Brewing traditional bush balm to ease pain for remote dialysis patients
Tamara Stewart is making bush balm for local dialysis patients. (Supplied: Jesse Tyssen)
In Mparntwe-Alice Springs, a young Pertame woman crushes irmangka leaves on an ancient rock continuing a culture thousands of years old.
The scene is both therapeutic and deeply symbolic.
For Tamara Stewart, this is not just a job but a personal journey intertwined with memories of her late grandmother.
"I used to take bush medicine to my nanna every day after work," Tamara recalls.
"Then I lost her at the start of this year, in January, and it just changed me."
The women grind bush medicine for the balm. (Supplied: Jesse Tyssen)
Tamara is preparing a batch of healing balm called irmangka for dialysis patients, some of whom are waiting for kidney transplants.
This traditional medicine helps with inflammation, maintains a connection to culture, and supports those going through challenging times.
"Irmangka is good for sore joints, muscles, aches and pain, and cold and flu symptoms," she says.
Tamara Stewart was taught how to make bush balm by her mother. (ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin)
A family legacy
Ms Stewart is the team leader of Bush Balm, a bush medicine business hosted by Purple House, a non-profit organisation operating 20 dialysis sites across remote Australia.
She leads a group of young Indigenous women in crafting these traditional remedies.
Bush Balm was born out of necessity more than a decade ago.
The balm can be used to relieve sore joints and muscles, as well as cold and flu symptoms. (Supplied: Jesse Tyssen)
Purple House dialysis patients who missed their bush medicine while in town began making it over a fire in the garden.
In September 2021, Purple House opened a social enterprise hub in the suburb of East Side featuring the first purpose-built bush medicine kitchen and retail space for Bush Balm.
This hub facilitates knowledge-sharing about the positive impacts of combining traditional healing practices with Western medicine.
Hayley Maher is one of three young women working at Bush Balm. (Supplied: Jesse Tyssen)
Tamara's journey into bush medicine began by watching her mother.
Now, she continues this legacy by bringing comfort to others as she once did for her grandmother.
"Her favourite was irmangka," Tamara says, as she brings the leaves to a boil.
She says making the balm for dialysis patients is a deeply personal and bittersweet experience for her because of her grandmother's kidney failure.
"She just wasn't strong enough," she says.
Bush Balm manager Emma Collard with team leader Tamara Stewart. (ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin)
Passing down knowledge
As the manager at Bush Balm, Emma Collard heads up a team of three young women.
"It's all of their first jobs. We have a lot of fun in here," she says.
A typical day involves making and distributing bush medicine for Purple House clients and patients.
They also sell the balm from their store at the East Side social enterprise hub, as well as through wholesalers and an online shop.
The bush balm is also sold online and through wholesalers. (ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin)
"With all the money … we're able to dish out all the free bush medicine to patients and clients," she says.
"It's grown so much. Now we're sending bush medicine to France, America, the UK, everywhere."
Tamara feels a deep sense of pride in how far Bush Balm has come.
"I enjoy making it and teaching the younger generation," she says.
"It feels good to know that this knowledge will be passed down and continue to thrive."