Page 181 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

Ingredients: Banana
Method: Mash the banana to a pulp and spread over the wound. Repeat as necessary.

To Reduce Swelling

Ingredients: Old tamarind; salt; small amount of water
Method: Mix the three ingredients to a paste. Massage the affected area daily till the
swelling subsides. Can be used for any swelling especially swollen feet.

To Soothe Swollen Gums

Ingredients: Gambier (uncaria gambeiri), extract from tree bark; water

Method: Put gambier in a glass, fill with water and allow to stand for at least 30
minutes. Use as a mouthwash till swelling subsides.

Beras Kencur
General tonic for tiredness; invigorates, improves blood circulation and appetite.

Ingredients: 50 g fresh kencur; 50 g raw rice; pinch of salt; knob of tamarind
(preferably old Javanese tamarind); brown sugar to taste (preferably Javanese red
sugar); 1 cup of water

Method: Allow the raw rice to stand in water for 3 hours. Simmer the sugar in water till
fully dissolved. Mix the tamarind with a little warm water and sieve. Peel and cut the
kencur before grinding with a pestle and mortar till soft together with the softened raw
rice.

Mix together all the ingredients; kencur ground with raw rice, tamarind, sugar, salt and
sieve. The jamu can be drunk warm, but tastes good served chilled with a lump of ice.
Suitable for adults and children over the age of 12 years. Drink a small glass daily or 1
full glass each week.

Kunir Asem
General tonic; with additions, is suitable for treating white vaginal discharge or obesity.

Ingredients: 5 pieces of turmeric (preferably use the grandmother root, i.e. main root. If
the roots are small, grate instead of slice); pinch of salt; 2 pieces of tamarind (size of a
knob of butter without the seed); palm sugar to taste; 1 ½ glasses of water

Method for basic recipe: Peel or grate the turmeric depending on its size. Mix with the
remaining ingredients, add water and heat in a saucepan till the mixture is just on the
boil, remove from heat immediately and leave to cool. Chill in the fridge before
drinking. This recipe makes 2 glasses of tonic.

White Vaginal Discharge, Obesity
Ingredients: 5 betel nut leaves