Traditional Medicine JAMU (Temulawak)

Back to nature is the slogan that we often hear
I will discuss about Jamu (formerly Djamu) is traditional medicine in Indonesia. It is predominantly herbal medicine made from natural materials, such as parts of plants such as roots, leaves and bark, and fruit. There is also material from the bodies of animals, such as bile of goat or alligator used.

In many large cities jamu herbal medicine is sold on the street by hawkers carry a refreshing drink, usually bitter but sweetened with honey. Herbal medicine is also produced in factories by large companies such as 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.

TEMULAWAK Curcuma xanthorrhiza

Temulawak is a natural Indonesian herb, but it only grows in Java, Maluku and Kalimantan. Temulawak is considered as bush vegetation and its leaves grow from the root and the height is about 2 – 2.5 m. Its round shaped leaves (similar to Banana Leaves) covered one another and shaped like a stem. Temulawak grows in low level ground up to 750 m above the sea. It can be harvested after 8-12 months, when the leaves turn yellowish. The tuber grows from stem and has dark-yellowish (brownish) color, 15 cm of length and 6 cm of diameters. This tuber smells balmy and tastes bitter.

It has a yellowish color because it contains curcuma substance that works to degenerate bacteria and as a hepatoprotector. Temulawak also contains atsiri essential oil, which is good to improve digestion system, increase appetite and the production of breast-milk.

Temulawak extract is also proven to be good to decrease cholesterol level in the blood and liver.

Plantation

Generally, the plantation of temulawak nowadays is still not be done largely.

To occupy the need of temulawak ,that currently still depends on the source from forest that grows wildly. If the condition continues, it is possible the tragic event that the extinction of some of woody species ,also occurred to temulawak.

It is proved that the amount of wild temulawak in East, has much decreased compared to a few years ago. Thus, the incentive plantation must be done immediately.

For inventarisation  activity, observation-Biological,phytochemical,pharmacology and plantation technology have to be continued and upgraded.

The comparison of temulawak harvested product that is done not seriously, for fertile soil reaches 4-5tonnesper hectare, meanwhile for no fertile soil, only reaches 2-3 tones per hectare. In fertile soil and the plantation is done good enough, the product can reach until more than 100,000 tones dry per year.

Chemical contents

Temulawak contains beneficial components like curcuminoid & asiri oil(3-12%).Temulawak extracts are from ash, protein, fat, harsh fibre, curcuminoid, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese&cadmium. Temulawak rhizome extracts can be developed as the source of carbohydrates that is used for food or spices in food.

Characteristics&Benefits

The rhizome has sharp smell, bitter and quite spice tastes. Temulawak has benefits of laktoga, kaloga, antiinflamasi, tonikum and diuretic.

In the herbal medication, temulawak is abundantly used to cure ailments such as :

1.Rheumatic and muscles pain.

2.Fever medicine( anti-pyretic)

3.Liver problems, yellow fever, kidney stone

4.Skin diseases.

5.Release cramps and overcome from repeating.

6.Haemorrhoids and irritation at the rectum.

7.Bloody diarrhea and dysentery. Also can cure constipation.

8.Cough and fever for children's.

9.White discharge problems and fungus infection like Candida albican at the vagina.

10.Diabetes.

11.Gastrics and excessive gases.

Temulawak is very effective to cure liver diseases. In several clinical research shows that the hepatitis patients that take temulawak ,3 times a day constantly in 3 month, shows the decreasing of SGOT and SGPT level. SGOT and SGPT is a method to measure the disease stage by blood test. Temulawak is able to protect the liver from viruses that cause  jaundice, hepatitis and other liver diseases.

Durations

Take 3-9g of fresh rhizome (dried 1-5g) and braised it for a while to perpetuates the extracts oil and the rhizome is eaten each time before eat. It also can smoothen the digestion of food. Besides that, it is said can be the remedy for cervical cancer and restore the health of the body warning : do not consume this plant during pregnant as it may cause uterus contraction and lead to miscarriage for the early stage of pregnancy). The long period use of temulawak may lead to intestinal ulcers.

Temulawak and the medication of Hepatitis

In most countries, hepatitis or liver disease ranks the third place of the death factors after infection disease and lung disease. Usually it is said as Hepatitis B that commonly occur very high, around 2.5-19.5%.Moreover for Pulau Jawa community reach until 34.5%.

About 5% of Indonesians or about 8 millions people are infected to Hepatitis B. In other countries like North America and West Europe commonly about 0.1- 0.5%.Currently, in Pulau Raya Atlantic ocean, the rate reaches 50% from the total community reported as carrier.

Coronary heart disease

Besides as the remedy for hepatitis, temulawak especially its curcuminoid, can increase the HDL level (heavy lipoprotein high type that useful to prevent coronary heart disease.)

Its other function is can trigger the secretion of bile, pancreas, as the anti inflammation nutrient and lower the blood pressure.

In lowering the blood pressure, Gunster, researcher from Netherland, report his experiment at 5 cats by intravena injection test from about 1% of diluted temulawak in NaCl salt. It is proven can lower the blood pressure of the cat, although the the mechanism is not cleared.

The other Gunster’s experiment, temulawak can cause contraction of uterus. Thus, pregnant women are encouraged to be careful to use it as the right dose is not confirmed yet.