Tamanu, also known as Foraha, Oil is found throughout Polynesia and South Asia. It is not edible but is very useful in skin care. It is UV absorbtive and disinfecting to wounds. Sometimes when we think of skin care, we think of dryness or wrinkles, but Tamanu is a serious oil used for everything from leprosy treatment to burns and ulcerated lesions. We have been using it for about the last 30 years, especially in Feathered Turtle, our anti-scarring formula.
In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used for rheumatism, sciatica, eczema, and acne. It has some cytotoxic properties and can be combined with other oils, like Andiroba, and essential oils to achieve the desired goal.
French doctors in Tahiti saturated bandages and wrapped the wounds of lepers. They reported remarkable results. This is an oil with a colorful ethnobotanical history and its healing properties should not be underestimated.