Friday, May 15, 2009

THE STORY BEHIND THE TURMERIC (CURCUMA LONGA)

Eni said:
When I was a child, I used to see my elder sister (Ida) scraped turmeric planted in our house backyard. The scraped turmeric was for my mother to drink every time she had gastric problem. Even though my mother is not a medical expert, she knew it from the knowledge inherited by her ancestors. I, at that time, did not know that turmeric can heal gastric problem. But the more I read, the more I know that it is indeed a scientifically proved medicine for gastric problem and other health problems. It can even confine the growth rate of certain cancer.


Ida said:
When I was 6 years old, as the eldest child in the family, I had to take over some responsibilities when my mother was sick. It included hard effort to recover my mother from her gastric problems and anemia. Every morning I used to scrape turmeric. Then the scraped turmeric was mixed with warm water and salt, then filtered. My mother used to drink it before going teaching. I, consequently, used to go to school with my palms yellow coloured because of the turmeric I used to squash everyday. I also used the scrapep turmeric and put it to animals (such as bird, cats, chicken, etc) that got hurt. They all recovered, and I felt I believe that turmeric was indeed a medicine.

Ibu Budiyem (a farmer in desa nglipar, wonosari, yogyakarta) said:
I have been planting these turmerics since 3 years ago. I remember, at that time my son, Beni, was going into his 9th grade a.k.a third class of Juniour High School. The price of the turmerics now is Rp. 400 (US$ 0.04). All my harvest today will gain me Rp. 4000 (US$ 0.40) at the utmost. Yeah it's about 10 kg turmeric. It is indeed uncomparable with the series of hard work of planting, looking after, and harvesting it.

As you can see, we have sit here for hours cleaning the harvested turmerics from the soil. No other choice, we do anything we can to make money. Beni needs a lot of money to go on tour to Bali (Rp. 800.000,-) with his school friends, for his motorbike fuels, his cell phone credits, etc. This turmeric is used for making Jamu (traditional concoction to keep you healthy). We don't make it because it is expensive for us to make. It needs other ingredients to make it such as tamarind, other herbals, and sugar. The price of sugar now is about Rp. 9000,- make it so expensive for us to make jamu.

Tuti (Second grade in Juniour High School, child of Ibu Budiyem, Who helps her mother harvesting turmeric) said:
I don't know the price of this turmeric. Ah, maybe it's just nothing (then she yelled asking the price to her mom). This turmeric is used to make Jamu- a traditional concoction- to make our body healthy. But I seldom drink it because not many people sell it.


The Authors:
They will keep planting the turmeric because it can grow easily in Indonesia and also because it is one of kitchen seasoning used across the archipelago. Maybe one day, their turmeric will be appreciated with deserving price. Hopefully, when that happen, the turmeric has not been patented by any parties. Or maybe it has?






By: Ida dan Eni, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, May 10th, 2009

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Traditional Healing Practices--Status: Endangered. (Part 1)

In some places in Indonesia, especially in rural areas, traditional concoction a.k.a Jamu (usually tonic made of medicinal plants) has become a part of daily consumption to keep people healthy.



A professional is making the concoction ( we call her “MBAH” -- a common call for old women and men in JAVA, literary meaning grandmother or grandfather). I Wonder will there be 'next professional seller'?!
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These photos represent portrait of how Indonesia rich in traditional wisdom regarding health systems, which have a long historical background inherited from their ancestors' experiences and became a part of daily life. The woman is selling traditional concoction in a traditional market in Yogyakarta. The ingredient of her concoction are from herbals believed to be able to keep people healthy. The processing is also done traditionally, not using any machine. She scrapes turmerics, crushes herbals, and squashing them with her hands. Buyer can either drink the concoction directly there from a glass made of coconut shell (see pic on your left) or bring it home packaged in a plastic see pic on your right). The price for one portion is 2000 rupiah (US$ 0,2).





From our observation, nowadays people selling the traditional concoction are mostly aged women. There has been also a decline in number of traditional concoction sellers, who usually walk around our village. Perhaps, there are not many people who want to consume such concoction because they now believe more in modern medicines and supplements they see on TV.

The bitter consequence lurks behind this reality is since on the other hand, many more people are not able to reach the so called sophisticated health innovation, therefore, the disappearance of traditional healing methods and practices apparently can make many people who cannot afford the so-called modern innovation become more vulnerable.

We think, is traditional knowledge to keep us healthy going to extinct along with the decreasing appreciation from us? What and how great the loss are we going to face then?


More Photos:\




“Maknyusss!” meaning very-very-very tastefull. She regularly drink jamu made by this “MBAH” every morning except sunday.







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The herbals..!What are they? I can spot turmeric. What else? I will ask the seller later.






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What I drink in this pic is called Kunir Asem. I like the taste and the smell. It is sour and sweet and fresh. There is also a soda sensation. Can you imagine then? After drinking this, usually we drink some sugary-water.






By: Ida and Eni, Yogyakarta, May 09th, 2009.