Herbarium of the Ancients — Detailed Record

Metrosideros umbellata

Please read before use: the information below describes traditional and informational uses — it does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. If in doubt, during pregnancy, breastfeeding, ongoing treatment, or use in children, seek advice before use.

Enhanced precautions for this plant: Traditional use is very poorly documented scientifically: caution is required and the advice of a healthcare professional is essential before any use. Avoid use in pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as in young children, due to insufficient safety data. Do not confuse with other Metrosideros species with different uses; precise botanical identification is essential. Rātā is a protected species in some regions of New Zealand: wild harvesting may be regulated or prohibited.

Decoction — Root

Traditional root decoction

The root, cut into small pieces, was traditionally simmered at length in water according to Māori practices. In the absence of a reliable and documented modern protocol, this preparation should only be considered after consultation with a qualified professional. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.

Where to find it

Sourcing the plant

Rātā grows wild in the humid and mountainous forests of New Zealand; it is rarely offered in Western herbalism and is mainly found through sources specializing in Oceanic plants.

Harvest season

When to harvest

The root is traditionally harvested outside the summer flowering periods, often in autumn or austral winter, according to locally transmitted practices.

← Back to record