Page 121 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

from Satan while they develop their recipes. An unwritten law says these skills

cannot be passed down further than three generations. Should they reach a
fourth, it is thought too many errors may have crept in to the original treatments,
rendering them less effective. If a masseuse feels the next generation has not
produced a suitable recipient for the knowledge, it is not passed on either.
Sharing knowledge is alien in Indonesian culture, so old women often guard
their secrets, forgetting that once they too learnt from an expert.

Massage Moves With the Times
Contrary to what one might imagine, massage is a growing profession. Western
practitioners are realizing they have a lot to learn from their Eastern
counterparts. Shiatsu, pressure point, reflexology and acupressure are
increasingly common subjects in health magazines and at conferences, while the
techniques are becoming far more accepted in medical circles and clinics in both
Europe and America.
Once, a career in massage had negative connotations and training was only

available as part of a beauty course. Today, there are scores of colleges offering
qualifications to meet the rising demand. With New Age trends gaining
momentum, old-age methods of curing are being re-evaluated. The value of
Indonesian massage has at last begun to travel beyond its national borders. As
Eastern philosophies continue moving West, these techniques will become more
available; people will see for themselves whether or not they work and arrive at
their own conclusions.