Page 153 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

The root of tapak liman (elephantopus scaber; prickly-leaved elephant’s
foot) is a remedy for boils, while chemical components in the leaves are useful
for treating chronic diarrhoea and fever. However, it is better known as an
aphrodisiac and is used in powders for firming the breasts, which allows it to fall
into both medical and beauty treatment categories.

Indonesia’s supply of valuable plants is shrinking along with her forests. At
least ten important trees and wild plants may soon disappear as a result of
logging and the slash-and-burn farming methods. These include plants like
sandalwood, jenitri (laurel or elæocarpus ganitrus), sidowayah (Grandchild’s
arrival or Woodfordia fruticosa), kayu rapet (parameria lævigata, a woody
climber), seprantu (prickly disk or Sindora sumatrana/javanica) and patmosari
(rafflesia patma). All are used in many beauty products both for their active
ingredients and their scents.

GINGGANG’S REPUTATION