Gumbi Gumbi - Traditional Aboriginal medicines

14/03/2025

We are currently seeking funding to further the research around Gumbi Gumbi with Central Queensland University. If you know of any avenue we can take please comment or inbox or if you might be interested in investing please email yarbun.creations@gmail.com

Support comes in all forms sharing this post, tagging someone who might want to speak with us or sharing opportunities that might be relevant.

Our dream is to be able to give the wider community access to this amazing medicine we really believe that it will help sick people everywhere and this research will show our old people knew what they were talking about.

14/03/2025

Gumbi Gumbi: A Sacred First Nations Medicine

Gumbi Gumbi (scientific name - Pittosporum angustifolium), also known as Native Apricot and cattle bush is what Grandad would call it because the cows love to eat it (they cattle knew what was good for them), in Ghungalu language the word Gumbi means woman so grandad used to say it was a very special womans medicine plant too. It is a revered plant within many different Aboriginal tribes, deeply woven into the medicinal and spiritual traditions of our people. For thousands of years, this resilient desert tree has been used by Aboriginal healers as a powerful bush medicine, playing a crucial role in holistic healing practices.

Traditional knowledge of this plant has been passed down through my family from Great Uncle Charlie to Grandad Tim Kemp to Uncles and Aunties and then to us we are blessed that our family was able to retain the knowledge of this medicine throughout the horrible history and colonisation of this country.

Grandad would make us drink Gumbi Gumbi as children for many reason you were sick Gumbi would help. The taste was so bitter we would skull the drink and chase it with juice or cordial it was a dreaded task. The way you knew how sick you were was because if you didn't taste the Gumbi you knew you were sick.

Growing up we had many people contact Grandad for Gumbi and he shared with everyone in his role as a true medicine man. Even if he had to drive for hours to collect it. People came to him when they had many medical issues but cancer was the most frequent. He was always honest and told them the truth of how much it would help. Grandad would say it was like a detox and it would boost your immune system on top of what the medicinal effect.

Beyond its medicinal applications, Gumbi Gumbi holds deep cultural significance. It embodies the intricate relationship between Aboriginal people and the land—where every plant, rock, and waterway has purpose and meaning. We used to have a tree in the back yard and it was known as Grandads tree and when he passed the tree passed away too. Uncle Steve has a similar relationship with his tree.

As interest grows in its potential health benefits, it is crucial to acknowledge and respect the deep cultural heritage behind this plant, ensuring that Aboriginal voices remain central to its story. This is what is happening with our collaboration with CQ University we hope that the relationship will continue and that we will be able to further research this amazing plant and hopefully will be able to bring Gumbi Gumbi to the wider community in a culturally and abiding by current laws and legislation giving people the peace of mind when using this as a medicine.

12/02/2025

I love it when people tell us how our products helped them its the fire that keeps us going when thing get tough thanks for sharing!

11/02/2025

This is a quote from an ABC interview for Uncle Steve about Great Great Uncle Charlie Munns who taught Grandad Tim Kemp about our medicines.

Steve Kemp also remembers the name being used by his Uncle, Charlie Munns, who lived when Woorabinda was created in 1927.

"Uncle Charlie Munns, he was the medicine man, so all the diseases that were happening back then, Uncle Charlie would boil up the Gumby Gumby," Uncle Steve said.

"You'd drink it and boil the leaf up and drink it like tea to cure your cold, fix your tuberculosis, skin irritations.

"I was lucky enough that [I had] my dad (Tim Kemp) to pass all that knowledge onto me — he taught us in parrot fashion, drumming it into us … I used to get sick of it, but now it's stuck in my mind."

Photo of Tim and Nita Kemp

08/02/2025

A vidoe with Uncle and ABC sharing knowledge on plants

https://youtu.be/pQ8QiqZ3k8E?si=G-9sq8mdg9HoIcdz

07/02/2025

Another article about the work we are doing

https://www.cqu.edu.au/news/1154492/science-backs-traditional-medicine-with-native-gumbi-gumbi-discoveries

05/02/2025

This is and article about Uncle Steve and the university

Researchers are delving into the properties of gumby gumby trees and other traditional medicines in partnership with a Ghungalu elder from central Queensland.

04/02/2025

We strive to provide access to our ancestral medicines, enhanced and supported by modern
science, to promote health and well-being
for everyone.

Despite the historical uses of Gumbi Gumbi, scientific evidence, particularly from human clinical trials, remains limited, posing a barrier to its recognition by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Currently Gumbi Gumbi is being sold as a complimentary pharmaceutical.

We are currently seeking funds to further in collaboration with Central Queensland University. Please inbox us if you are interested in supporting this cause.

04/02/2025

Quote from Uncle Steve

“My father used to tell me, ‘That plant there is medicine.’ He understood not just the tree but the land, the soil, and how everything worked together to make the plant more potent. Now, CQUniversity’s research is proving what our Elders have known for generations.”

photo is Uncle Steve's Father Tim Kemp and Mother Nita Kemp on their wedding day

04/02/2025

A link explaining the first study we participated in with Central Queensland University.

A new research initiative between CQUniversity and Ghungalu Elder Uncle Steve Kemp is set to unlock the power of traditional medicinal remedies through modern analytical chemistry and bioassay models.

04/02/2025

In 2021 Uncle Steven Kemp and Yarbun Creations was approached by Doctor Mani Naiker at Central Queensland University to participate in a Gumbi Gumbi study. Over the past 3 years Yarbun Creations have collaborated with Central Queensland University to study Gumbi Gumbi (Pittosporum angustifolium). Gumbi Gumbi is a traditional Ghunglu medicinal plant that was used by the First Nations people for its health benefits, including anti-cancer, skin disease, antioxidant properties and other health benefits.

04/02/2025

Meet Uncle Steve

In the heart of Central Queensland (CQ), there resonates a powerful testament to the enduring strength and wisdom of the Ghungalu people. Spearheading this beacon of cultural preservation is none other than Uncle Steve Kemp, a revered Ghungalu Elder whose life’s work encapsulates the essence of Aboriginal heritage through education, storytelling, and traditional practices.

Uncle Steve wears many hats, each symbolizing a vital facet of his profound connection with his heritage. A respected cultural and language teacher, educational story and lesson plan writer, artefact maker, and knowledge keeper of bush medicine and tucker, Kemp epitomizes the role of an Elder in not just preserving, but actively propagating the richness of Aboriginal culture.

At the core of Uncle Steves endeavors lies his passion to educate the younger generation.

Bush Medicine and Tucker Expertise
Uncle Steve Kemp’s profound understanding of the land is reflected in his mastery over bush medicine and tucker. A guardian of knowledge passed down through generations, he educates communities about the native flora of the CQ area, their medicinal properties, and their nutritional value. This knowledge, vital for the sustenance and wellbeing of Aboriginal communities, now finds new audiences eager to learn about sustainable living practices rooted in ancient wisdom.

Uncle Steve invaluable contributions to culture and education have not gone unnoticed. He is a recipient of the Centenary Award, a fitting acknowledgment of his unwavering commitment to keeping his father’s language and cultural knowledge vibrant and accessible to all who wish to learn.

Uncle Steve Kemp’s life and work stand as a beacon for those striving to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern day medicines. His story is a compelling reminder of the power of traditionalknowledge,

In a world where the voices of the past often fade into silence, Uncle Steve relentless pursuit to keep the flame of Aboriginal culture burning bright offers hope and inspiration.

His legacy, built on the foundation of passion, purpose, and perseverance, paves the way for future generations to explore and cherish the deep roots of the country's First Nations people.

Whether through the intricate knowledge of bush tucker and medicine, the skilled craft of artefact making, or the profound wisdom encapsulated in his stories, Uncle Steve contribution to the perpetuation of Aboriginal culture is an invaluable treasure. His work not only honors the memories of his ancestors but also ensures that their voices continue to guide and enrich the lives of generations to come.