Bush medicine: The healing properties of Indigenous plant-based medicine

In this final episode of BLA.C.K. Medicine, Dr Mikayla Couch shares an Indigenous perspective on plant-based medicine, as she chats with Bundjalung man and Gardening Australia presenter Uncle Clarence Slockee about the medicinal and health benefits of Indigenous plants.

Horticulturalist Uncle Clarence Slockee

As holistic solutions to health issues increase in popularity, Indigenous plant-based medicines are enjoying a boom.

But as the benefits become more widely acknowledged, corporations enter the picture, demand grows, and prices do too.

It is of national significance that we maintain control over our native species.

Clarence Slockee

Horticulturist Uncle Clarence Slockee walks Mikayla through the beneficial properties of some common plants that are making waves in the health industry.

The rainforest plum is really high in antioxidants, really high in vitamin C… People are understanding just how good they are for you. So it pushes the price up, but it's one of those things you can grow yourself.

Clarence Slockee

Ooray or Davidson Plum. Credit: WARNDU

BLA.C.K. Medicine is a health podcast for Indigenous peoples by Indigenous peoples. Host Dr Mikayla Couch interviews First Nations health care professionals to pick their brains and learn from their work. Follow the podcast in the SBS Audio App or your preferred podcast app.

Links to further reading

• Clarence Slockee and Jiwah - jiwah.com.au
• Australian Native Food and Botanicals - Research Publications
• WA Department of Agriculture - Protection of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge for bushfood businesses
• IP Australia - Plant Breeders Rights
• Science Direct - Plant breeders rights
• ABC - Non-Indigenous business fails in bid to trademark Aboriginal bush medicine Gumby Gumby
• ABC - As the bush food industry expands in Australia, there are calls for more to be done to boost Aboriginal involvement
• UNSW - Protecting Indigenous bush foods and medicines against biopiracy