Page 120 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

to cure headaches, sprains, rheumatism, aching muscles, burns, wounds, ulcers,

insect bites and skin infections. For coughs, colds and indigestion, the oil is
mixed with warm water and a spoonful of the mixture taken three times a day.

Those who make up their own formulæ tend to stick with three basic oils.
One much-used recipe contains 70 per cent yellow coconut oil, 20 per cent musk
mallow and 10 per cent lemongrass oil. There are endless combinations and
some even include Chinese arak, producing the equivalent of an alcohol rub.
People living in remote villages with limited means and choice tend to use less
sophisticated versions, such as mixing lime juice, hot water and cooking oil.
Vegetable oil, the stock-in-trade of many an Ibu pijat, is perfectly adequate but if
used straight from the bottle, it can be too thick and tends to create an unpleasant
smell when combined with the skin’s own odours and body heat.

Of the many oils on sale, a mixture of Minyak Tawon and Lulur Wangi is
one of the best. Tawon is warm, providing the healing element, while Lulur
gives rough skin the texture of silk. Both white and yellow Lulur are readily
available and while Indonesian women favour the yellow variety, the yellow tint
it gives the skin is not suitable for Caucasians. Cajuput oil (minyak kayu putih
from the tree melaleuca leucadendra) is an old reliable standby that cures all
manner of aches and pains, flu, fever, headaches, coughs and asthma. Minyak
Angin is the same thing with the addition of a few extra ingredients. This is
powerful medicine and must be diluted by 70 per cent with basic oil. Families
used to keep this oil in the cupboard for emergencies, just as Western mothers
stored Friar’s Balsam or Vick’s.

Genuine experts are loath to pass on their oil-making secrets to anyone,
including the immediate family. Apparently, old ladies pray over oils while they
are being made. They read the Qur’an, invoke the spirits or even solicit help