Harakeke

What is Harakeke?

Harakeke (Phormium tenax) is an iconic New Zealand native plant that has been central to Māori culture for centuries — revered both as a source of strong natural fibre and as a powerful medicinal plant. The leaves, roots, seeds, and seed oil have all been used in traditional Māori healing (rongoā Māori) for a remarkably wide range of complaints. Modern phytochemical research has begun to validate many of these uses, identifying a rich array of bioactive compounds responsible for its healing properties.

How does Harakeke work?

Harakeke's benefits come from several groups of active compounds working together. Its phenolic compounds and flavonoids deliver antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that help calm irritated tissue and support the body's natural repair processes. The saponins and tannins provide antimicrobial action useful for preventing infection in wounds and skin conditions. The seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids — particularly omega-6 linoleic acid and omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid — which nourish and protect the skin barrier and support healthy inflammatory balance throughout the body.

What forms does Harakeke come in?

Traditionally, fresh harakeke leaves were scraped, heated, or applied directly as a poultice to wounds, burns, and skin conditions. Decoctions of the root were taken internally for digestive and pain complaints. Today, standardised leaf extracts and cold-pressed seed oil are the most accessible forms, with topical creams and balms combining both for skin use. Seed oil capsules or liquid oil are used for internal supplementation.

Where it comes from:

In Māori tradition, harakeke holds deep cultural and spiritual significance — the plant's structure (with a central shoot surrounded by parent and outer leaves) symbolises the whānau (family unit). Rongoā Māori practitioners used harakeke extensively: leaves were applied to wounds, burns, boils, and skin sores; root preparations addressed stomach complaints and pain; and the sticky gum from the base of the leaves was used as an antiseptic sealant. This centuries-long tradition of therapeutic use across New Zealand Māori communities represents one of the most well-documented indigenous plant medicine traditions in the Pacific.

What does Harakeke help with?

• Wound healing and skin repair: Harakeke leaf preparations have a well-documented traditional history of being applied to cuts, abrasions, and burns to speed healing and prevent infection. Laboratory research confirms the leaf extract has real antimicrobial activity against common wound pathogens and antioxidant properties that support tissue repair — consistent with centuries of Māori clinical observation.
• Eczema and dry skin conditions: The seed oil's rich essential fatty acid content — particularly linoleic acid — helps restore the skin's protective barrier, which is often compromised in eczema. Regular use can reduce dryness, itching, and inflammation, making the skin more resilient to flare-ups over time.
• Psoriasis and inflammatory skin flare-ups: The combined anti-inflammatory action of harakeke's flavonoids and the barrier-restoring effects of its seed oil make it a useful topical support for psoriasis. It can help calm redness and scaling while nourishing affected skin — best used as part of a broader skin management approach.
• Joint pain and arthritis: Traditionally, harakeke preparations were applied to swollen and painful joints. Its anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds may help reduce the inflammatory signalling that drives joint pain, and the omega-3 fatty acids in the seed oil provide additional systemic anti-inflammatory support when taken internally.
• Muscle soreness: Topical application of harakeke-based preparations has been used in rongoā Māori for muscle pain and stiffness. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of its active compounds may help ease post-exercise soreness and general muscle tension when applied to affected areas.
• Digestive discomfort and stomach complaints: Internal preparations from the harakeke root and leaf have traditionally been used for stomach aches, constipation, and general digestive complaints. The mucilaginous polysaccharides in the leaf may provide a soothing, coating effect on an irritated digestive lining, supporting gut comfort.
• Minor burns and abrasions: Scraped or heated harakeke leaf applied directly to minor burns is one of the most consistent traditional uses across Māori communities. The combination of antimicrobial tannins and saponins with soothing mucilage creates an effective first-aid application that protects the burn from infection while reducing inflammation.
• Skin infections and boils: Harakeke leaf preparations have demonstrated activity against common bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus in laboratory testing, supporting their traditional use for infected skin and boils. The antimicrobial and drawing properties of tannins and saponins help address surface bacterial load and support the body's natural clearing process.
• General inflammation: Both topically and internally, harakeke's rich flavonoid and phenolic content provides meaningful antioxidant activity that helps lower overall oxidative stress and inflammatory burden in the body — a useful complement to anti-inflammatory lifestyle practices.

What can Harakeke help prevent?

• Secondary infection in minor wounds and abrasions (topical antimicrobial protection)
• Skin barrier breakdown associated with chronic dry skin conditions

Which foods are rich in Harakeke?

1. Harakeke seed oil (cold-pressed)

Practical Tips:

Harakeke itself is not a commonly eaten food, but its seed oil can be used as a dietary supplement or culinary oil. To support the same biological outcomes — reduced inflammation, healthy skin, and tissue repair — a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, oily fish), antioxidant-rich colourful vegetables and berries, and zinc-containing foods (pumpkin seeds, legumes) provides a strong nutritional foundation that complements harakeke use.

What are the side effects of Harakeke?

• Mild skin irritation or allergic contact dermatitis (rare, topical use)
• Mild nausea or loose stools with high-dose internal preparations
• Potential for allergic reaction in individuals with plant sensitivities
• Saponin-containing root preparations may cause digestive upset if overused

Good to know:

Harakeke is considered safe for most people when used as directed, both topically and in traditional internal preparations. As with any botanical, patch testing is recommended before broad topical use, and internal preparations should be introduced gradually.

How much Harakeke should you take?

• Recommended daily: Topical: Apply harakeke leaf extract or balm to affected area 1–3 times daily as needed. Seed oil (internal): 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 ml) of cold-pressed oil daily, or equivalent capsule dose. Traditional root decoction: 1 cup of weak decoction, no more than twice daily — consult a rongoā practitioner for traditional preparation guidance.
• Best time of day: Seed oil is best taken with meals. Topical preparations can be applied at any time, with a before-bed application being particularly beneficial for skin repair overnight.
• With or without food: Internal seed oil or extracts should be taken with food to improve fatty acid absorption and minimise any digestive sensitivity.
• Time to effect: Topical wound and skin benefits: noticeable within 3–7 days. Internal anti-inflammatory and skin-nourishing benefits: 2–6 weeks of consistent use.
• How long to take it: Topical use can be ongoing as needed. For internal use, a 6–8 week course is a reasonable starting period; reassess with a practitioner if using long-term. No established need for cycling, but breaks of 2–4 weeks after extended internal use are a sensible precaution.