Jamu (old spelling Djamu) is traditional medicine in Indonesia. It is predominantly herbal medicine made from natural materials, such as parts of plants such as roots, bark, flowers, seeds, leaves and fruits. Materials acquired from animals, such as honey, royal jelly, milk and ayam kampung eggs are also often used.
Jamu can be found throughout Indonesia, however it is most prevalent in Java, where Mbok Jamu, the traditional kain kebaya-wearing young to middle-aged Javanese woman carrying bamboo basket filled with bottles of jamu on her back, travelling villages and towns alleys, offering her fares of traditional herbal medicine. In many large cities jamu herbal medicine is sold on the street by hawkers carry a refreshing drink, usually bitter but sweetened with honey or palm sugar. The traditional method on carrying the jamu in basket is called Jamu Gendong (lit. carried jamu), however today some jamu seller might ride bicycle. There is also modest street-side warung tent stall that specializing on selling jamus.
Herbal medicine is also produced in factories by large companies such as Air Mancur, Nyonya Meneer or Djamu Djago, and sold at various drug stores in sachet packaging. Packaged dried jamu should be dissolved in hot water first before drinking. Nowadays herbal medicine is also sold in the form of tablets, caplets and capsules.
Non-health Use
There are a few non-health related uses for jamu, among others, those which are used to enhance sexual pleasure rather than specifically cure illness. There are kinds of Jamu to increase sexual stamina for men, tighten the vagina for women (with names like Sari Rapat (“Essence of Tightness”), Rapat Wangi (“Tight and Fragrant”), and even Empot Ayam (“Tight as a Chicken’s Anus”). Because of Indonesia being a Muslim country these products are considered only suitable for married women.
Herbs for Jamu
There are hundreds of herbs for jamu prescriptions, some are:
Rhizomes:
Non-herbal elements of Jamu
Non-herbal materials acquired from animals are also often used in jamu mixture. Among others are:
Insects
Cattles and dairy product
Poultry
Sea creatures
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| The Jamu: Traditional Medicine From Indonesia |
Jamu can be found throughout Indonesia, however it is most prevalent in Java, where Mbok Jamu, the traditional kain kebaya-wearing young to middle-aged Javanese woman carrying bamboo basket filled with bottles of jamu on her back, travelling villages and towns alleys, offering her fares of traditional herbal medicine. In many large cities jamu herbal medicine is sold on the street by hawkers carry a refreshing drink, usually bitter but sweetened with honey or palm sugar. The traditional method on carrying the jamu in basket is called Jamu Gendong (lit. carried jamu), however today some jamu seller might ride bicycle. There is also modest street-side warung tent stall that specializing on selling jamus.
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| The Old Day Picture Taken on traditional Market on Jogjakarta, Java |
Herbal medicine is also produced in factories by large companies such as Air Mancur, Nyonya Meneer or Djamu Djago, and sold at various drug stores in sachet packaging. Packaged dried jamu should be dissolved in hot water first before drinking. Nowadays herbal medicine is also sold in the form of tablets, caplets and capsules.
Non-health Use
There are a few non-health related uses for jamu, among others, those which are used to enhance sexual pleasure rather than specifically cure illness. There are kinds of Jamu to increase sexual stamina for men, tighten the vagina for women (with names like Sari Rapat (“Essence of Tightness”), Rapat Wangi (“Tight and Fragrant”), and even Empot Ayam (“Tight as a Chicken’s Anus”). Because of Indonesia being a Muslim country these products are considered only suitable for married women.
Herbs for Jamu
There are hundreds of herbs for jamu prescriptions, some are:
Rhizomes:
- Bengle (Zingiber brevifolium)
- Jahe Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Kencur Aromatic Galangal (Kaempferia galanga)
- Kunyit Turmeric (Curcuma domestica)
- Lempuyang (Zingiber zerumbet or Zingiber aromaticum)
- Lengkuas or Laos Greater Galangal (Alpinia galanga)
- Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza)
Leaves:
- Brotowali or bratawali (Tinospora crispa or Tinospora tuberculata rumphii)
- Sambang Darah (Excoecaria cochinchinensis or Excoecaria bicolor)
- Secang (Caesalpinia sappan)
Seeds:
- Adas (Foeniculum vulgare Mill)
Fruits:
- Ceplukan Cutleaf groundcherry (Physalis angulata)
- Jeruk Nipis Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)
- Nyamplung or kosambi (Calophyllum inophyllum)
Barks
- Kayu Manis Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii)
Flowers
- Ilang-ilang Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)
- Melati Jasmine (Jasminum sambac)
- Rumput Alang-alang (Gramineae)
Non-herbal elements of Jamu
Non-herbal materials acquired from animals are also often used in jamu mixture. Among others are:
Insects
- Honey
- Royal jelly
- Bee larvae
- Certain types of insects, including larvae
- Ant nest
Cattles and dairy product
- Milks from various species, includes cow, buffalo, goat and horse
- Goat's bile
Poultry
- ayam kampung eggs (eggs that produces by origin chicken of the Java Island)
Sea creatures
- Dried seahorse
- Dried sea cucumber
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| Jamu |
Types and Uses
- Jamu Beras Kencur (kaempferia galangal rice or sand ginger rice) helps to reduce muscle ache and to increase appetite.
- Jamu Cabe Puyang (chili and lempuyang rhizome) for elimination of stiffness or fever.
- Jamu Kudu Laos for lowering blood pressure, improving blood circulation, warming the body, increasing appetite.
- Jamu Kunci Suruh for candidiasis, tighten the vagina, eliminates body odor, shrink the uterus and stomach, and is said to strengthen the teeth.
- Jamu Kunir Asam (tamarind and turmeric) for to cool the body or facilitate menstruation. Also to improve body odor.
- Jamu Pahitan for itching and diabetes, lack of appetite, eliminate body odor, lower cholesterol, abdominal bloating, acne, and dizziness.
- Jamu Sinom like Jamu Kunir Asam with the addition of young tamarind leaves
- Jamu Uyup-uyup/Gepyokan for increasing breast milk production and to cool the body.
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