PAINTING STORY

Karnta Jukurrpa (Women’s Dreaming) – Bush Medicine

Aboriginal medicine is widely practiced in the Northern
Territory today. It is a complex system closely linked to the
culture and beliefs of the people, their understanding of the
land and its flora and fauna. It is a holistic approach,
intergrating the social, physical and spiritual aspects of health
and life. The Warlpiri health system includes the ngangkayikirli
or traditional healers; the Yawulyuceremonies, (Napangardi
Women’s Jukurrpa); and the Herbal or Bush Medicine.
Depicted in this painting are the bush medicine plants that
grow on traditional homelands in the Northern Territory,
plants that are collected by the women. The Warlpiri have
extensive knowledge of plants, and the use of bush medicine is
shared by the whole family and not to any particular group.
Over fifty different medicinal plants have been recorded, all
containing biologically active compounds. They are mainly
used symptomatically for coughs and colds, pains and aches,
and digestive problems. Some are used as dressings for
wounds and sores. Plants used on sores and wounds contain
proteolytic enzymes that help healing. Below are just a few of
the many medicinal plants that grow in the Northern Territory.
In preparing tonics, Biter Bark (Alstonia constricta), is often
used, which contains reserpine, a tranquilliser and
an􀆟hypertensive. Gumbi Gumbi (pittosprum angustifolium), a
small shrub with little star-shaped yellow flowers and
yellow/orange skinned fruit, a versatile indigenous medicine, is
used in a number of traditional medicinal applications, from
the treatment of coughs and colds to eczema, and even used
for lactagogue(milk let-down) activity. Although both the fruit
and the seeds have medicinal properties, it is the leaves (used
as a tea, tonic, dried in capsules or in salves/creams), that yield
the most effective treatments. The readily available native
lemon grasses (Cymbopogon ambiguus A. Camus) is also used
as a tea/tonic, and is effective for treating diarrhoea, and
coughs, sore throats and colds. It can also be applied to the
skin for treatment of rashes and sores, and a root poultice
mixture can be applied to ears for earaches.
Ngalyipi(Snake Vine – Hibbertia scandens), is another effective
anti-inflammatory and antiseptic bush medicine. The leaves
and stems are warmed and mashed into a paste and used for
pain of arthritis, for joints and other inflammation caused by injuries.
wounds.injuries. Ngarlkirdi (Witchety Grub), a good bush tucker is also
a good bush medicine and when crushed and made into a
paste is used externally for the treatment of burns and open
wounds.

Artist: Patricia Nakamarra Oldfield

GARMENT INFO

• Organically grown wild bamboo
• Loose fit
• Chest pocket
• Bamboo wood-look buttons

COMPOSITION

65%  Bamboo Fiber  35% Cotton

Care and Use Instructions: cold machine wash with like colours. Do not bleach, soak or rub

Do not tumble dry. Warm iron, Do not dry clean