User:ANT201W/Bush medicine

Under "Examples" Section (starting the section):

Bush Medicine remedies can come in many very diverse forms and treat a wide variety of diseases.

While normally considered an annoying, invasive weed to most residents, the Aborigines of Australia consider the E. alternifolia as an extremely important plant medicinally. The Aborigines use the plant to treat normal symptoms of the common cold and the flu. Adding to the potency of the plant, the Aborigines believe it also has the capacity to cure these diseases as well. Because this plant is so crucial for them, Aborigines will carry the leaves with them in order to always have the plant available.

The Yaegl Aboriginal people in New South Wales, Australia, also practice Bush Medicine. There, women are the main practitioners of bush medicine. They use a variety of plants in order to cure specific illnesses and discomforts that they are suffering from. The leaves and fruit of the plants are the most commonly used parts of the plant, as they are the easiest to access. Because of this, the plants are not harmed, and thus continue to grow and provide ingredients for continued use. Bush Medicine treatments range from using chillies for the treatment of the common cold, to paw paw leaves to aid in the treatment of cancer. Treatment utilization ranges from topical application to ingestion. While most plants do not require any preparation, some require the leaf of the medicinal plant to be placed in cold to boiling water. For the Yaegl, Plant species usage is directly related to frequency of ailments encountered. The more common an ailment, the higher the regularity of its usage.

A Modern Scientific Look At Bush Medicine (will be its own section below "21st Century Use")

Australia is geographically isolated from other land masses and because of its positioning, atmosphere, and distance from the equator it has distinct species of plants. Australian aborigines people have used such plants as curatives and medicines and as a result these plants have been the subject of modern day scientific studies. One of the most scientifically studied are plants of the Eremophila genus. To the Australian aborigines people the species within this genus are extremely important; this importance is conveyed through oral cultural lore.

The Eremophila are endemic to Australia. They have over 200 species and have been traditionally used in many forms to treat multiple ailments, both internal and external. Certain species are or have been studied by scientists curious in the genus's antibacterial properties and their potential to further modern medicine.

A recent study put on by the University of Western Australia identified certain properties and antibacterial compounds of the plant Eremophila glabra.

Another collaborative study put on by scientists from Future Industries Institute (University of South Australia), Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Center, and Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre (University of South Australia) have furthered scientific research on antibacterial properties of Eremophilia alternifolia.