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Learnings from First Nations’ traditional medicine could enhance the effectiveness of regenerative medicine

by | Oct 6, 2023

This blog post was written by Jimmy Yu (see LinkedIn page) with supervision by Dr. Chih Wei Teng. 

Traditional or natural Aboriginal medicine. Source: Wikimedia.

Traditional medicine and the practices of Australia’s First Nations – Australian Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander – embody a world imbued with ancient wisdom, intricate rituals, and spiritual beliefs that have long eluded the grasp of Western medicine and been viewed with deep scepticism because they challenge Western notions of evidence-based medicine.

The Western scientific approach, bound by a reductionist and rigorous lens, is an appropriate tool to help comprehend and validate the efficacy of First Nations’ traditional medicine. Modern advancements in scientific and analytical methods can be used to assess the safety, efficacy, and underlying science behind traditional medicine [2]. With a more nuanced appreciation for Indigenous cultures, we have a transformative opportunity to bridge the gap between cultures and allow a more informed and respectful integration of First Nations’ traditional medicine into regenerative medicine.

First Nations Traditional Medicine and Practices

Traditional medicine in First Nations’ culture encompasses a holistic approach to health care, addressing physical healing and spiritual well-being [3, 4]. The Ngangkari, esteemed healers within First Nations’ communities, play a vital role and are considered as effective as doctors. They inherit healing abilities and wisdom through generations, employing personalized techniques like smoking ceremonies, bush medicines, and spirit realignment to reconnect individuals to their cultural roots and spiritual essence [3, 5, 6]. Medicines are prepared using burning, mashing, or boiling plant leaves [6].

The Regenerative medicine perspectives of traditional medicine-derived biologics

Plant-derived biologics have emerged as promising candidates in regenerative medicine, offering many therapeutic benefits, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing agents. For example, within the rich biodiversity of Australian plant species, numerous plants contain biologically active extracts and compounds that possess remarkable wound-healing properties [7]. The Carpobrotus rossii leaf extract has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting cytokine release [7]. Melaleuca alternifolia, commonly known as tea tree oil, has been extensively studied for its potential anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins [2, 7]. The regulatory effects of tea tree oil on inflammatory mediators, such as TNFa and IL-1b, hold promise for modulating the inflammatory response in regenerative medicine [8]. Furthermore, specific compounds derived from plants and trees – Pilidiostigma glabrum, Myoporum montanum, Geijera parviflora and Rhodomyrtus psidioides – have been found to influence collagen expression in human skin fibroblasts, highlighting their significance in wound healing and the treatment of skin conditions [9]. By synthesizing the production and activity of these mediators, these biologics may offer new therapeutic approaches for treating inflammatory diseases and promoting tissue regeneration, thus extending new avenues in the field.

Oil derived from the emu has gained significant attention for its potential application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine [10]. Traditionally used topically by First Nations Australians for pain alleviation, wound healing, and inflamed joints, it is now commercially available for topical and oral administration. Rich in unsaturated fatty acids and various compounds such as carotenoids, flavones, polyphenols, tocopherol and phospholipids, emu oil possesses therapeutic and antioxidant properties. It reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines, promotes tissue regeneration, and offers pain relief, wound healing and inflammation management [10].

A recent study focused on adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) using a polymeric nanofibrous scaffold blended with emu oil as a bioactive material. The study found that the ASCs exhibited improved adhesion, higher bioactivity, increased proliferation, and preserved stemness markers compared to other groups. These findings underscore the potential of emu oil-containing scaffolds in promoting cell adhesion, mechanical strength, ASC proliferation and maintaining their stemness, thus offering promising opportunities for expanding ASCs in vitro and advancing stem cell therapy and tissue engineering.

Traditional healers and Western scientists

Integrating traditional healers and physicians trained in Western medicine and combining pharmaceutical and plant medicine is challenging, recognizing the complexity of merging two medical systems under a single regulatory system as experienced with registering Traditional Chinese Medicine. For First Nations traditional medicine, practices to be integrated into the health-care system requires empowering traditional healers and elders [11]. However, barriers like limited funding, accreditation standards, and the absence of a national Ngangkari registry can hinder the inclusion of traditional First Nations medicine in mainstream medical practice [4]. Efforts are needed to overcome these challenges and maximize the potential benefits of collaboration between traditional healers and Western medical professionals.

“The Kuuku I’yu Medicinal Plants Project,” a collaboration between the Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation and the University of South Australia, explores the medicinal properties of Aboriginal plant species. Joint patents, publications, and contributions to teaching programs have been achieved. Ngangkari healers in South Australia work alongside doctors in community clinics and hospitals, offering expertise in pain management and spiritual balance [5]. Establishing the Anangu Ngangkari Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation coordinates traditional healing services, exemplifying self-determination.

Respectful engagement with First Nations communities and knowledge holders is crucial for preserving and utilizing traditional knowledge. Indigenous community-driven research fosters collaboration and is guided by participatory action methodologies [1, 5]. Cultural sensitivity is vital in developing and commercializing traditional medicine biologics [1]. Scientific data supporting customary practices fosters cultural pride, provides culturally appropriate health care, and creates industry opportunities. Elders value traditional medicine for strengthening culture and empowering First Nations people [11]. Establishing trust, respecting worldview, and maintaining confidentiality are essential for engaging with traditional medicine and First Nations communities, ensuring meaningful collaboration and the preservation of knowledge.

Considerations for intellectual property

Efforts to integrate traditional medicine into modern health care have faced intellectual property, bioprospecting, and benefit-sharing obstacles, hindering collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical scientists [1, 5, 6]. Intellectual property rights (IPR) in conventional medicine are intricately tied to access to biological resources and Indigenous knowledge [12]. Goals and strategies often clash, such as publishing traditional medicinal know-how and incentivizing healers while ensuring fair benefit sharing [13, 14]. Conventional IPR must improve in protecting traditional knowledge, but alternative concepts like a breach of confidence can help. Legal action, though costly, has successfully safeguarded sacred First Nations understanding [14]. Contracts and agreements formalize permissions and responsibilities. However, the inability to obtain IP patents for traditional medicine biologics may be a blessing. Sharing and co-creation are intrinsic to conventional medicine, rooted in global cultural storytelling. By refraining from strict IP protection, ongoing collaboration advances knowledge and preserves healing properties. This approach recognizes traditional medicine’s shared heritage, telling the story of First Nations conventional medicine.

In conclusion, integrating traditional medicine with modern scientific approaches holds a significant promise for promoting holistic health care and addressing health disparities within Indigenous communities. By combining traditional knowledge of medicinal plants with scientific advancements in biologics, a synergistic approach can be achieved to enhance patient outcomes and scientific knowledge. Embracing this integration transforms health care practices, benefits Indigenous communities, and promotes a more inclusive and equitable health-care system. Through collaborative partnerships, increased funding, education and policy initiatives, we can forge a path towards comprehensive health care that combines the wisdom of traditional healing with the advancements of modern science. By honouring and integrating traditional knowledge, we celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous communities and pave the way for a collaborative future.

CCRM Australia Clarity is a multi-disciplinary think tank with a market research and reporting mission to accumulate thought leadership and analysis to facilitate the commercialization and diffusion of regenerative medicine into the health care sector. 

References

  1. Packer, J., et al., Building partnerships for linking biomedical science with traditional knowledge of customary medicines: a case study with two Australian Indigenous communities. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed, 2019. 15(1): p. 69-69.
  2. Jones, G., Indigenous medicine – a fusion of ritual and remedy, in The Conversation. 2014.
  3. Passananti, D.S.a.J., Bush medicine: Aboriginal remedies for common ills. 2012: Australian Geographic.
  4. Cook, E., How traditional Aboriginal medicine can help close the health gap, in news and opinions. 2016: The Univeristy of Sydney.
  5. Korff, J., Traditional Aboriginal health care, in Aboriginal Culture. 2021: CREATIVE SPIRITS.
  6. University, E.C. Traditional healing and medicine [cited 2023 15/06]; Available from: https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/learn/cultural-ways/traditional-healing-and-medicine/.
  7. Manirujjaman, M. and T. Collet, Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of Australian native plants in the context of wound healing: A review. Biológia, 2021. 76(3): p. 993-1004.
  8. Hart, P.H., et al., Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil), suppresses inflammatory mediator production by activated human monocytes. Inflamm Res, 2000. 49(11): p. 619-626.
  9. Adams, D.H., et al., Native Australian plant extracts differentially induce Collagen I and Collagen III in vitro and could be important targets for the development of new wound healing therapies. Fitoterapia, 2016. 109: p. 45-51.
  10. Zanardo, V.M.D. and D.M.D. Giarrizzo, Re. “Review on emu products for use as complementary and alternative medicine”. Nutrition, 2015. 31(2): p. 415-415.
  11. Oliver, S.J., The role of traditional medicine practice in primary health care within Aboriginal Australia: a review of the literature. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed, 2013. 9(1): p. 46-46.
  12. David J. Claudie, S.J.S., Nicholas M. Smith and Bradley S. Simpson, Indigenous Peoples’ Innovation: Intellectual Property Pathways to Development. 2022, Australian National University Press Library.
  13. Company, T.J.a. Aboriginal Cultural and Intellectual Property (ACIP) Protocol. 2019 [cited 2023 26/06]; Available from: https://www.Aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au/our-agency/staying-accountable/Aboriginal-cultural-and-intellectual-property-acip-protocol/#:~:text=Indigenous%20Cultural%20and%20Intellectual%20Property,heritage%2C%20also%20known%20as%20ICIP.
  14. Timmermans, K., Intellectual property rights and traditional medicine: policy dilemmas at the interface. Soc Sci Med, 2003. 57(4): p. 745-756
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CCRM Australia

CCRM Australia is the Australian Hub of the highly successful Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine in Canada (CCRM). Established as a not-for-profit with a national focus, CCRM Australia’s mission is to address bottlenecks in the translation and commercialization of regenerative medicine discoveries in Australia, many of which have the potential to cure some of the most devastating and costly diseases in the world today. CCRM Australia’s commercially focused solutions enable businesses and research partners to achieve their commercialization objectives by providing customized country, market and industry-specific support. To date, CCRM Australia has collaborated with researchers to advance their regenerative medicine technologies, evaluated and supported promising technologies to seek investment funding, facilitated commercialization training and worked with international biotechnology companies to set up their clinical trials in Australia. CCRM Australia continues to do so, while providing access to resources and expertise from other CCRM Hubs around the world.

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