Description

Charlie Gilligan

This artwork illustrates the wildflowers that Aboriginal women in Central Australia gather. Some of these flowers and plant s

pecies possess natural healing properties, serving as bush medicine for Aboriginal people.

“Bush medicine” refers to the traditional medicinal knowledge and practices of Aboriginal communities. Different language groups hold unique knowledge of bush medicine, shaped by their specific environments across Australia. Many Aboriginal people continue to rely on this knowledge today.

Typically, bush medicine is derived from plant materials like bark, leaves (such as tea tree oil from Melaleuca), and seeds. Techniques such as steaming, smoking, and heating are also vital practices in bush medicine, often applied to the sick and newborns.