Centipeda Cunninghamii – Old Man Weed

Centipeda Cunninghamii – “Old Man Weed”

For hundreds of years medicinal plants have been used to treat medical conditions. In Australia, the Aboriginal people are well known for their expert use of these plants to survive. These plants have been used for health, shelter and food. Beth Gott, an ethnobotanist from Monash University, has indicated that a large array of Australian plants are potentially edible. Some 900 plants are known to have been used by Aboriginal people up to the 1830s.

In today’s society, medical conditions caused by bacteria are treated with refined and synthesized antibiotics. As we search for “alternatives” to modern medicine, research into these “folk” remedies is gaining in popularity. One in particular is the area of medicinal plants. The Aborigines are being recognized for their God given wisdom in this area.

Centipeda cunninghamii is commonly known as Old Man Weed, being the literal translation of its Koori name Gukwonderuk. It is a perennial herb, part of the daisy family, known to indigenous Australians for its medicinal properties, and grows along the Murry River, or generally anywhere there is water, especially low lying or swampy areas. It can be identified by its unique shaped leaf, and its pungent scent, which is pine like and minty. The names Common Sneezeweed and Scent Weed, which were given by European settlers, are increasingly falling out of use. This special plant was cherished by the Wathaurong tribe of South East Australia. Centipeda cunninghamii is used to treat many conditions such as: skin complaints, chest infections, colds, opthalmia and general ill health.

As research was done on the main constituents of this plant extract, it was found to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cell regeneration properties. The institutes and researchers responsible for these studies are listed below.

Here is just one of the results of their studies:

The C. cunninghami extract was given to the Wellington School of Medicine in New Zealand to test, in vitro (outside a living organism), the anti-inflammatory activity and ability to stimulate skin cell production. They found that the extract showed significant results for the anti-inflammatory effect – being more active than aspirin in the test used. The test for stimulation of growth for human skin fibroblast cells was also very promising. There was a 50% rise in growth rate at 1:200 dilution. This was the prepared results of Dr. Charles Dragar in 2004.

The unique extraction process used by our supplier is free of the use of alcohol or solvents. It remains in its natural state, isn’t altered in any way and is free of preservatives. This process preserves C. cunninghamii’s natural potency.

This healing plant is just one of the amazing synergistic ingredients found in Stockton Aloe 1’s – Youth-Derm® Ultra Healing Aloe Cream

1. Lassak and McCarthy, 1983

2. Zola, N. and Gott, B., (1992), Koorie Plants Koori People – Traditional Aboriginal Food, Fiber and Healing Plants of Victoria, (1996 reprint), Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne, p. 5.

3. Centipeda cunninghamii

4. University of Ballart, Sandra Lewis, Victoria, Australia, Novost Pty. Ltd. Melbourne, Dr. Charles Dragar, University of Otago, Bioactivity Investigation Group – New Zealand.