Page 39 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

Meneer.
mustika rapet, for good sexual health and performance; produced by Jamu Air Mancur.
pegal linu, for rheumatism; produced by Jamu Cap Jago, Jamu Air Mancur, Nyonya Meneer, Jamu
Sido Muncul, Jamu Sari Ayu.
prolipid, for reducing cholesterol; produced by Indofarma.
ralinu, to relieve pain, fatigue and muscle stiffness; produced by Jamu Air Mancur.
Sehat lelaki, for keeping men in prime form; produced by Jamu Sido Muncul.
Susut perut, to firm the tummy; produced by Berial Sumber Medica, Jamu Sari Ayu, Mustika Ratu.
wulandari, a fertility treatment; produced by Jamu Sari Ayu.

A JAMU GENDONG IN THE CAPITAL CITY

Thirty-five year old Ibu Jatiatun, or Bu Atun as she is known, is a typical example of a jamu gendong
working in a large city. She came originally from a small village near Semarang, an area that is
famous for its jamu. Because she did not perform well academically, she dropped out of school when
she was 10, something she now bitterly regrets. Fortunately, thanks to an aunt who had a fine
reputation as a jamu-maker, Bu Atun acquired the basics of jamu.
“From my 65-year-old grandmother to my youngest daughter—we all drink Beras Kencur and
Kunir Asem every day and occasionally one of the bitter recipes, and we are very healthy,” she
announces proudly. “But then my jamu is very safe. All raw materials are boiled before grinding.”
“My daughter helps me with the jamu,” explains Bu Atun.“We usually make just two kinds
and start preparing the night before because I leave on my first round at about 7 am and I’m normally
back by 9 am; it takes about two hours to sell everything.”Bu Atun makes a second batch of jamu in
the afternoon ready for her 4–6 pm sales round in another district.
Although Bu Atun says she never accepts special orders, she does occasionally make a bitter
brew from papaya leaves, a concoction which she says is good for flu. “However, it’s important to
drink lots of water with papaya leaves to counteract the bitterness,” she stresses. She also makes
Jamu Sirih to treat white vaginal discharge—a problem that affects many women in the tropics from
time to time. It’s simply a matter of adding betel leaves to the basic Beras Kencur recipe.