BUSH MEDICINE LEAVES 2

Bush Medicine Leaves is a well-documented dreaming story painted by the women artists of Utopia in Central Australia. The flowing motion and undulating rhythm of the subject matter reflect the importance of bush medicine leaves to traditional Aboriginal culture. The bush medicine leaves are collected by the women and are highly prized for their restorative powers as part of traditional health practices. Bush medicine leaves derive from a particular native shrub that grows abundantly in the desert regions of Utopia, north-east of Alice Springs. During the life of the plant, the leaves change colour and exhibit different medicinal properties. When the leaves of the shrub are green they are gathered by the women and ground up using a stone. Then the medicine leaf compound is mixed with water to form a milky solution, which can be used to cure coughs, colds, and flu-like symptoms. Also, the medicine leaves can be collected and boiled to extract the resin, which is then mixed together with kangaroo fat. The paste that is created can be stored for six months in bush conditions. This resulting medicine can then be used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes, and spread as an insect repellent. The bush medicine leaves can also be made into a mixture to apply to aching joints or to place on the temples to cure headaches. Like all aspects of traditional Aboriginal culture, knowledge of bush medicine has been passed down from generation to generation over thousands of years and is still being used today by the people of Utopia. By creating its image the artists encourage the regeneration of the bush medicine plant so that her people can continue to benefit from its healing powers.