Example: When woman does not have period for 2-3 months and is pregnant, people say the lizard could eat the baby. To avoid this, boil a handful of stem shavings in 1/2 L water, for 6 minutes and give this drink to the woman twice a day for 5 days. Then the bleeding will stop. There are also dietary restrictions: no coconut, oil, salt, curry. The woman can also not swim in sea for 5 days. But the baby will be healthy if these instructions are followed.
Example: Leaf mixed with Malaxis sp. (MJB 5154) to treat broken bone. Conjunctivitis (pink eye) drip juice from the stem intp the eye 2x day 3 days. Fertility: To cleanse womb squeeze on stem into bottle with water and drink 1L a day for four days to get pregannt.
Example: 1. The fruits are chewed for their juice and the remainder spit out. Locals refer to this as drinking the fruit. 2. The wood of the tree can be used as a post or rafter in either western-style or traditional style homes. 3. When in flower it is considered an appropriate time to clear a garden path for planting. When in fruit, it is time to plant yams in one’s garden.
Example: Young plants for roof rafters, larger plants used for house posts. Women who get pregnant with someone else besides husband use this to abort. Boil a double handful of scraped stem in water and drink 1 cup four times daily to abort. Fruits are edible. Cut it open and eat what’s inside. see more on Youtube
Scientific name: Finschia chloroxantha, Speaker: Johnson Noar
Example: Flower attracts flying fox--hunters know this. Nut is edible, eat green, split fruit to obtain it. Raw, can also fry it in oil and dry in sun, keep 1-2 week to eat. Thios is an important food for the cyclone season. People prepare it when they know the cyclone is coming (emergency food).
Scientific name: Barringtonia racemosa, Speaker: Johnson Noar
Example: Ceremonial: During kava preparation, chewed kava roots are placed on the green leaves of this plant before extracting. One of many leaves used for this purpose.
Scientific name: Macropiper latifolium, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
Example: To treat Dengue Fever, take the leaves, stems flowers and roots, e.g. the whole plant, and squeeze the juice from it, enough to produce 1 cup of liquid. Boil down that liquid until it has color and drinke the whole cup 2 times daily for 3-4 days. This is said to help get rid of pain from the illness.
Example: This is a toxic plant for cows. When they eat it, they die. But the bark can be used to cover food for cooking--cover taro, cassava and other tubers with the leaves when they are being cooked on the fire. The leaves are not toxic to people--only cows.
Example: People use this plant to soften the hair, by taking the roots and stem, pounding them with a stone, and squeezing the juice into the hair--it is said to make it very soft.
Scientific name: Nothocnide repanda, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
Example: Take a coconut leaf, take out the midribs so it becomes a sharp spine, impale the seeds on this, and light them for use as a torch. Leaf used to cover earth oven, and can be put between the stones and the wrapped cooking leaves in order to keep the food clean. Children play with the seeds as marbles