Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing. Susan-Jane Beers
nearly every disease known to man. Indonesian Department of Health officials describes it as “any curing mixture that is taken internally”—certainly a neat definition. Healthcare professionals have their own interpretations, whilst many small-scale producers and even large-scale manufacturers categorize their cosmetics and beauty products as jamu.
Jamu can be used on its own or in conjunction with other healing techniques such as massage. Its advantage is that, if correctly administered, it has no side effects and, according to most Javanese, it is highly effective. 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.
The Philosophy Behind the Healing
To the outsider, Indonesian herbal medicine appears to be an extremely complex form of healing, combining spiritual, religious, mystical, magical and herbal elements.
Ibu BRA Mooryati Soedibyo, President Director of jamu manufacturer Mustika Ratu and Chairman of the Indonesian Jamu and Traditional Medicine Association tries to summarize it: “Indonesians who believe in God and his powers understand the mythology of jamu in people’s lives. God created human beings and provided for their physical health and welfare. According to ecological concepts, nature is meant to prolong life, and life depends on how people use their senses and instincts. Instincts teach us that if there is darkness there must be light; if there is disease there must be a cure; if there is poison there must be an antidote.”
Islam (and Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any country in the world) embraces the concept that healing the sick is the highest form of service to God. The Qur’an states: “Nature has been created by God for humankind to exploit and use for its good purposes.... God sent down a treatment for every ailment.” In this way, both religion and the natural world are harnessed for the making of jamu.
However, even before Islam came to Indonesia in the 14th century, the maintenance of inner and outer harmony was considered essential to good health. Thus, when Islam arrived, it simply reinforced these beliefs. Being ill in the spiritual sense is an ailment for which the average Westerner would not take medicine; but, according to both Javanese and Balinese understanding of ‘health’, there are many different ‘cures’ (just as there are many different causes) for such ailments.
THE MOST POPULAR JAMU TYPES
Acnarin, for removing pimples and marks on face; produced by Jamu Indonesia Simona.
Antangin, for the common cold; produced by Deltomed Laboratories.
Busterin, for increasing and beautifying the bust, and for stimulating lactation in breast-feeding mothers; produced by Jamu Indonesia Simona.
em kapsul, for women’s health and pains in menstruation; produced by Jamu Borobudur.
esha, to increase spirits and stamina; produced by Jamu Jago.
galian putri, for women’s all-round health and beauty; produced by Jamu Air Mancur, Nyonya Meneer.
Jamu Temu lawak, a mild antiseptic wash to help prevent food poisoning; produced by Nyonya Meneer (see above).
kurkumino, to protect and help the function of the liver; produced by Jamu Ibu.
masuk Angin, to prevent influenza; produced by Jamu Cap Jago, Jamu Sido Muncul, Nyonya 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.
Other interesting jamu in Bu Atun’s repertoire are Jamu Tujuh Laos, which helps cure rheumatism; Jamu Sehat Wanita recommended for women’s health; as well as jamu for amenorrhoea, and a recipe for coughs. She also makes a mix called Cekok, which is produced from a base of Beras Kencur. Although this tastes terrible, it helps small children get back their appetite after an illness.
People who are overweight or women wishing to tighten their stomachs also seek her help. She prepares concoctions from starfruit (Averrhoa carambola) for lowering high blood pressure, and other brews to raise it. Bu Atun suggests patients should consult a medical doctor if they are seriously ill, but says many people prefer to take the jamu gendong ’s advice for such chronic problems as migraine or white discharge.
Since moving to Jakarta, Bu Atun has been able to earn a better living than she would have done if she had stayed in her village. She also sets aside either Thursday or Sunday to perform massage—her grandmother taught her urut (see page 94)—which brings in extra money. Although most of the massages are not meant specifically for healing, Bu Atun does perform a special massage for women with sagging or painful wombs which she—and many of her patients—consider very effective.
Considering the substantial weight of a fully laden basket of jamu, I asked how long Bu Atun felt she would—and could—continue this work.
“As long as I’m strong enough, I’ll keep going.” was her confident reply.
A Holistic Approach
Jamu is a holistic therapy. The concept of harmony—balance between a person and their environment, or the balance between the hot and cold elements in the body—means that both illness and medicines are divided into hot and cold categories. The herbalist’s skill lies in contrasting a hot illness with the appropriate cold medicine and vice versa; hot medicine cures a cold illness and cold medicine is recommended for a hot illness. Jamu prescriptions always follow this rule, which is why there is a catalogue of antonyms: hot and cold; sweet and sour; bitter and sugary; strong and weak. Similarly, if a formula is developed to