internal use: Toning the kidneys, treating stomach problems.
External use(Simply make a poultice): Healing cuts, wounds, boils, abscesses, and nettle stings.
Other uses: Treating skin conditions, toothaches, rheumatism, and as a decongestant.
Lets Make Some Balm!
Start by gathering up some Kawakawa leaves, making sure to pick only the ones which have the little holes through them. This means the alkaloid profile of the leaf has developed completely.
After you’ve go a good amount of leaves. Cut or rip them into small pieces. Then, place the shredded leaves in the top part of a double boiler.
Next, cover the leaves with an oil you like, olive oil or coconut is great. Sunflower oil is also really good for your skin. Just add enough oil to cover the leaves. The less oil used the more potent the infusion is.
Simply add water to the bottom pot in the double boiler. Cover it all with a lid, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat so its simmering, and at a simmer double boil for about 4 hours. Make sure to keep an eye on the water level, so it doesn’t run out during this procedure.
Next you simply filter the leaves from the oil using a muslin cloth. Give it a good squeeze to get the last drops of goodness out of the leaves.
Put it in a convenient jar, and VOILA. You have an amazing multi use tool in your rave knapsack. The Swiss Army Knife of ointments-KAWAKAWA BALM!
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