Kawakawa is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic native plants. You will often see its heart-shaped leaves along forest tracks and coastlines. For generations, Māori have used kawakawa to support digestion, calm inflammation, and promote overall wellbeing.
Today, modern research can help explain why this plant is so powerful.

If you have ever wondered what kawakawa is, how it works, or why it is becoming a hero ingredient in modern longevity formulas, this guide will walk you through the essentials.

1. What Is Kawakawa?

Kawakawa (Piper excelsum) is a native herb that grows throughout Aotearoa. It has bright green, heart shaped leaves and a warm, peppery scent. The plant has a long history of traditional use for digestive comfort, skin health, and general vitality.

People often consumed it as a tea or used it topically as a soothing balm. Even without modern science, kawakawa was recognised as a plant that restored balance.

Today, it is becoming more widely known as one of New Zealand’s most versatile wellness plants.

2. Kawakawa in Māori Tradition

For Māori, kawakawa was a trusted, multipurpose healing plant. The leaves were used to support digestion, ease stomach discomfort, and help the body recover from stress. It was also used to soothe irritated skin and support overall balance in the body.

This traditional knowledge has guided the scientific curiosity we see today. Many of the benefits described in modern research align closely with the ways kawakawa has been used for centuries.

3. Kawakawa Benefits for Gut Health

Your gut is one of the most important systems in your body. It affects digestion, energy, immunity, and the way you age. Kawakawa contains natural compounds that support gut balance in several ways.

Kawakawa can help:

• Soothe inflammation in the digestive tract
  
• Support a healthy gut lining
  
• Promote microbial balance
  
• Reduce discomfort and bloating
  
• Support motility and overall comfort
  
  

When your gut is calmer and more resilient, you feel the difference in your energy and mood. This is why kawakawa for gut health is becoming more popular in both traditional and modern wellness practices.

4. Kawakawa Supports Your Immune System

Around 70 percent of your immune cells live in your gut. This means anything that improves gut health also supports immunity.

Kawakawa benefits immunity by helping:

• Reduce inflammatory signals that place stress on immune cells
  
• Support a more balanced immune response
  
• Strengthen the gut barrier which is your first line of defence
  
• Calm irritation that can weaken immune resilience
  
  

When the gut is irritated, the immune system becomes overstimulated. Kawakawa helps restore balance so your body can respond appropriately when it needs to.

5. Kawakawa and Inflammation (A Key Part of Ageing)

Low level inflammation is one of the major contributors to ageing. It affects energy, joint comfort, immune function, and overall vitality. Researchers call this inflammageing.

Kawakawa has natural anti inflammatory properties which help:

• Calm everyday inflammation
  

• Reduce the burden on the immune system
  

• Support long term tissue health
  

• Improve comfort in both the gut and body
  
  

Reducing inflammation is one of the most effective ways to support healthy ageing. This is why kawakawa is becoming a valuable ingredient in longevity-focused formulations.

6. Why Kawakawa Quality Matters

Not all kawakawa extracts are created equal. The strength and purity depend on how the plant is grown, harvested, and processed.

Aevum uses one of the only pharma-grade kawakawa extracts available. This protects the active compounds and ensures each batch is consistent and effective.

This level of quality matters when you want reliable outcomes for gut health, immunity, and healthy ageing.

7. Kawakawa in Re:juvenate Pro

In Re:juvenate Pro, kawakawa works alongside three other clinically informed bioactives:

• IDP immune defence proteins
  
• Immunel colostrum extract
  
• Rosemary extract (carnosic acid)
  
  

Together, these ingredients support the gut immune axis, calm inflammation, strengthen barriers, and help your body maintain resilience as you age.

Kawakawa acts as both a calming and balancing component, making it an important part of the overall synergy.

8. Why Kawakawa Matters for Longevity

Healthy ageing is not just about adding years to your life. It is about maintaining energy, comfort, and resilience as you grow older. And because kawakawa supports gut health, inflammation, and immune balance, it also supports long-term vitality.

A well-functioning gut is one of the strongest predictors of how you will age. Kawakawa contributes to this by keeping the digestive system calm and the immune system balanced.

Kawakawa is one of New Zealand’s most valuable wellness plants.

It supports gut health, helps calm inflammation, strengthens immunity, and offers benefits that matter every day and as you age. When used consistently and paired with other supportive nutrients, kawakawa can help you feel more comfortable and resilient both today and in the future.