Page 44 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

early marriage and informal divorce, and it is still common to find women who

have had two or three husbands before the age of 30. With the onus on a wife to
keep her man by whatever means, jamu is a formidable ally. For centuries, jamu
was made almost exclusively by women, often for women; these specialized
herbalists catered to their own female needs and focused the jamu on ways to
retain youth and beauty. Indonesian custom dictates that female health and
beauty are inextricably bound up with a woman’s role as wife and mother, which
means sex is a key element in the equation. Naturally, jamu reflects these beliefs
and is biased in favour of good health, beauty, marital harmony, sex and large
families. Staying attractive was (and often still is) of economic as well as social
importance.

TIPS FOR JAMU USERS

Straining the Brew Some jamu mixtures can leave a residue if not filtered. An example is jamu
godok, or dried jamu. Instructions normally state that two glasses of water should be added to the
dried roots and barks and the mixture boiled till the liquid reduces to one glassful. Then, it should be
sieved before it is drunk.
Ibu Hennie’s mother had been cheerfully drinking this kind of jamu for years when she was
diagnosed as having a gallstone. The doctor told her it was impossible to grind down raw ingredients
finely enough in some jamu godok; consequently anyone drinking large quantities over a long period
could face problems. Liquids pass out of the body whereas residue from the powdered leaves and
bark in jamu godok remains in the system. In her case the residue had built up and eventually formed
a stone.
Refreshing the Mixture for Good Results Home-made jamu can go bad if it’s left lying around
too long. To ensure its safety, boil up the mixture again and let the powder sink to the bottom of the
saucepan or glass before drinking it.

Like herbal medicine in other countries, jamu is used mainly as a
preventative measure rather than as a cure. It is believed that the various herbs