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“She also had a splendid recipe for dysentery— a mixture of kaki-kuda leaves (small leaves of horsehoof grass or Indian pennywort) and roots of jambu biji (guava) with a few other bits and pieces. During an outbreak of amoebic dysentery she made this reliable jamu for friends. A good friend, a Danish doctor, always opened his ‘clever’ medical book when in doubt. Here he learned butterburr had an important basic ingredient called yatren which was used in a prescription he gave his patients. After that he always accepted a small glass of Mama’s curd. Mind you I don’t believe that kaki-kuda of Begagan is from the Pelargonium family though the shape of its leaf is similar.
“Personally I feel I have received more benefit from the Indonesian remedies than doctor’s prescriptions. Once I had an unexpected guest in my stomach—a tapeworm. The doctor gave me medicine on three separate occasions but the worm refused to leave. Then I thought of Mrs Kloppenburg’s book (see page 16). I read her recipe and peeled 500 kernels of the delicious gurih fruit (Hydrocotyle asiatica). First time around I had to eat 200 before food and then 300. I felt awful and dizzy but my guest felt worse and the Kloppenburg remedy won. Quinine was always used to treat malaria of course, but Mama said ‘Oh no, pule-bast (bark of Alstonia scholaris) is better or meniran (Phyllanthus niruri) and sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata).’ She always had something to help if someone was sick no matter if the malaria made them hot or cold. At that time there was still much malaria and people who caught it shivered so badly they often thought they would die and tried to get rid of it by staying in the sun but Mama’s medicines were usually best.”
The next important development took place between 1942 to 1944, during the Japanese Occupation. The Dai Nippon Government supported herbal medicine by setting up the Indonesian Traditional Medicines Committee in June 1944, under the guidance of Professor Dr Sato, Chief of the Government Department of Health. The committee then appointed the head of the Indonesian Physicians’ Association to coordinate with the traditional medicine producers.
Traditional medicine received a further boost during Indonesia’s War of Independence. Orthodox medicine was in short supply, so doctors turned to herbal remedies to treat patients. Later, Indonesia’s newly installed President Sukarno issued the Proclamation of Independence, which stated that the nation must be self-supporting. In accordance with this directive, imported, modern drugs became extremely difficult to obtain and people were thrown back on their own resources. Many returned to their parents’ and grandparents’ age-old, tried-and-tested remedies. Since that time, interest in traditional medicine has blossomed, and a whole series of conferences, exhibitions, seminars and scientific studies have been organized.
During the last two decades of the 20th century, development of Indonesia’s traditional medicine industry accelerated. Frequently under siege from politics, competition from imported drugs and a severe shortage of funding for research, the industry has always returned in force following each setback. To introduce some order to the unregulated industry, steps have been taken to implement modern, clinical trials to back performance claims with scientific data, and to standardize the burgeoning industry in such a way that it may be accepted nationally and considered on an international level. With the creation of eight herbal medicine testing centres in the early 1980s, the endorsement of further research centres and the growing interest amongst medical professionals, the foundations are now in place for international recognition of jamu.
This process has been further helped by an increased demand for jamu from outside Indonesia’s borders, especially in the developed world, which in turn reflects a general trend towards more natural methods of preventative medicine. Alternative therapies are no longer treated with the suspicion they received even a decade ago; in fact, therapies such as acupuncture, Reiki, acupressure, massage, the taking of herbal teas and elixirs, have become— if not mainstream—certainly perfectly acceptable. All this is good news for those who want to see Indonesia’s herbal medicine out in the open—and available in the wider world.
AN INTERVIEW WITH SOEDARMILAH SOEPARTO OF JAMU DARMI
Soedarmilah Soeparto is the name behind Jamu Darmi (see story on page 152), a small but successful and well respected jamu production company located in a suburb of Central Jakarta. As with many such companies, it grows its own supply of medicinal herbs (see left). In a question and answer session taken from her lectures, the founder answered some commonly-asked questions about jamu.
Does jamu have any harmful side effects?
There are no side effects or harm because genuine jamu is made only of herbs, unadulterated by chemicals and artificial fillings, not spoiled by modern processing. The natural balance of the active enzymes and vitamins gives the human body its wholesome effect.
Is it all right to take different types of jamu?
Depending on your needs, it is perfectly all right to combine jamu intake. For example, a woman who intends to lose weight can alternate between Galian Lansing and Kempes Perut.
Is it dangerous to go above the recommended dose?
No. The recommended dosage is usually the minimum dosage that will allow the jamu to take effect quickly. For quicker results, a higher dose can be taken without harm. However, in cases like Kempes Perut, very high doses can cause diarrhoea. A reduction in the dose is required if the jamu causes diarrhoea.
Is jamu heaty?
Complaints about heatiness of jamu could be due to individuals not being used to the high dosage recommended. In this case, it would be advisable to start on a lower dose so the body gets used to jamu and slowly increase the intake.
Is it harmful to take jamu during menstruation?
No, although it is advisable to avoid taking jamu during this period as it might upset the system.
Is jamu intake addictive?
Certainly not. Once the desired effects are attained, the jamu can be stopped. However, it is wise to take jamu regularly to maintain health.
How does slimming with jamu differ from slimming the Western way?
Western slimming products work like a laxative and reduce fats without providing alternative strength, which results in a haggard look for the slimmer. Jamu slims the natural way. Jamu like Kempes Perut balances your glands and removes old fats but retains the nutritious elements without affecting your appetite or making the skin flabby.
Jamu gendong Ibu nur and her aunt set out at 7 am from her house in yogyakarta to visit her regular clients.
CHAPTER 2
Jamu in Daily Life
DESPITE THE DIVERSE RANGE OF OPINIONS ON THIS SENSITIVE TOPIC, THERE IS ONE COMMON PERCEPTION—THE MOST POPULAR TYPES OF JAMU ENHANCE AND IMPROVE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE.
So, what exactly is jamu? An easy reply to this question is jamu is Indonesian herbal medicine. But the answer is not that simple, particularly as it is widely believed that jamu is nothing more than a powerful aphrodisiac. Mention jamu in Asia and reactions vary from total dismissal and distrust, to amusement, knowing smiles or perhaps a lengthy discourse on its benefits. Even in Indonesia, people cannot agree on a definition. Everyone knows what jamu is, but each person draws the line in a different place between jamu, medicine and cosmetics. Each jamu may be applied in more than one way; its use depends on the complaint or need. It can be a herbal drink taken to prevent sickness, the answer to chronic illness or an infusion, distillation, brew or paste to treat lifeless hair.
Jamu has also been described as homeopathic medicine. Certainly, there are similarities: both are holistic and plant-based. But the similarity ends there; homeopathy’s basic principle of diluting the remedy with upwards of 99 parts alcohol hardly fits with jamu-making techniques