Catholic nun Suzanne Aubert made herbal remedies from native plants to treat Māori patients. Her remedies were sold commercially in the 1890s. They were packaged in colourful boxes printed with Aubert's image, which was intended to suggest they were trustworthy and reliable.
Listen to the sound file for more information about her remedies.
Transcript
Suzanne's interest in medicine was a long standing one. She'd studied science and botany in France. One of very few women to do so and during her years in Auckland she was introduced to New Zealand native plants and herbs by Sister Peata. At Meeanee and later at Jerusalem, she produced her medicines commercially with the approval of Bishop Redwood. There's no doubt that they were most successful. But the commercial venture turns sour when Suzanne discovered that the bottlers had been diluting her recipes. Outraged, Suzanne destroyed everything.
We've only got a few relics of them left here in the archives.. the recipes she destroyed. She'd never told anybody what the contents of her remedies were and she destroyed the lot of them.
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: F.004583/06
Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (Connexions - Mother Aubert Documentary - By the pleasure of God/Reference: 9007)
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.