Ahead of their Brisbane show with local reggae lords Kingfisha later this month, electronic-roots act OKA share a little of their bush medicine knowledge with us.
Billygoat plum
The world's richest source of vitamin C is found in this native fruit from the woodlands of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The plum has 50 times the vitamin C of oranges, and was a major source of food for tribes in the areas where it grows.Snake vine
Before there was Neurofen or Panadol… there was snake vine. Communities in Central Australia used to crush sections of the vine to treat headaches, rhumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory-related ailments. The sap and leaves were sometimes used to treat sores and wounds.Sandpaper fig
When you got the itch... give it a scratch with the fig. The rough leaves of the sandpaper fig were crushed and soaked in water, then rubbed on the itch. Sandpaper fig leaves have also been used to treat fungal skin infections such as ringworm, sometimes in combination with the milky sap.Kangaroo apple
The fruit was used as a poultice on swollen joints. The plant contains a steroid which is important to the production of cortisone.Goat’s Foot
Given the random chance you’re unlucky to find yourself on the wrong side of a stingray or stone fish sting, when crushed and heated the leaves of the plant help you get back on your (goat) feet.You can catch OKA co-headlining with Kingfisha at The Hi-Fi on Saturday 11th October. Oka also have shows at Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads, on Sunday 19th October and Oka Campout at Mt Warning on 25-26th October./
Oka
