Jamu as Disease Control and Fertility Aid

Jamu power: Indonesia's cure-all elixir

The tonics cover nearly every infliction imaginable

The belief in the healing qualities of an ancient herbal medicine is as strong as ever in the Javan town of Yogyakarta

Jamu maker Ibu Siswu mixing together the bitter-tasting tonic called jamu in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Tucked deep in the heart of one of Indonesia's Yogyakarta markets, Ibu Siswu sits surrounded by bowls of herbal pulp, pots of elixirs and tiny coconut shell cups. After mixing the pulp in a brownish liquid she squeezes out the juice over a strainer. The result is a bitter-tasting tonic called jamu, a traditional herbal medicine venerated by Indonesians of all ages for its power to heal ailments or enhance one’s beauty, strength or stamina.

A young man wearing a t-shirt that reads, “They grow a mustache on you,” accepts the cup from Siswu and gulps down the cloudy liquid. His friend has a harder time, and winces with each sip.

Most teenagers prefer modern jamu capsules to the bitter tonics prepared by women such as Siswu. Her clients pucker their faces as they ingest the medicine, which is best taken immediately after preparation. Siswu scoffs at such cowardice: “Jamu should never be sweet,” she says.

Jamu as disease control and fertility aid

An ancient tradition

The practice dates back to the time of the Buddhist empire that built Borobodur, and its association with the royal family, which popularized the drinking of herbal tonics, has added to its allure. Despite the loss of many traditions due to modernization, Indonesians still cling to their belief in jamu’s transformative powers.

Jamu makers often are elderly women -- Ibu being an honorary title meaning mother -- and jamu recipes vary from seller to seller. Most are highly guarded family secrets passed down over generations.

Other jamu makers in Prawirotaman market sell the herbs used as the base for the tonics. One woman has packets of powder that can be added to water for use in baths or skin masks. Her most interesting novelty, however, is ampo, or “healthy earth,” which comes from the nearby province of Bantul. Replete with high mineral deposits, the earth is finely sliced, rolled, dried and roasted, making it a favorite snack among older women.

More on Jamu

A few of the most common herbs in Jamu and their uses:

Turmeric = for detoxifying, to curb snoring, to ease menstrual cramping and reduce body odor.
Galangal = for seasickness and sore throat. Singers often drink concoctions with this root to keep their vocal cords performing at top notch.
Ginger = for detoxifying, morning sickness and to warm the body, improve circulation.
Lemongrass = for alertness, to stop gum bleeding and repel mosquitoes.
Tamarind = for constipation and to improve skin softness.
Sulfur = for rashes and itchy skin. Also used frequently in beauty products.

Where to buy: Pasar Prawirotaman, off Jl. Parangtritis, Yogyakarta
Cost: Rp1,000-5,000 (US$0.11-0.54) per glass

Editor's note: Like any food or drink bought from unlicensed street vendors, it cannot always be guaranteed as safe. The Jakarta Post recently reported on 8.23.10 that “multiple deaths resulted from the consumption of Jamu in Jakarta”