A comprehensive study of the healing arts of the Maori from the time before contact with Europeans till the present. One section lists individual diseases and injuries in alphabetical order, describing traditional treatments and frequently referring to aspects of Maori astronomy and religion. The bulk of the book is a herbal, giving descriptions of more than 200 plants and their uses. References to material recorded in print is given in chronological order. For many plants there is a discussion of relationships with botanical families to which the plant belongs and a description of medicinal uses through other parts of the world. There are more than 200 colour plates.