Page 143 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

said, “because most people simply wouldn’t believe me; I just cured them anyway.”
Pak Suryo explained that the supernatural is not an everyday occurrence. Usually, he treats
more common ailments, such as epilepsy, tuberculosis and diabetes. He is particularly known for his
slimming jamu, which is available in three strengths, depending on how fast the patient wishes to
lose weight. His list of clients reads like a Who’s Who of Indonesia and includes other medical
practitioners.
The 40 different recipes Pak Suryo uses are adapted to suit the individual patient. By touching
a patient’s wrist, he can instantly see the complete picture, because a medical history and analysis
flash up in front of him. This ability enables him to provide what is in essence a totally holistic
treatment. To the sceptics, Pak Suryo explains his diagnostic method by comparing it to the
behaviour of a new-born, which he feels is a clear analogy: both rely on instinct. Pak Suryo is
adamant his formulæ come from within, unlike other jamu makers who say their knowledge is
received via dreams. Nothing is written down—it’s all in his head.
Over the years, Pak Suryo has compared his formulæ with doctors’ prescriptions as well as
health and beauty recipes from manuscripts in the kraton library at Yogyakarta. Surprisingly, he
notes, in essence the formulae are usually the same. He thinks there may be some tenuous link for
this, as it transpired that Pak Suryo’s father was the grandson of Hamengkubuwono V, one of the
sultans of Yogyakarta who reigned from 1822–1855.

Pak Suryo may have a gift from God, and he may have cured numerous people, but there have
been some patients whom—for some reason—even he cannot help. When asked to elaborate on what
actually happened during such situations, he said: “At times like this my mind goes blank. My gift
simply doesn’t exist any more. It is not even connected with whether or not I like the person—that is
irrelevant. I experienced this problem when I saw a patient who was paralysed and couldn’t walk. It
occurred again when I saw a migraine sufferer. A few days later I tried again with the same result.
Shortly afterwards I heard both patients had died. I think this is God’s way of protecting me.”
The source of Pak Suryo’s miraculous healing and jamu recipes may be too much for the
cynical Western mind to accept. However, the fact still remains that Pak Suryo was a highly
respected, successful film maker before his career in jamu was suddenly thrust upon him. He uses
traditional formulæ which work, and hundreds of people from both the East and West will attest to
the efficacy of his cures.