the essence of Rongoā
Rongoā is the Māori term for medicines that are produced from native plants in New Zealand. It also includes physical techniques like massage, and spiritual healing. Although early Māori may not have known what today’s scientists know about our immune system, they had worked out how to treat diseases and infection. Traditionally, Māori had a holistic approach to healing. It included the mind, body and spirit – mauri (spark or life force), tapu (natural law) and wairua (spirit). Whakapapa (genealogy) was also a factor to consider in the healing process. Tohunga, the medical practitioners or healers of the Māori world, passed their knowledge down through the generations, and modern Māori healers still use many of the concepts and practices.
Māori systems for treating illness were well developed before Europeans arrived in New Zealand. There is evidence of quite detailed knowledge of anatomy, understanding of physiological principles, and recognition of the healing properties of various plants. When Europeans first visited New Zealand, the average age of death for Māori adults was around 30. However, apart from this the people were fit and healthy, and troubled by few diseases. Scientist Joseph Banks, travelling with British navigator James Cook around 1770, noted that Māori were ‘as vigorous a race as can be imagined and appeared to suffer from few diseases.'
‘So simple a diet accompanied with moderation must be productive of sound health, which indeed these people are blessd with in a very high degree. ... I do not remember a single instance of a person distemperd in any degree that came under my inspection ... Such health drawn from so sound principles must make physicians almost useless.’ - Joseph Banks
The good health, lack of disease and minimal use of herbal treatments that Cook’s crew observed has led many to believe that Māori discovered herbal medicine after Europeans arrived in the country. More than 200 plants were used medicinally by Māori. Harakeke (flax), kawakawa, rātā and koromiko had many recorded uses. It is likely that Māori already used native plants for healing to some degree, though they were probably not a large part of the tohunga’s therapeutic repertoire. Illness was often seen as spiritually based. Māori saw themselves as guardians of the earth, and the focus of their existence was to remain at one with the natural (and supernatural) world. Rather than a medical problem, sickness was often viewed as a symptom of disharmony with nature.
Illnesses were divided into mate atua (diseases of the gods) and mate tangata (whose symptoms were more clearly due to physical causes). Mate atua were often attributed to attacks by malevolent spirits, because the person had broken a tapu (religious restriction) – for instance, if they took food from a river where someone had died, or took a stick from a tree that had held their ancestor’s bones, and placed it on a cooking fire.
Illnesses were divided into mate atua (diseases of the gods) and mate tangata (whose symptoms were more clearly due to physical causes). Mate atua were often attributed to attacks by malevolent spirits, because the person had broken a tapu (religious restriction) – for instance, if they took food from a river where someone had died, or took a stick from a tree that had held their ancestor’s bones, and placed it on a cooking fire.
From the later 20th century, there was renewed Māori interest in rongoā. This was due to several factors:
Although Māori largely accept Western concepts of health and illness, and use the mainstream health system, there is significant demand for rongoā today. This is particularly the case for unusual illnesses, or those that fail to respond to standard medical treatment. Some conditions are seen as ‘mate Māori’ (Māori sickness) – caused by an infringement of tapu (religious restriction).
- the resurgence of all aspects of Māori culture
- a loss of confidence in Western medicine – partly because Māori health continued to be poorer than that of Pākehā
- problems with access to health care for Māori
- the perceived lack of a spiritual dimension (taha wairua) in Western health services.
Although Māori largely accept Western concepts of health and illness, and use the mainstream health system, there is significant demand for rongoā today. This is particularly the case for unusual illnesses, or those that fail to respond to standard medical treatment. Some conditions are seen as ‘mate Māori’ (Māori sickness) – caused by an infringement of tapu (religious restriction).
Rongoā Māori (Traditional Māori healing) through the eyes of Māori healers:
Sharing the Healing while Keeping the Tapu
By Glenis Mark, 2012
References
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. (n.d.). Rongoā – medicinal use of plants. Retrieved from http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/rongoa-medicinal-use-of-plants/page-1
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. (n.d.). Rongoā – medicinal use of plants. Retrieved from http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/rongoa-medicinal-use-of-plants/page-1