Who doesn’t know Jamu (Indonesian Herbal Medicine)? According to linguists, the term “herbal medicine” comes from the Old Javanese language jampi or usada which means healing using medicinal ingredients as well as prayers and teachings. Jamu has been known by the Javanese people for centuries ago. For traditional people, herbal medicine is used to maintain and improve health, prevent disease, treat disease, restore health, and maintain fitness. Herbal medicine is considered to have its position because its properties are still very trusted today.
Records of its traces have been recorded in several temple reliefs such as Borobudur Temple (825 AD), Prambanan Temple (850 AD), Penataran (1200 AD), Sukuh (1437 AD), and Tegalwangi Temple during the post-15th century the Hindu-Buddhist Kingdom.
The Madhawapura inscription mentions the existence of a herbal medicine maker (acaraki). In addition, several references from ancient texts and historical archives have also mentioned various herbal concoctions, such as the Serat Centhini, the Serat Kawruh Chapter of Jawi incantations written in the Serat Kagungan Dalem The Jawi Concoction Book, Primbon Jampi Jawi, the Têtuwuhan Ing Tanah Chapter. Hindiya, Kloppenburg, 1911, and others.
Learning from ancient manuscripts and temple reliefs about herbal medicine, the need for early introduction of medicine (jamu) through various media such as short films to the next generation must also be improved. Socialization to the wider community about herbal medicine also needs to be intensified to make herbal medicine a national strength.
Source:
Literature.org
Jamupedia.com
KITLV
The book entitled The Power of Jamu: Wealth and Local Wisdom of Indonesia, by DR. Martha Tilaar and Prof. Dr. Ir. Bernard T. Wijaya, MM. grammar. 2014
