Page 93 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

part of the mixture, although chilli itself contains nothing remotely poisonous.

The same is true of the precisely six bird’s-eye chillies that are obligatory in dyes
for colouring the blade of a kris.

Chilli is used so freely in the kitchen it is rare to find a dish that escapes a
few generous dollops. Fortunately, Indonesians never go short because it grows
readily all over the rice fields, but is usually transplanted to a more convenient
spot near the house when it matures.

Sweetcorn, Chinese mustard greens and tomatoes are eaten frequently.
Sweetcorn is good for various urinary problems, mastitis and hepatitis. Chinese
mustard greens treat fevers, dysentery and exhaustion. Tomatoes tackle urinary
infections, the leaves relieve sunburn, while rubbing the flesh on spots can
produce miraculous results. Drinking tomato juice with honey brings down fever
while pure tomato juice is a cure for jaundice.

Active Desserts
Fruit is a common food in Indonesia and ideal growing conditions mean
something is always ripe for dessert. The selection that follows is made on the
basis of frequent and varied use as well as availability. Others, like snakefruit,
which is particularly effective for diarrhoea, are harder to come by, less popular
and more expensive.

Papaya (carica papaya) is a fruit that crosses the divide between food, jamu
and medicine. Officially it is a woody plant, but is often described as a tree.
Papaya is acknowledged as a universal healer throughout Asia, especially in