Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, as published in Bali Post, Sunday, 30th August 2009.
Translated by Putu Semiada
J A M U
(Traditional Herbal Medicine)
What kind of jamu tastes best?
“It’s not the jamu that tastes good, but the jamu seller,” says I Madé Jaruh Paruh (I Madé Extremely Dirty Mind).
His eyes are half-open and he smiles naughtily.
Everybody is shaking their heads. They are all amazed by Made as he knows any topic they discuss, especially porn things.
“If I get a jamu seller, I will always be excited, and my fatigue will be gone. The only problem that I might have is my knees. They will be weak as I have to work hard to please the jamu seller,” says I Madé.
Everybody shakes their heads harder. They think that if they let I Made keeps talking about porn things, he will never stop.
“The most delicious thing, I think, is beras kencur, with a little bit ice. Delicious!” says I Wayan Basang Bedag (I Wayan Big Belly).
As a matter of fact, they are talking about herbal medicine. They all know that doctors and medicine are getting more and more expensive.
“When you have a stomach-ache and you go see a doctor, he will ask you to get medicine at the drugstore. Your stomach-ache will be gone but you will have a headache as you keep thinking of the money you spend for the doctor and medicine,” says I Wayan.
Under these circumstances it seems that you don’t have any choice.
“I only drink cinnamon juice in the morning, to be healthy but drink palm wine in the afternoon to warm my body, I Wayan tells his friend.
His friends just laugh. Since the economic crisis, everybody is trying to reduce their expenses. Before, I Madé brought 4 mobiles, now he just brings 2. Also he used to consume import multivitamins, but now he just consumes eggs that he gets from the chickens he has in his house.
“You know, it’s easy for me to get cinnamon leaves in the field. So it costs me nothing. I just need to buy some sugar and tamarind,” says I Wayan.
I Wayan doesn’t really need to try hard to make herbal juice. All are done by his wife.
“And the curing power of the herbal blend has been proved,” says I Kadek Boréh Anget (I Kadek Hot Herbal Scrub).
Now there are traditional herbal medicines that have curing power against big diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.
“We should start learning more about traditional medicine, such as boréh (herbal scrub), loloh (herbal juice), jamu (traditional herbal medicine). Who knows we might not need imported medicines anymore in future.
Everyone nods, but I Madé.
Please do not talk too loud when you discuss on this kind of issue. If our traditional medicines are really reliable, I am afraid Malaysia will claim them as theirs,” I Madé interrupts.
If the jamu becomes Malaysia’s property, I Made will have a problem to get a jamu seller.
“If she only speaks Malay, how can I seduce her?”
