“The young bark is said to contain a bitter principle having tonic qualities similar to quinine” (Goldie). The bark and heart wood have been investigated and much tannin has been found.

Another method was to soak the berries in water for a month or so, usually in the hull of a canoe; then lift them out and dry them on flax mats in the sun. They then rubbed them between their hands to separate the floury part from the skin and kernels before baking them into cake

Steam baths were often prepared for various complaints. They were beneficial in many cases of rheumatism, deep bruising, and skin afilictions; for limbs after they had been broken and set; for women to relieve pain after childbirth, and for many other sicknesses.

In permanent communities, the hangis were dug out in the centres of the kitchens, which were always separate buildings, and used only for cooking purposes.