Harakeke

HARAKEKEPhormium tenax

New Zealand FlaxRegarded as the "aloe of NZ". Draws abscesses. Harakeke may be applied to burns, wounds and sores that are slow to heal. Useful for diarrhoea and constipation and digestive disorders. Also for ringworm, rheumatism, arthritis, muscle pain, chilblains, varicose ulcers and irregular and painful menstruation amongst many other ailments.

Harakeke was traditionally used by the Maori to treat a myriad of ailments and especially pain related conditions. Its cooling and healing properties are particularly good for skin complaints. Its fatty acids help to repair, moisturise and soothe damaged or stressed skin.

In addition to rich hydration from the linoleic acid (almost 70 percent of Harakeke is made up of linoleic acid, one of the best moisturisers born from nature), Harakeke oil also boasts phytosterols that help ease redness or irritation and speed the turnover of surface skin cells, so healthier cells beneath the skin’s surface are revealed faster.

Harakeke, or flax oil, works by balancing out the skin’s natural oils and supporting healthy inflammation management, so damaged skin can recover.

But moisture is not all Harakeke oil has to offer. It includes two essential fatty acids, omega 6 and oleic acids, which work together to help speed cell turnover, lifting away deposits that block pores while supporting skin recovery by managing the regeneration of new collagen and elastin proteins, strengthening the skin’s dermal layer.

Harakeke is also packed with antioxidants that fight free radicals, lessening the age-related damage from the molecules that attack skin cells, resulting in dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles that add unwanted years.

Because it helps rebuild collagen and elastin, resulting in healthy cells, as surface cells turn over, dark spots lift away and skin looks younger and ageless.