Totarol™ is a naturally occurring plant extract produced in the New Zealand Totara tree after approximately 150 years of growth. This natural phenomenon protects the tree from bacterial attacks and environmental influences, allowing the tree to grow for thousands of years. Because of this, the mighty Totara is one of the largest trees in the New Zealand forest. Prized by indigenous Māori for the remarkable qualities of its timber - strong, durable and impervious to rot.

Totarol™ has broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. It is active against Staphylococcus aureus; (including methicillin-resistant, epidemic, community and multi-drugresistant strains), Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-resistant), Streptococcus ancomyc (erythromycin-resistant), Enterococcus faecalis (high-levelgentamicin-resistant), Enterococcus faecalis (ancomycinresistant), Salmonella menston, Eschericia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Brevibacterium ammoniagenes and Propionibacterium acnes.

Much like the world famous Manuka Honey but significantly more versatile, Totarol™ has a series of bioactive compounds and associated technologies allowing it to be a crucial fighting agent with following actions:

1. Anti-Bacterial 2. Anti-Microbial 3. Anti-Oxidant 4. Anti-Inflammatory

The Totara is one of the majestic forest canopy trees. Mature Totara trees reach up to 30 metres, although this takes over 100 years. Totara trees can live up to 1000 years or more, making them one of the longest living trees in the New Zealand forest.

Indigenous Māori were wise to the strength and long lasting nature of the Totara tree and its endless uses. Waka Taua, enormous Māori boats capable of carrying 100 warriors, were often hollowed out from a single Totara log. Often the tree was chosen long before it was felled and the east side of the trunk cut at the base to make it easier to cut down in the future.

Māori used the wood for large carvings as well as for framing for their Whare (house). The inner bark was used for roofing and for storage containers, while the outer bark was sometimes used as a splint for broken bones. A pointed Totara stick could be scraped on a slab of softer wood such as Mahoe to make fire. Medicinally, the smoke was a cure for skin complaints, and boiled bark was used to reduce a fever. Totara was also a valued food source, Māori collected the bright red fruit which are sweet and juicy with a slightly piney flavour. Since European times, huge areas of Totara were felled to supply building timber, railway sleepers and telephone poles.

100% organic and sustainably sourced