Bush medicine in Australia’s backyard
Bush medicine is a powerful and ancient part of the culture and heritage of many of Australia’s First Nations. For centuries First Peoples have passed down and shared their practices and stories of how Australia’s native flora can be prepared and used for healing.
Bush medicine involves taking the leaves, fruit, bark, sap and/or roots of specific native plants, and preparing them in such a way that their medicinal properties (e.g. antibacterial, anti-inflammatory) are activated. These remedies have been used to treat conditions ranging from upset stomachs and infections, to burns and rashes, and many illnesses in between.
In recognition of 2020 being the 'International Year of Plant Health', and with respect to the First Nations of the SQ Landscapes region, here are three native bush medicine plants worth noting.
A word of caution:
Many Australian native plants are highly toxic and difficult to identify. Unless you are experienced in the identification, collection and safe preparation of bush medicine, or accompanied by someone who is, it is inadvisable to harvest or use bush tucker for medicine or food.
Please also be aware that the harvesting of plants is restricted in some areas e.g. national parks.
Quandong (Santalum acuminatum)
Quandongs (or Wild Peach) are a native fruit found in arid and semi-arid areas of southern Australia. The mature fruit is bright red and around 15-25mm in diameter. It grows as a shrub or tree and is parasitic in nature, sucking water and nutrients from a host plant to survive. It is a tart-tasting fruit, but the sugar content increases as it dries.
Quandongs contain twice the Vitamin C of an orange, and are a valuable source of Vitamin E, folate, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc.
An incredibly versatile fruit, quandongs can be eaten raw, made into jams, pies and other desserts, frozen, dried, or utilised in bush medicine. Their centre kernels are ground to create powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory pastes for treating skin conditions and toothaches, the roots are made into an infusion to treat rheumatism and the leaves to treat stomach aches.
Quandong grind stones have been found in First Nation sites throughout the Murray-Darling Basin and are believed to have been used for more than 50,000 years. They can be difficult to grow domestically but dried quandongs can be found in health food/bush tucker stores throughout Australia and online.
Quinine Tree (Alstonia constricta)
The Quinine Tree (or Native Quince or Bitterbark) is part of a family of plants known as alkaloids. A common characteristic of alkaloids is a bitter taste, which can indicate either a therapeutic or, equally important if used effectively, poisonous quality.
The ripened fruit is small, round and bright yellow or orange. It grows on full shrubs or trees which can grow up to 6 metres high. As the fruit dries, it sheds its flesh and explodes, shooting the seeds in all directions. Native to coastal areas of northern Australia, north-east New South Wales and the Darling Downs region, the quinine tree grows commonly in thickets on sunny hill sides.
Traditionally, the bark and roots of the quinine tree would be prepared into liquids for treating diabetes and other illnesses including sores and headaches. The fresh fruit can be used to ease toothaches, malarial symptoms including fever, and as birth control.
The potent astringent and antiseptic qualities of the plant can make it difficult to control the outcomes of quinine when used medicinally.
Despite the bitter taste, emus eat quinine fruit which also helps to disperse seeds for regrowth.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp)
One of the most prevalent and iconic native Australian plants, the eucalyptus is easy to identify due to its distinct look and aromatic aroma.
There are more than 700 different species of eucalyptus in Australia.
From short and bushy garden species, to the world’s tallest flowering tree (Eucalyptus regnans), eucalypts are incredibly diverse plants. Eucalypt flowers range in size and colour, producing white, yellow, pink and red blossoms. These blossoms attract native stingless bees that help pollinate the plants while producing honey from nectar known as 'sugarbag' bee honey - another bush tucker produced with the help of eucalypts.
Eucalypt aroma can be described as having likeness to peppermint, lemon or pepper. In bush medicine, aromatic plants are regarded as important for treating respiratory diseases. The bark, leaves, flowers and resin known as 'kino' of different eucalypts offer a variety of healing qualities.
Eucalyptus leaves and bark can be infused for body pains, fevers and chills, while the kino can be used to treat wounds and the oil (harvested from glands in the leaves) is used not only by First Nation peoples, but also commercially as an antimicrobial in mouthwash, lozenges, cough suppressants and topical balms.
Fossilised eucalypt flowers have been dated as 52 million years old, while the genome of the Australian rose gum (Eucalypt grandis) indicates these plants have been around for at least 109 million years.
To learn more about this native treasure, visit ABC Science’s Eucalypts: 10 things you may not know about an iconic Australian.
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