At Woodleigh Hills, every product begins with the plants. These four natives, Wilga, Native Apricot, Maroon Bush, and Kangaroo Apple, are not just ingredients. They are powerful teachers, ancestral healers, and living medicines that have sustained communities for thousands of years.
We approach each plant with deep respect and gratitude: respect for the land they grow on, gratitude for the wisdom of Indigenous custodians who first understood their healing power, and care for the way we harvest, prepare, and share them today.
This page is not simply a list of benefits. It is an introduction to the plants themselves, their stories, their compounds, their roles as both protectors and restorers. To know them is to honour them.
The Woodleigh Hills Range
Wilga is a hardy inland native tree known for its drooping branches and aromatic leaves. Found across parts of South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland, this plant has long been revered by Indigenous communities for its powerful numbing, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory qualities. Its leaves were used in poultices, washes, and inhalations — not only to ease pain and inflammation, but to support healing from the inside out.
At Woodleigh Hills, we hand-harvest Wilga and infuse it slowly to preserve its unique active compounds and honour its long-standing therapeutic legacy.
Compounds in Wilga
- Geijerene: A rare monoterpene that acts as a local anesthetic — naturally numbs pain and calms nerve endings.
- Pregeijerene: Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial precursor to geijerene, supports healing and tissue repair.
- Flavonoids: Offer antioxidant benefits, soothe irritated skin, and aid in cellular recovery.
- Essential oils: Provide respiratory support and fight off infection-causing bacteria.
How we use Wilga
- Pain Relief Rubs: Harnesses geijerene’s numbing power to ease sore muscles, stiff joints, and chronic pain.
- Massage Oils: Relaxes tired bodies and calms inflammation with a silky infusion of Wilga.
- Healing Hydrosols: Gently supports reactive skin and minor wounds with a light, cooling mist.
- Herbal Teas: Traditionally used to ease internal inflammation and support respiratory wellness.
Research and clinical studies
- Chemogeography and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Geijera parviflora and Geijera salicifolia (Rutaceae): Two traditional Australian medicinal plants
- A Review of the Ethnobotanical Use, Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Constituents Derived from the Plant Genus Geijera (Rutaceae)
- Compounds from Geijera parviflora with prostaglandin E2 inhibitory activity may explain its traditional use for pain relief
Native Apricot (Pittosporum angustifolium)
Sacred tree. Skin saviour. Traditional tonic.
Native Apricot is a small, slow-growing tree found throughout inland Australia, especially in arid zones. With twisted limbs, fragrant resin, and striking orange fruit, it's visually iconic — but it's the inner medicine that makes this plant truly special. For generations, Aboriginal Australians have used it to treat wounds, soothe skin infections, aid digestion, and support overall vitality.
At Woodleigh Hills, we use the whole plant — leaf, bark, and fruit — to honour its full healing capacity and preserve traditional practice.
Compounds in Native Apricot
- Saponins: Cleanse the skin, reduce microbial load, and support immune modulation
- Flavonoids: Calm inflammation, brighten skin tone, and strengthen capillaries
- Phenolics: Deliver antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects
- Terpenes: Soothe reactive skin, enhance mood, and offer natural antimicrobial action
Benefits of Native Apricot
- Wound healing: Traditionally applied to cuts, sores, and abrasions to support recovery
- Antimicrobial: Helps manage skin infections, rashes, and minor fungal conditions
- Skin renewal: Supports collagen repair, tissue regeneration, and improved texture
- Immune support: Traditionally brewed as a tonic for vitality and seasonal immunity
- Respiratory relief: Used in teas to ease congestion and support clearer breathing
- Digestive aid: Taken in small doses for bloating, sluggish digestion, and gut support
- Mood support: Its resinous compounds are linked to calmness and emotional balance
How we use Native Apricot
At Woodleigh Hills, we draw on both tradition and research to unlock the full healing potential of Native Apricot. Every part of the plant is respected — harvested gently, processed slowly, and made into products by hand on our South Australian farm.
You’ll find Native Apricot in:
- Therapeutic rubs that soothe irritated or inflamed skin and support recovery
- Massage oils to renew tired skin and ease tension
- Hydrosols — a gentle facial mist to calm redness and refresh the skin
- Herbal teas (coming soon) for immune balance, skin glow, and whole-body wellbeing
Every product is 100% natural and grounded in bush medicine — no fillers, no synthetics, and no compromise.
Research and clinical studies
- Interactive antimicrobial and toxicity profiles of Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd. extracts with conventional antimicrobials
- Nutritional Value and Antimicrobial Activity of Pittosporum angustifolium (Gumby Gumby), an Australian Indigenous Plant
- Evaluation of Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd. leaf extracts for their biological activities and chemical profiles
Maroon Bush (Scaevola spinescens)
Desert guardian. Deep cleanser. Time-honoured remedy.
Maroon Bush is a hardy, spiny shrub that thrives in the arid heart of Australia. With its thick, glossy leaves and cream-coloured fan-shaped flowers, it’s a quiet desert survivor — but within its unassuming frame lies powerful healing potential. For generations, Aboriginal communities have used Maroon Bush as a potent internal cleanser, immune supporter, and all-round healing tonic.
At Woodleigh Hills, we honour these practices by using the whole plant in our traditional remedies, crafted by hand with respect for its ancient power.
Compounds in Maroon Bush
- Saponins: Support gentle detoxification, immune modulation, and antimicrobial defence
- Lignans: Offer anticancer, antioxidant, and hormone-balancing properties
- Flavonoids: Calm inflammation, strengthen tissue, and scavenge free radicals
- Alkaloids: Exhibit antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects
- Phenolic acids: Help repair tissue damage and regulate immune response
Benefits of Maroon Bush
- Immune strength: Traditionally used to support immunity during serious illness and recovery
- Cellular repair: Believed to aid in DNA protection and cellular regeneration
- Detox support: Used as a gentle internal cleanser to eliminate toxins and balance the body
- Anti-inflammatory: Helps ease inflammation throughout the digestive, lymphatic, and respiratory systems
- Skin health: Applied topically to assist with stubborn skin conditions, rashes, and fungal issues
- Women’s health: Used in traditional practice to support hormonal balance and reproductive wellbeing
How we use Maroon Bush
At Woodleigh Hills, Maroon Bush is respected as one of the great desert medicines — humble in appearance, mighty in effect. We use the whole plant to create a range of powerful yet simple natural products that honour both science and story.
You’ll find Maroon Bush in:
- Rubs to soothe inflamed, reactive, or fungal-prone skin
- Massage oils for lymphatic support and deeper detoxification
- Hydrosols to calm, clarify, and restore balance
Every formulation is rooted in traditional healing and handcrafted with intention — because real medicine starts in the bush.
Research and clinical studies
- Assessment and comparison of phytochemicals and antioxidant properties from various parts of the Australian maroon bush (Scaevola spinescens)
- An examination of the medicinal potential of Scaevola spinescens: Toxicity, antibacterial, and antiviral activities
- Phenolic compounds, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties of the Australian Maroon Bush Scaevola spinescens (Goodeniaceae)
Kangaroo Apple (Solanum Laciniatum)
Ancestral plant. Wild healer. Natural powerhouse.
Kangaroo Apple is a fast-growing native shrub found across parts of southern Australia and New Zealand. Its vibrant purple flowers and vibrant orange fruit are beautiful — but its true value lies in what’s beneath the surface. For thousands of years, this plant has been used by Indigenous Australians to soothe inflammation, support skin healing, and balance the body naturally.
At Woodleigh Hills, we honour these traditions by using the whole plant — not just the fruit — to create therapeutic products that work with the body, not against it.
Compounds in Kangaroo Apple
- Solasodine: A steroidal alkaloid with cortisone-like properties — reduces inflammation, supports hormone balance, and assists in skin repair.
- Solasonine: Works alongside solasodine to provide anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-tumour effects (under ongoing study).
- Phenolic acids: Potent antioxidants that protect skin from environmental damage and oxidative stress.
- Flavonoids: Help brighten skin, calm irritation, and strengthen the skin barrier.
- Amino acids: Essential for collagen production, tissue repair, and stronger hair, nails, and skin.
Benefits of Kangaroo Apple
- Anti-inflammatory: Naturally calms irritated skin, inflamed joints, and sore muscles.
- Skin rejuvenation: Promotes healing, improves tone and texture, and supports collagen production.
- Antioxidant protection: Shields skin from oxidative stress, helping to prevent premature ageing.
- Brightening: Gently fades pigmentation and supports a more even, luminous complexion.
- Antimicrobial: Defends against bacteria and fungi, supporting healthy skin and nails.
- Hormonal support (topical): Traditionally used for hormone regulation; topically, it may help rebalance hormonally reactive skin.
- Wound repair: Assists in skin recovery and tissue regeneration.
How to use Kangaroo Apple
At Woodleigh Hills, we use the whole Kangaroo Apple plant — leaf, stem, fruit, and flower — to harness its full therapeutic potential. All our products are made by hand on our farm, using native plants we grow or wild-harvest with care.
You’ll find Kangaroo Apple in:
- Therapeutic rubs to ease inflammation, joint pain, and irritated skin
- Massage oils that calm the nervous system while supporting deep skin and muscle healing
- Hydrosols made from slow distillation of the whole plant, offering a gentle yet powerful mist for inflamed or sensitive skin
Everything we make is 100% natural — no fillers, no synthetics, no imported herbs — just pure Australian bush medicine, backed by science and tradition.
Safety Note
Kangaroo Apple contains steroidal alkaloids like solasodine, which have been shown to affect hormone levels. In traditional Aboriginal medicine, teas made from the unripe fruit were used as a natural contraceptive.
Modern pharmaceutical companies — including a large firm in Russia — cultivate Kangaroo Apple to extract solasodine for the production of steroidal contraceptive pills.
For this reason, we do not recommend using Kangaroo Apple products if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive. Please consult your healthcare provider before use.