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Australia is also the home of an ancient herbal tradition. The
Aborigines developed a sophisticated understanding of indigenous plants, many of which, such as eucalyptus (Eucalpytus globules) are unique to Australia. While much of this knowledge has vanished, there is currently a high level of interest in native herbal traditions.
The influx of Europeans in the 18th century was disastrous for the Aborigines. They were exploited and driven off the land.
Along with them much of the orally based herbal tradition was also
lost. Nevertheless, very little is known of Aboriginal medicine.
Aromatic herbs, such as eucalyptus, were often crushed and inhaled to treat many common illnesses, including respiratory diseases such as flu. Without metal technology, water could not be boiled, but decoctions were made by heating water with hot stones. These were drunk or applied externally.
It is known that skin eruptions, such as boils and scabies, were common and that they were treated with acacia (Acacia spp.), while acute diarrhoea was treated with eucalyptus or kino (Pterocarpus marsupium). In Queensland, fever bark (Alstonia spp.), also called Australian quinine, was used to treat fevers.
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