The mind, body, emotion and spirit are distinctly connected to the health of the individual and to the community as a whole. Observational drawings of local leaf species. FACT SHEET 15 Bush Medicine Aboriginal people have long relied on natural remedies for a variety of ailments, many of which are still used today. This resource is aligned with the Australian curriculum, ACSHE098. The gathering of these plants, their use in traditional medicine, and the performance of ceremonies to ensure their abundance form a strong component of the spiritual responsibilities of Aboriginal women. This tea-like extract of Scaevola Spinescens has traditionally been used by Australian Aboriginal people as a treatment for cancer, intestinal trouble, urinary problems, kidney issues and general illnesses. Tony Rodd/Flickr , CC BY-NC-SA Indigenous medicine – a fusion of ritual and remedy Stunning Australian Aboriginal Artworks painted in the destinctive bush medicine leaves style. But, the bush in Australian culture is as iconic as the Outback. Fevers could be treated by washing the skin after the plant is boiled and left to cool; diarrhoea could be cured by drinking it raw but liquefied; and sore ears were apparently comforted by direct contact with the plant alone. Whilst bush food and bush medicine may usually be associated with plants, Aboriginal people also used the native wildlife as both food and medicine. 1. No doubt, seasonal variations in trees and plants disrupted the ability to prepare specific medicine at times. But, they go further than that in the way in which they see the health of any given person. I will cover its history and practices, fundamentals of Australian bush medicine, and where we find the ancient healing practices of the bush today. The importance of keeping the tribe intact and healthy is very important to these people. Most likely, ancient Aboriginal people were unwittingly using animal fat to absorb and deliver the lipid-soluble active ingredient of a natural compound. Australian Bush Medicine: Ancient Herbalism Through Today, For example, Emu bush leaves, originating from the Northern Territory tribes, have antibacterial and antiseptic properties when applied to the body. The herbal uses of Australian bush medicine are diminishing and it behooves anthropological and medical researchers to study these ancient healing practices. Broadly speaking, most active ingredients in any medicine (even today in modern medicine) tend to be either fat (lipid) soluble, or water-soluble to one degree or another. But, in Australian culture is as iconic as the, . 58 talking about this. Unfortunately, as with many cultures that only pass wisdom by oral tradition and not by producing a pharmacopeia, … Known as Bush Medicine, Australian Aborigines are the original people of this land and already had the knowledge and the way in the Medicinal Use of Eucalyptus. Bush medicine: Aboriginal remedies for common ills, Famous Parkes Radio Telescope given Wiradjuri name ‘Murriyang’. So, that’s certainly something we can all learn from, in terms of watching what we eat, so that we can prevent illness in the first place and stay healthy throughout our life. PLUS your choice of gift. Steve Kemp is an indigenous man living in Woorabinda with a passion for plants. So, thankfully, there is a bit of interest around cataloguing and maintaining at least the ethnobotanical parts of bush medicine. The species used commercially for this purpose is Melaleuca alternifolia, a small tree found in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Carrying full responsibility of both diagnosis and treatment, the spiritual doctor was the only person who had the ability to determine a cause of death, for example. Aboriginal Bush Medicine Australian Aborigines have drawn on the resources of the environment for medicines. Billy goat plum (highest source of Vitamin C on the planet), (anti-inflammatory used as headache, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammation-associated issues), and. “Because he/she treasures the leaves because they are used for medicine.” “Because Aboriginals really care about the bush medicine and want people to respect the leaves. The smoke from burning emu bush was used by Indigenous healers for a number of different rituals. Thought to result in pain relief, the digging stick tree is typically found close to the sea, in a beach forest, or amongst thick coastal scrub. A Reset font size. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people healing and culture are inextricably linked. 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