Australian Bush Medicine

Australian Bush Medicine
Your task is to research the use of Bush Medicine by traditional Aboriginal Cultures. Research their understanding of
disease using the links and additional resources to answer the following questions.
Once complete, upload your findings to the Class Task on Simon.
Suggested links:
Bush Medijina
Australian Geographic
Bush medicine video
Aboriginal Medicine
1. What is bush medicine?
Bush medicine refers to traditional healing practices that have been used for centuries by
indigenous peoples around the world, particularly in Australia and parts of Africa.
2. Bush medicine has been used for generations by Aboriginal people. Why is there still so much
mystery of this practice to other Australians? Relate your answer to how Aboriginal people typically
communicate with other generations.
One reason why there is still so much mystery surrounding bush medicine practiced by Aboriginal
people is due to a lack of communication and understanding between different generations in
Australia. Aboriginal people have a strong oral storytelling tradition that is passed down from
elders to younger generations. However, due to the impact of colonization, the forced removal of
children from their families, and the loss of traditional languages and cultural practices, this
transmission of knowledge has been disrupted.
As a result, many younger Aboriginal people may not have access to the same level of
understanding and knowledge about traditional bush medicine practices as their elders. Similarly,
non-Indigenous Australians may also lack awareness and understanding of these practices due to
historical factors and ongoing systemic inequalities.
3. In the bush medicine video, what was one reason given as to why many Aboriginal communities still
use bush medicine instead of western medicine from pharmacies?
One reason given was that Aboriginal communities still use bush medicine because it is easily
accessible and readily available in their traditional lands, whereas western medicine from
pharmacies may not be as accessible or affordable.
4. For many generations, Aboriginal people did not understand that illness was caused by bacteria and
viruses. What was the Aboriginal understanding for cause of disease?
Aboriginal people believed that disease was caused by spiritual or supernatural forces, such as
being cursed by a shaman or having one's spirit stolen by an enemy. They also believed that
illness could be caused by not following cultural protocols or breaking taboos. Rituals and
ceremonies were often performed to heal the sick and restore balance to the individual and
community.
Use the below link to find a list of 10 commonly used Bush Medicines.
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2011/02/top-10-aboriginal-bush-medicines/
Research the resources used by the Aboriginal people for medicinal purposes and fill in the table below.
Resource How did the Aboriginal people What conditions are treated What do we use today to treat
prepare this plant for use? with this plant? the same problems?
Tea tree They crushed its leaves and applied Wounds and sore throat Antiseptic
its paste to wounds and made it into
tea
Emu bush Made the leaves into concoctions Sores and cuts Antibiotics
and gargled it
Eucalyptus Infusion Body pains, fever, and chills. Aspirin
Snake vine By crushing sections of the vine Headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
and other inflammatory ailments drugs
Goat’s feet Crushed and heated the leaves of Pain relief from sting ray and stone Lidocaine
the plant. fish stings
Billy goat plum They eat the fruit Deficiency of vitamin c Vitamin C drug
Desert mushroom They suck on the mushroom Sore mouth or lip benzocaine
Witchetty grub Source of bush tucker crushed into a Burns Over the counter ointments
paste
Sandpiper fig and stinking The rough leaves of the sandpaper Itching and ringworm Clotrimazole
passion flower fig were crushed and soaked in
water; The pulped fruit of the
stinking passionflower was then
smeared on to the affected area.
Kangaroo apple The plant contains a steroid which is swollen joints Mustard poultice
important to the production of
cortisone.

Australian Bush Medicine

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Australian Bush Medicine

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Australian Bush Medicine

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Australian Bush Medicine

Once complete, upload your findings to the Class Task on Simon.

Bush medicine video

1. What is bush medicine?

You might also like