Bush medicine Hyoscine is the Curiously there is little evidence that chemical which Aboriginal people used tea tree oil for its achieved sudden powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial notoriety recently when properties. The species used commercially for larger than normal this purpose is Melaleuca alternifolia, a small doses in Travacalm tree found in northern New South Wales tablets caused severe and southern Queensland. Its germicidal illness in a number of properties were discovered in the 1920s. people. Interestingly, this Cajuput oil is made from the weeping chemical is found in a common rainforest tree known paperbark (M. leucadendra) and the as soft corkwood (Duboisia myoporoides). Indeed, when cajuput (M. cajuputi). In northern Australia, this tree was hybridised with a closely related species last the leaves of several Melaleuca species century the result contained more hyoscine than any other have been used traditionally for treatment of known plant. It was grown commercially to make coughs, colds and on sores and burns, either ophthalmic and sedative drugs, before synthetic versions crushed and inhaled or soaked in water to of the compound were developed. Extracts from the plant create an infusion. The aromatic oils stimulate cells in the dilate the pupil – useful in eye surgery – and during World throat to produce more lubricating fluids thus easing War II considerable quantities of hyoscine were exported irritations which cause coughs. to treat travel sickness in troops and shell shock. In Hyoscine is an alkaloid, a group of 1989, 500 tonnes of dried chemicals which are found in a number Barringtonia racemosa is known as the fish and powdered leaves were of plants and which have a potent effect poison tree because chemicals, saponins, in exported to pharmaceutical on the human central nervous system; the bark stun fish when put in the water. This companies in Germany and well-known alkaloids include strychnine, tree was also used in India as a fever Switzerland. morphine, cocaine and nicotine. treatment and is now known to have Alkaloids in native plants do not seem properties similar to quinine, the anti-malarial Soft corkwood is poisonous to have been important as traditional drug extracted from South American trees. to stock and has been medicines, perhaps because of the blamed for at least one difficulty of determining safe doses. human death, in 1987, when Cycad plants are very toxic although the seeds a man experimentally ate some leaves. Interestingly, it is were an important traditional food, when properly treated. closely related to a desert shrub, pituri (Duboisia The seeds of some species, however, contain an antibiotic. hopwoodii) which was valued as a narcotic and widely traded by Aboriginal people in days gone by. The large leaves of the cotton tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus) can be used as dressings on wounds. The leaf is simply heated over the She oak (Casuarina fire and pressed on to the injury until it equisetifolia) grows commonly sticks, stopping the flow of blood. The flower along the back of beaches. The inner bark, buds of this tree are used in Hawaii as a mild which is a pinkish colour, can be ground up laxative for children. For older children and and used to relieve the pain of a toothache adults the little white, dome-shaped ‘bump’ when pressed on to the affected tooth. When inside the bottom of the flower is used for infused in water, it can be used as a same purpose. The bark of the stem is used mouthwash to relieve a sore throat – but should for congested chests and for a mother not be swallowed. delivering a baby. Cheesefruit (Morinda citrifolia) is Stinging trees (Dendrocnide bottled in Fiji and other Pacific Islands to spp) are to be avoided, due to be sold commercially as ‘cheesefruit juice’, the pain caused by the fine earning over US$1billion over five years hairs in the leaves. These hairs for the company named after the plant, have cell walls full of silica and Morinda Incorporated. The contain a sap which acts on the juice is sold as a performance nerve-endings in human skin, enhancer and antioxidant. causing pain for many months. However, the leaves were Commercial drugs derived from used traditionally as a cure for rheumatism. They were the roots and trunk are used to applied directly to the affected area, but, perhaps less treat high blood pressure. painful, were sometimes pounded and boiled first.

The ripe fruit has an unpleasant smell so, not Banana bush surprisingly perhaps, this is when it is used as a Latex from a number of plants, medicine – as a treatment for common cold, ’flu, diarrhoea including figs and banana bush and asthma as well as for wound treatment. It is said to (Tabernaemontana have a slight anaesthetic effect which provides instant pandacaqui) (left) has been relief for sore throats. Mixed with coconut milk, it is given used traditionally on as a relief from ciguatera in the Torres Strait. Leaves and sores and wounds. fruit can be crushed and inhaled or rubbed on the chest. Recent studies have The bark of this tree is used to reduce fever and the shown that these plants leaves as poultices. In Hawaii, where it is known as contain potent compounds by the ‘noni’, the unripe fruit is pounded with salt and the name of proteolytic enzymes. There is a mixture put on deep cuts. Ripe fruit has also been used as fine line between harmful and helpful chemicals. Latex a poultice to draw out pus. Even more claims are made for from many plants can cause blindness. The banana bush this plant, but as with most ‘magical cures’ they have is related to the highly poisonous oleander and the attracted scientific controversy. For more information on ‘bananas’ are named for their shape, not their edibility. this see www.sgapqld.org.au/bushtucker.html Latex from macaranga (Macaranga tanarius) is very sticky and waterproof. It can be used on deep cuts, The core of the trunk of Owning the knowledge holding the skin certain pandanus trees, An international study found that about three-quarters together like notably screw palm/pine of plant-based drugs developed by pharmaceutical stitches. (Pandanus spiralis) was companies had already been known and used as traditionally used for a traditional medicines. When looking for sources of new number of complaints. drugs, pharmaceutical companies often rely on indigenous knowledge – it saves a lot of time. Having Pounded and/or boiled, it Sandpaper was particularly used for found an organism, the companies must break it down fig The diarrhoea and stomach pain into its various components and search for the one sandpaper fig (Ficus but also for mouth sores and which is active. This may then be made into a drug. This opposita) has, as the name toothache and to relieve process can be time-consuming and expensive. suggests, leaves which are headaches and ’flu. In some Nevertheless, in the end it is usually only the drug as rough as sandpaper. They cases the pith from the prop company which makes the profit – sometimes enormous are used, traditionally, to roots, which support the – while the people who made the initial discoveries gain treat fungal skin infections main trunk, was used. There nothing. The company may even take out a patent on such as ringworm (which is are records from Groote the plant in question and it is not unknown for the not a worm). The affected Eylandt, in the Northern traditional owners to be then charged a royalty for using skin is abraded with the Territory, of pandanus seeds it. Referred to as biopiracy, this trend is on the rise as leaves until quite raw and being consumed for companies increasingly take out patents on organisms, the area then covered with contraceptive some of them common traditional food and medicine the milky latex from the plant. qualities, plants. See http://twm.co.nz/CptHook.htm for more Alternatively the area may but no information. be covered with a green evidence ants’ nest. The stings and to support An ABC Radio National Background Briefing program the formic acid from the ants their on October 13 2002 looked at the problems associated are very painful but effectiveness. with bioprospecting and indigenous rights. A transcript apparently a very effective of the program can be found on www.abc.net.au/rn/ cure. talks/bbing/stories/s701553.htm