by Vadim Osadchi

Created on: January 06, 2009

Though Aboriginal people experienced healthy living, coinciding harmoniously with nature, they still depended on bush medicine. Living in the wilderness, they were susceptible to both disease and injury. Not only did the Aboriginal people rely on medicinal herbs, they also used massage, special healing bathes, and traditional chanting to aid the inflicted.

Their medicine was derived wholly from nature, which also worked to keep them healthy. This way, they avoided all the harsh chemicals that we find in our daily medicines. For example, crushed bulbs of the Onion Lily plant were used as a solution to rub over and relieve agitated skin.

Most of the time, herbs and magic went side-by-side. Although some of the Aboriginal medicinal practices are still in use today, most of the culture has faded. Magical healing, where they performed sacred rituals involving blood sacrifices and chanting, has been left behind long ago, probably because these practices have been looked down upon as time progressed. The Aboriginals were a spiritual people. They believed dark magic and entities could drastically alter their lives. If someone were sick, that person might've been plagued by an evil entity brought on by a malevolent sorcerer. A ceremony would then take place. During said ritual a leader of healing would be called forth to identify the culprit who'd cast the evil spell.

These spiritual doctors, often men trained from a very early age, held great power within their village. With tribal secrets passed down to them by the village elders, they were the only people who could both identify a cause of illness or death and go about treating an ailment.

Nowadays, Aboriginal medicine is made often in secret. They use such herbs as the asthma plant (Euphorbia hirta) and the African tamarind tree fruit to concoct natural remedies and to keep their tradition going strong. With so many herbs being introduced at various time periods, it is obvious that Aboriginal bush medicine has continued to advance.

Herbs were used as medicine in varied and unique ways. Sometimes they'd be crushed up and given to the patient to inhale, washed over the body, or given to chew on.

The Aboriginal people had all kind of herbs for various ailments including: Red ash, Tamarind and Snake vine which were crushed or inhaled to relieve headaches.

River grasses and River mint were crushed and drunk to help with coughs and colds.

The Beaty leaf was used as a natural pain reliever.

Learn more about this author, Vadim Osadchi.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.