Bush Medicine Leaves

The collecting of bush medicine leaves has long been a part of traditional Aboriginal life.

Leaves from many different plants are collected for medicinal uses at different times of the year.

These leaves when collected can be boiled to extract the various oils. This oil when mixed with the fat from a kangaroo goanna or emu makes a paste that can be stored without refrigeration in the bush.

The paste is used on cuts and contusions which occur during normal bush life. There are some mixtures used as a bug repellent.

Leaves can be crushed chewed or they can also be placed on a fire and the steam inhaled.

The leaves can also be soaked in water and the infusion drank or washed over the body.

Some problems treated by using leaves as bush medicine are Headaches, Coughs, Colds, Fevers, Diarrhoea, Wounds Aches and Pains Stings, Sore Eyes and Toothache

There is a great variety of medicine leaves and plants that are used. The colour of the leaves vary with the season and type of plants.

These colourful paintings depict the various colours and hues of these important plants to the Aboriginal culture.

Bush Medicine Leaves Aboriginal Dreamtime Home Page