Bush Medicine

dartanyon

dartanyon

Joined
May 10, 2002
Messages
705
I was reading the thread on the 10 items you'd want to survive with and read some great posts as I'm really into being prepared when out in the bush and am infatuated with survival kits.
This leads me to what I consider a very important item along with a good blade and firestarter .... that is antiseptic. Several of my kits have potassium permanganate (condies crystals) which has many uses ie. water purification, firestarter, antiseptic ...
I have studied how to compensate for different components of my kits if they are missing and even some bush medicine such as the malaluka (tea tree) and eucalypt (gum tree) for Australian conditions.
What I am looking for is some more bush first aid remedies that you all might be able to help me with and even share some learning.
Maybe some information on natural remedies and healing plants found in many reigons.
 
You need a couple of good books on natural remedies; i think Tim Low has published one which is relevant to Northern Australian conditions; since pants vary so greatly from location to location I've generally learn't the little I know by talking to locals. In more 'civilised' areas (towns/cities) there seem to be quite a few horticulturalists with an interest in bush medicines; you might try phoning any nursery that specialises in selling " bush-foods"- bet you they'll have some tips!

Just a note; tea-tree oil is very very useful stuff, especially in the tropics, and i carry afew little bottles with me wherever i go in the world and often give them away to locals.. I always carry a small bottle with me in my medic kit and it is by far the most used item. I tend to always carry a pretty comprehensive medical kit in my pack as i was formerly a patrol medic with Norforce, so i tend to carry a large kit with plenty of modern medicines etc; "if you don't have it you'll need it", however in my medical belt-pouch the only medical stuff i carry is a shell-dressing, a couple of compression bandages, small bottle of tea-tree oil, some small size sutures (for stitching fingers and cheeks), and a haemostat.

Oh a great book to start with is "where there is no doctor", I think you can download this off the net for free. It's not exactly what you're after but it is definitely worth reading if you have an interest in this area. Hope that helps,
W
 
I recommend starting with Les Hiddens, the "Bush Tucker Man", in particular his "Field Guide".
As well as describing many bush tucker items, he also notes the medicinal properties of many plants, and describes how the aborigines prepare and use them.
The usual disclaimers however, use at your own risk. Some plants can be poisonous if not prepared correctly, and despite the aborigines use for many years, some remedies do not have a scientific basis.
An endlessly fascinating subject if you are a keen bush traveller.
 
cheers bluey- I haven't read Mr Hiddens "field guide", but i will definitely hunt one down and read it!
 
phyxbigdog - ditch medicine is an excellent no-nonsense primer on essential IV therapy etc, so great suggestion. - Have you got a copy of the the US special operations medical handbook? I've been using it lately overseas and with my albeit limited medical training (I need a refresher) I have found it to be very very useful for diagnosis of many common ailments and have sed it when treating a couple of fellow travellers; with a bit of background reading, you can carry this with your med kit and actually be of significant use to your fellow travellers. i highly recommend it.
 
Got that Blue, thanks I'll look for it. I like watching Les on TV ... hows the hat ay. Love learning about bush medicine.

Thanks Wolf and PBDog ... ditch medicine ?? US special operations medical handbook sounds good, where do you get one or something like it?
 
Les Hiddens book "Bush Tucker Field Guide" 185 pages, softcover in small format (18cm x 10cm), publisher Explore Australia Publishing Pty Ltd, 85 High St Prahran Vic 3181, ISBN 1 74117 028 1.
A short random extract:
"Cotton Tree, Hibiscus tiliaceus-

.......the flowers and young leaves are edible, raw or cooked. The inner bark of the tree is used by aboriginal people as a cure for ulcers and as an antiseptic for wounds. The bark is soaked in water and the liquid used to bathe wounds....."

Includes pictures of all the plants and some edible insects, and the locations
where you are likely to find them.

I believe Les's giant hat only comes out on ceremonial occasions these days:D
 
Howdy,
US Army Special Forces Medical Handbook and Ditch Medicine can both be bought through Paladin Press or Amazon.

For me, I prefer Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook by David Werner, Carol Thuman and Jane Maxwell. US Army Special Forces Medical Handbook is for someone with a large amount of medical training ie. a Special Forces medic. Where There Is No Doctor is for someone with limited training like, just a plain old Army medic or "bush nurse". I first ran across it down in Mexico on the bookself of an old "Gringo nurse". There is also a companion Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson but I've never read it so I cant say whether its any good but judging from Where There Is No Doctor its one I need to pick up.
 
phxbigdog said:
There is also a companion Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson but I've never read it so I cant say whether its any good but judging from Where There Is No Doctor its one I need to pick up.
Click to expand...

It is, I have them both and they make a great set.

Ditch Medicine is also a good one.
 
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