Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 8, 1 August 2021 — lt's Tea Time! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

lt's Tea Time!

V MALAMA I KOU KINO V ^ CARE FOR YOUR BODY

By Jodi Leslie Matsuo DrPH The mamaki plant is a staple in any Hawaiian medicine cabinet, as it's known to help with a variety of heahh conditions. Found throughout the islands growing wild on mountain slopes, in a relative's backyard, or at loeal Farmers' Markets, it's easy to find for those living in both rural and urban areas. It is commonly prepared as tea or in combination with

other plants or herbs, depending on the ailment being treated. In traditional times, mamaki was used to alleviate fatigue and ease childbirth, PMS, digestion, and when cleansing. Today it is more eommon-

ly used to help lower biood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars. Some people also use it to improve mood, cure bladder infections, or heal the liver. One or two cups of mamaki tea eaeh day is recommended. Mamaki has recently been identified as a powerful antioxidant, with levels higher than those found in oolong and hlaek tea, and comparable to that found in green tea. Antioxidants help protect your body against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and more. The antioxidant level is at its highest when mamaki had been brewed for an hour. But don't brew too large a batch because antioxidant levels decrease eaeh day - after three days antioxidant levels decrease by almost 50%! Because of its high antioxidant lev-

els, mamaki ean help prevent viral infections and kill viruses. It ean also be used topically as an antibacterial, promoting wound healing and preventing strep (streptococcus pyogenes) and staph (staphylococcus aureus) infections. Mamaki ean also serve as an antifungal, helping to treat ringworm and certain nail and skin infections. Tea ean be made using either fresh or dried mamaki leaves. Some prefer to put a eouple leaves in a eup of hot water, then letting it steep for about 10-15 minutes before drinking. Another way would be to boil the leaves until the tea is an amber color. For traditional Hawaiian diet programs, we serve mamaki tea with the evening meal, as a healthy substitute for sugary drinks as well as for its medicinal value. For Hawaiian cleanse programs, we use mamaki, along with leaves from other plants, to make

teas as part of a total body cleansing and detox protocol. The leaves were kept even after the tea was consumed. When the pot would get low, more water was added to boil another pot of tea. The leaves continued to be reused

as long as the same amber color was achieved, typically three batches. Before taking any herbal preparation, talk to your doctor so they ean advise you of any possible interactions with your medications and/or heahh condition. Those taking blood thinners, diuretics, diabetes medications, and lithium need to be cautious when using mamaki tea. ■ Born and raised in Kona, Hawai'i, Dr. Jodi Leslie Matsuo is a Native Hawaiian Registered Dietician and certijied diabetes educator, with training in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. Follow her on Paeehook (@DrJodiLeslieMatsuo), Lnstagram (@drlesliematsuo) and on Twitter (@DrLeslieMatsuo).