.jpg)
Discover the 'sensitive' plant
By Barbara Fahs
The holidays are over. It's a stressful time for some people, so now that normal life has resumed, it's the perfect time to clean out your closets, make a big pot of hearty soup and just kick back and relax. And if you are so inclined, maybe you'd like to indulge yourself and your partner with a massage using an oil you can make from one of our common weeds.
Mimosa pudica is best known in Hawai'i as "sleeping grass" or "sensitive plant" because of its habit of closing up its little leaves when you touch them.
In Hawaiian it is called Pua Hilahila, which translates to "ashamed" or "bashful." The Hawaiians of olden times used its leaves and flowers to make a tea to promote restful sleep. They also made massage oil from the roots, which are thought to have aphrodisiac properties.
Hilahila was introduced to Hawai'i from its native Brazil. It's a creeping ground cover, although it can climb other plants. Its puffy purple flowers form small bean-like seedpods and those seeds replant themselves rampantly. In addition to its aphrodisiac effects, it has been used for insomnia and central nervous system disorders. The Mayans in Belize, Central America, prepare the plant as a sleep aid by toasting the leaves and stems, reducing them to a powder by passing the mixture through a sieve, then sprinkling the powder into the last meal of the day. Others smoke the powdered leaves.
If you don't already have Hilahila growing on your property, you might think twice before you purposely introduce it because it's a pesky weed whose small thorns make it hard to pull out of the ground. But if you want to grow it, gather some dried seedpods from a friend's yard. Soak them in hot water for 12 hours and then plant the seeds that have swelled up. Cover the seeds with one-quarter inch of soil. You can start them in a flat full of potting soil or plant them directly into a sunny spot in your garden.
Relaxing tea
Gather 10 fresh sprigs of Hilahila, 6-inches long, then chop them into 1-inch pieces. You can include the flowers and seeds if there are any. Place your plant material into a teapot, then cover with boiling water, and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain and drink it hot or chilled.
Massage oil
Dig the root of large plants. Wash, then chop it into half-inch pieces. Place in a mortar and pestle and mash to release the essential oils. Place mashed pieces into a clean glass jar approximately half full. Add almond or grape seed oils (or a combination of oils) to fill the jar and then cover it. Bake at 170 degrees for three hours or leave in the sun for several days. Strain and add essential oils of your choice and vitamin E oil, which serves as a natural preservative. If you wish, transfer your finished oil to smaller, flip-top plastic bottles for convenience.
Note: The use of herbal products should not be taken lightly. Consult a physician before using any herb, especially if you are pregnant or are taking any prescribed medications, due to drug interactions.
