J Ethnopharmacol. 1991 Mar; 31(3): 339-72.

Herbal medicine in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Whistler WA.

National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii 96765.

A study of the indigenous medical practices of the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific was carried out from 1983 to 1989 by interviewing over 50 traditional healers. A list of 105 plant species used medicinally in the culture was prepared, which includes scientific and tongan names, voucher specimen numbers, ailments treated and the reported frequency of usage for each plant and remedy. The uses recorded are compared to those published by previous authors in Polynesia.