Medicinal Monday... Native Hawaiian Ti

Hawaiian medicinal plants grow in the vicinity of heiaus or temples that are considered sacred to Native Hawaiians. This culture has a  long history as traditional healers that practiced La'au Lapa"au or medicinal healing. Most plants used in healing in Hawaii are also consumed and used in ceremonies.

Hula Dancers in traditional Ti plant leaf skirts

About Ti Plant

This plant should never be confused with the tea plant although it often is. Like the evergreens of Connecticut, the Ti plant is also evergreen which has great cultural importance to many countries in the South Pacific. It is cultivated for food, traditional medicine, and as an ornamental because of its' beautiful leaves.  Ti is a palm-like plant that grows up to 13 feet and has a beautiful fan-like cluster of broadly elongated leaves at the tip of its slender trunk. It also has long branches known as panicles of small yellowish-red flowers that mature into red berries. It can be propagated by cuttings from the stalks or from the rhizomes.

Medicinal and Domestic Uses
In ancient Hawaii, the Ti plant was thought to have great spiritual power and only the shamans (kahuna) or Chiefs (ali'l) were able to wear the leaves of this plant around their necks during certain ritual activities. The Ti plant is sacred to the god of fertility and agriculture and is also associated with the goddess of the forest. Ti is used to make lei and to outline borders of a property as well as to keep evil spirits away. The leaves are used to make items of clothing including skirts that are worn in dance performances.  Fibers of this plant are extracted from the leaves and used to make cords and bird traps. 

Medicinally Hawaiians apply the leaves of this plant to the chest to treat dry fevers. The flowers are pounded into a fragrant powder and used to treat nose growths. The flowers and stems are pulverized and mixed with poi and eaten to treat colds, coughs, and asthma. A tea is made from the leaves to relieve muscle tension. And, for beauty rest, the leaves are woven into a wreath and worn for relaxation of the mind and body.

Did You Know

The roots of the Ti-plant are mixed with water and fermented into an alcoholic beverage known as okolehao.

The Hawaiian hula skirt is a dense skirt with a layer of more than 50 Ti plant leaves trimmed and shaped at the bottom and top.

Today Ti plants are planted around houses in Hawaii as a way to bring good luck.  

Ti leaves are used at luaus for skirts, decorations, and as food wrappings.