Our Ancestor’s Canoe Plants: Our Unappreciated Goldmine for Healthy Skin

Our Polynesian ancestors carried with them many canoe plants during their navigational years because of their usefulness in different aspects of their lives. Some of them were for food while others were for medicine, building canoes and for beautification of their skin. We inherit these gifts from them, as such; we must treat them with respect and continue to use them for our skin health. I used to help my mother in making various kinds of Polynesian seed oils, some of them were prepared for our daily usage while others were for gifts to visitors and special occasions. Polynesian seed oils include coconut oil as a base, mix with different varieties of flowers, and other seed oils. Additional ingredients such as mohokoi, langakali, pakopako, feta’u, tuitui and ahi can be added to the base so that one formula can be different from the others. These seed oils contain many skin health benefits, uncovered by science, but known to our ancestors for over thousands of years. We should continue to use our Polynesian seed oils so that we can maintain our healthy, good-looking brown skin and help pass on their beautification legacy to future generations.

Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera L.) has been used for over thousands of years in Polynesia with much, proven health benefits to their lives and our skin physiology. Coconut oil is the base and the other seed oils and flowers are added to differentiate one type of oil from the others. Our ancestors used to relieve stiffness in the joints, rheumatism and back pains by rubbing a liberal amount coconut oil on them (Medicinal Plants of the South Pacific). Additionally, coconut oil was used as ointments to maintain their smooth and soft skin. Others have also used coconut oil with turmeric to treat sick newborn infants and women who have just given birth. Additionally, to place a baby from a breech to a normal position in the mother’s womb, the abdomen is massage with coconut oil.

Sylla et al (Bull Soc Pathol Exot. 2003 May; 96(2): 104-9) reported that different vegetable base (which include coconut oils) lotions and creams gave protection against Simulium damnosum bites and concluded that they were more effective compared to control. Konan et al (Parasite. 2003 Jun; 10(2): 181-4) demonstrated that oil-based formulations are good repellents in the form of dermal pomades. They are recommended as a protection against awakening and bedtime mosquito bites. Likewise, Conrado S Dayrit (XXXVII Cocotech Meeting, Chennai, India. July 25, 2000) reported that various fatty acids in coconut oils have antimicrobial effects against gram+ bacterial species instead of gram- species. Additionally, John J Kabara, PhD (Health Oils From The Tree Of Life: Nutritional and Health Aspects of Coconut Oil) and Sun et al (FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2003 May 15: 36(1-2): 9-17) have reported that monolauric fatty acid, found in coconut oils, have been shown to protect the skin from bacteria and protozoan infections. It also contains monounsaturated fatty acids, which has also been shown to have antioxidant properties with potential benefits against skin aging. These researches, though only a part of all the scientific studies on coconut oil’s health benefits, serve as proof that coconut oils has skin health benefits and so we must continue to use them to beautify our skin like our ancestors who had gone before us.

Tuitui nut oil (Aleurites moluccana L.) has been used for over thousands of years by our ancestors with much skin health benefits, but lately scientific researches have finally verified their effectiveness. It has essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids) that are vital to healthy skin metabolism, provides light moisture and gently lift debris from delicate, dry skin. The precious oil from the nut (57-80%) has also been reported to contain vitamins A, E and F that are good for skin health and wound healings (www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Aleurites_moluccana.html). For these reasons, it is perhaps why all Polynesians, for massaging ache and pain of the body, use tuitui nut oil frequently.

Perhaps I can refresh your memory to this health benefits from the tuitui nut oil. The candlenuts are chewed together with some pakopako and mohokoi flowers until they are soft before they are applied to your skin and rubbed against it slowly. During this process, dirt and other debris from the skin are removed, leaving your skin soft, clean and smells so good. I am sure that we all remember this type of skin treatment. The perfume of the mohokoi flowers is irresistible but the silky and softness of the skin of those who use this ancient skin treatment is unbelievable.

Feta’u nut oil (Calophyllum inophyllum L.), like coconut and tuitui nut oil, has been used for over thousands of years because of its effectiveness in maintaining their healthy skin. As such, we should continue to use them daily so that our skin can be beautiful as theirs. This oil is widely used in the cosmetic industries and is known as Tamanu seed oil. It is reputed to contain three types of lipids which offers moister that is absorbed quickly leaving the skin soft and nice to the touch. It has also been used for treatment of ringworms and scabies (Ridley HN. Malay drugs. 1906. Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States 5: 193, 245 & 269; Perry & Metzger. 1980. Medicinal Plants of East and Southeast Asia: Attributed Properties and Uses. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press). Scientific researches also shown that Tamanu seed oil has an excellent dermo-purifying action due to the presence of an unique fatty acid known as calophyllic acid, which has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. This is why Tamanu seed oil is used on acne; hence, it will help keep our skin healthy (Apora et al. 1962. Calophylloide, a complex coumarin anticoagulant from Calophullum inophyllum L. Department of Pharmacology, all India Institute of Medical Sciences. New Delhi; Bhalla et al. 1980. Calophyllolide- a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Indian Journal of Medicinal Research, 72(Nov): 762-765). Dweck & Medows reported that products containing Tamanu seed oil helps reduce and improve the appearance of scars (Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum)-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2002.24, 1-8; Chevalier, J. Doctoral Thesis. Paris 1951).

The synthetic baby oils and other cosmetics have slowly replaced the use of ancestors’ seed oils for beautification of our skin because it does not involve the laborious process of making them. We must reuse our ancestors’ skin health regimen because the cosmetic industries are mining them for their own benefits due to the advent of scientific researches that have shown and proven why our ancestors had used them. It is imperative that we must use them to beautify our skin and pass on their skin beautification legacy to the future generations as they had done for us.

Facing the Giant--Mamalu 'a Mohuku

I came across a film during the last Christmas holidays and found a movie called, Facing the Giant, and was elated at the doctrinal based-making of the movie. My family and I watched the movie a few times now and feel the importance of using God-given model of success as shown in the Holy Writ to help us in our modern challenges. A great movie, very inspired movie and glad to know that there are others out there who can share their talents for a great cause in a world of chaos.

After watching the movie many times over, I am reminded of what my Tongan ancestors' saying "mamalu 'a mohuku" meaning though the weeds seems larger, it is easier to plug them out than it looks. Hence, though our task may seems undoable at times, like "facing the giant", we can handle it if we carefully use the lessons learned from the models as outline in the scriptures and what our ancestors had taught us to be victorious.

Hehea pea mo e La’i Masi Koka: A Proven Remedy with Efficacy for Over Thousands of Years

Our ancestors were guided by Power from above during their navigational years in the biggest ocean in the world, the Pacific Ocean. That same power enables them to survive and perpetuate the Polynesian race in which you and I have been fortunate and are blessed to be a part of. They faced many challenges and obstacles during those years which help shaped their characters and strengthened their resolved. That same resolved will help us strengthen our faith to keep moving forward in our own navigation through life’s challenges and obstacles to a better future. In ensuring that we will have a better future, they left us with a lot of koloa or gifts. One of the many koloa that they left with us was the knowledge given to them by God concerning the use of ngaahi ‘akau faito’o (medicinal plants) for different diseases (ngaahi mahaki kehekehe) that we need to learn and use for health and vitality. The plants that come to mind are hehea and masi koka which had been used for over thousand of years for pain, inflammation and infections with a proven historical efficacy of a human clinical trial of a differnet nature unlike those of our days.

Hehea (Syzygium corynocarpum Gray) has been used by our ancestors for ornament and medicine for over thousands of years. The medicinal use involves an infusion (huhu'a mei hono tuki pea tatau ‘a e kili’i ‘akau pe ko e lau) of the bark or leaves is dripped into the mouths of babies for teething problems (mostly for pain) in Tonga and drink by adults for treatment of urinary tract problems in Samoa. The same infusion can also be applied topically for treatment of kulokula (inflammations) of the skin. In all, the infusions are used for pain reductions and for its anti-inflammatory effects to cure us from some of the diseases that will inflict us today.

Are there any scientific evidences to support the use of the infusion from the hehea plant for pain, inflammation and infections? Yes there are. One of the pathways involved in pain and inflammation is the arachidonic acid pathway in which the inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is over expressed in tissue injuries (lavea) from a cut or from infections (kona). It has already been established in the scientific literature that inhibiting of COX-2 enzymes will lead to reduction in pain and inflammation. This is why COX-2 enzymes have been targeted by many pharmaceutical drug manufactures. Drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex targeted COX-2 enzymes but seem to be running into problems due to its unforeseen side effects. Fortunately, hehea and la’i masi koka has been used for over thousands of years without side effects. Interestingly, a study by Noreen and her colleagues (Planta Med., 64(6): 520-524) revealed that extracts from four medicinal plants including hehea (seasea) has activities against COX-2 enzymes. This explains in part the efficacy of using the infusion from hehea plant for treatment of pain, inflammation and infections. Though this is one study that I am aware off, more researches in the future will provide more evidences of the efficacy of this medicinal plant. However, their medicinal benefit has started to be exploited by nutraceutical companies in the world especially those who supply plant extract ingredients.

Masi koka (Glochidion ramiflorum) plants can not be used alone but in companionship with hehea plants for reasons that now have been uncovered. It is often referred to as “synergism.” Our ancestors used both of them together because they “…ngāue fakataha…” meaning they worked well together. That is what we now called synergism. In order words they synergistically enhanced each others’ potency for better relief from pain, inflammation and infections.

Masi koka has been used by our ancestors for treatment of pain, inflammation and infections. They used an infusion of the leaves or bark in the same manner that they used the hehea. An infusion is given to babies with mouth infections, taken internally for kahi or stomachache and also applied topically on the skin for inflammation (kulokula). As you can see, two ingredients with medicinal benefits to relieve us of pain, inflammation and infections in one total package-hehea pea mo e la’i masi koka which consequently provided a more powerful health benefits beyond that of either one of them without the side effects associated with drugs.

The knowledge to put these two medicinal plants together can not be from trials and error but from a high power of which we know. I dare say that our ancestors were truly pharmacists in the biggest pharmacy store in the world, the South Pacific Ocean (Islands) for over thousand of years. That speaks for itself. Period!

The Wisdoms of Our Ancestors Part 1

The knowledge that our ancestors had about medicinal plants is irrefutable and one can not deny the fact that they know what plants to use for which ailments. I marvel at how smart they were which humbles me and have developed a greater love and respect for them.

During our ancestors’ navigation across the Pacific Ocean, they had developed a type of calendar based upon the different stages of the moon, trade winds, hurricane season and their different type of crops, even the fishes in the ocean. Their calendar tells us what type of weather to expect, what kind of crops to plant or harvest and many more. Our Tongan traditional calendar consists of 13 months instead of 12. The first month is called Lihamu’a which also accompanied by some type of “ancient chants.”

Ko au ni ko Lihamu’a
‘Uluaki mahina fakakuonga mu’a
Ko e mafana ‘oku ou ha’u mo au
Pea moto ai ‘a e ngaahi ‘akau
Hoto hingoa ngali fakaofo
Ko e fanafanau ai e oo
‘Oku lau ‘i ho no talatupu’a
Ko e ‘omi mei Pulotu tokua

In the final analysis, the first month was identified as Lihamu’a and tells of the kind of weather to expect which is warm. It also described the stages of the plants in nature as being in the budding stage. It seems to point to the future as in harvesting fruits. Concomitantly, it also foretold the birth of the fish known as “oo” which can supplement fruits and crops for proteins. This type of calendar was not made by chance but I believe that it was a result of studying botany, astronomy, oceanography and meteorology not in classrooms like ours but in their daily lives and the knowledge that were passed down from the previous generations. They were experts in these fields but without the M.S & PhDs besides their names. They did not need them for they obtained their knowledge from God who dwells in the Heavens above (Pulotu).

If our ancestors were not smart, we would not be here today. But we are here!

Fear of Doctor's Must Be Overcome to be Healthy

Tongans are taught early on in elementary school and in family settings about their traditions and cultures. As a kid I was fascinated with the stories of my ancestor’s courage to sail the Pacific Ocean in canoes without the use of a modern compass. William Mariner once commented on some of his experiences while he was in the Islands that the captain would often scoop up seawater and tasted it so that he can make a determination as to how far they still have to go to the next island. How did our Tongan ancestors know where to go without the compass? Later, it was revealed that they also used the stars at night as means of navigation. Some profess that the seawater near the land tasted differently than those further away from the island. Whatever the truth might be, I believe that it is not as important as the “substance” that made our ancestors to sail the open waters of the Pacific Ocean without a man made compass. They had the courage, the will and the faith that they have in their ability to navigate the open waters, by following the stars that will lead them to their destination without fear of being lost.

That was then! Now we live not in an island but in a great nation of plenty and opportunities, the land of the free and home of the braves. In this land of plenty we must overcome certain “fears” to efficiently function in our community and navigate the health care systems. In the mist of all of these “fears” there seems to be a certain type of fear that perpetuate in the Tongan communities across this great nation. What kind of fear you ask? Tongans are fearless people and are not afraid of anything. Well I must tell you that they are a lot of Tongan people in the communities (here and abroad) that are so afraid of going to see a doctor or a dentist unless they are really in a health crisis, which is often too late to help them out. Even then, some still refuse to go and see a doctor because they “…are too old (>65) and will soon die…” Why is that? What causes some of them not to go and seek medical help? After talking to some of the Tongan people in the communities across this nation, I have identified several causes of the “fear of doctors” and by no means the list is exhausted.

The first problem seems to go back to the horror stories of how some of the doctors at home (both native & foreign) wrongly operated in some of the patients in the past which causes headache and sometimes death. The horror that happened to either a relative or a friend is perhaps being told too often that it seems to stay fresh in their minds as if it was just a few days ago. This is perhaps one of the reasons why some people do not see doctors as healers but someone who inflict pain and discomfort. This problem can be overcome by leaving the horror stories in the past and set up an appointment for regular check ups. Regular visits to your primary physician can avoid some of the pitfalls of “silent killer” diseases. The sooner you go and see your doctor the better off you will be in the future.

The second problem existing in the communities is the language barrier. We come to America to live and speak like Americans. That does not mean that we should abandon our cultures and traditions that had sustained our ancestors for over thousand of years. We must learn to speak English and if you do not speak English at all please ask a family member, a relative or somebody who does to accompany you to the doctor’s office. Having somebody there that you know will make you feel comfortable and will help you aware of what is going to be done and why.

The last problem which is perhaps the least of all the fears of why some of the older generation do not want to see their doctor’s for their ailments is the medical insurance. Most people find medical coverage in the Medicaid or other federally medical insurance program which help them to cover all or majority of their medical expenses. This problem can be overcome if those who can effectively communicate in English seek out the federal program to which he or she is qualified to have and fill up the necessary forms so that they can be covered. I believe that the younger generation has an obligation to help out the older generation to seek out medical help before it is too late.

Though we do not have to navigate the Pacific Ocean like our ancestors, we still need to have their type of courage, their strong will and their faith to navigate the ocean of opportunities and plenty in this great nation in seeking of a better health. To borrow a line from the movie The Ten Commandments, “…the sick make few (bricks) and the dead make none (no bricks).” The only thing to fear is the result of not going to see your doctor sooner rather than later! Let us start this new year with vigor and determination to be healthier than last year.

Purpose of this Blog

This blog is created for the soul purpose of:

1. Dispensing ideas,
2. Research (science & education),
3. Promoting health in culturally competence format, and concomitantly to
4. Further the conversation pertaining to the enhancement of educational achievements of Polynesians, especially Tongans.

The birds in the ocean were used anciently by Polynesian ancestors to guide them to a school of fish or to warn them of an upcoming danger. As such, preparation was paramount to escape the danger or to gather the fishes for the family. Hence, the name of this blog is Lofa Tala Matangi, simply means-birds tell the wind.