Page 62 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

see as her greatest problem? “My hands,” came the unexpected response. “They become very sore
from the heavy work. I do everything manually you see—crushing, mixing and cooking.”Old-
fashioned tools for making pills or turning mixtures into powder don’t help. Ibu doesn’t even use
weighing scales to measure the ingredients—she doesn’t own a set and relies on spoons instead.
“I can’t complain really,” she said, “I’m thankful I’m strong and healthy enough to cope with
the work. Besides, in my business I can’t admit to being sick, can I?”

Traditional Healthcare Elsewhere in Indonesia

It could be argued if you understand Javanese jamu, there is no need for further
research into the subject because the range and sophistication of Javanese
traditional remedies covers the entire spectrum of Indonesian healing. Although
most Indonesians, and especially the Javanese, would support this hypothesis,
the archipelago is home to many different approaches to healthcare. Such
variations are mainly due to the type of plants and trees growing in a particular

region and their accessibility. For example, in 1977 a research team in Kendari,
Southeast Sulawesi, found 449 herbal remedies still being used, and this
excluded dozens of unpatented herbal mixtures known only to the locals.

Kalimantan
Kalimantan in Javanese means ‘River of Diamonds’, but these provinces on the
island of Borneo actually get their name from lamanta or sago starch, the local
staple. Home to the giant Rafflesia plant that can grow up to one metre in
diameter, the island’s diverse geography, rainfall and temperature make it one of
the richest biodiversities in the world. The original inhabitants turned this living
apothecary to advantage by learning which plants and trees had healing
properties. Medical treatments were a combination of charms, magic, ritual and
herbs. A recent study showed that while some tribes relied on as few as 12
medicinal plants, others were using up to 213 different species.