The Aboriginal use of the Gumby Gumby medicine tree is well publicised for:
- colds,
- coughs,
- as a lactogogue,
- eczema,
- pruritus,
- internal pains
- skin irritations
- sprained limbs.
The wonderful “Traditional Aboriginal Medicines of the Northern Territory of Australia” written by Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory in 1993 (Conservation Commission of the NT) describes its use by the Pitjantjara People of the central desert who call it Kumpalypa. They would grind up the red seeds to make an oily paste that is highly effective in the treatment of bruises, sprains and muscle aches.
It was strongly positive for Saponin in the froth test as well as for Triterpenes and Steroids in the Liebermann-Burchard test. The leaves are also positive for these substances which are well known phytomedicines
Gumby Gumby has been well researched by a number of Universities. Griffith University researchers have confirmed its inhibitory bioactivity against bacteria and fungi and validated Australian Aboriginal usage. More importantly they confirmed that it had very low toxicity. The Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald, Germany, July 2007 also conducted studies and confirmed immune stimulating effects and cytotoxicity against some types of tumour cells.
A lot more research is needed to confirm the medicinal benefits of Gumby Gumby but it is becoming increasingly popular as a herbal tea and it has high potential as both a salve and soap.