The villagers use the oil as an antiseptics, and for treating colds, aches and pains - and even as a hair restorer. A big advantage of this tree species is that it re-shoots profusely after being cut and the coppice shoots can be harvested annually .
Quick regeneration assists the ongoing production of oil.
Regular tree seed collecting expeditions by the Australian Tree Seed Centre to a remote lowland region in the Western Province began in 1981, in partnership with the PNG Forest Authority. In the early 1990s the work was extended to cover assessment of leaf oils. We used a small portable still to extract the oils on the spot. This sparked great interest among the local people. Among requirements for the design of the still were that it should be large enough to produce a worthwhile amount of oil, but at the same time be easily taken apart and reassembled, with components small enough to be carried in a light aircraft, and then for people to carry through the bush.