The History of Jamu
Jamu is claimed to have originated in the Mataram Kingdom era, some 1300 years ago.
The medicine book from Mataram dated from circa 1700 contains 3,000 entries of jamu recipes, while Javanese classical literature Serat Centhini (1814) describes some jamu herbal concoction recipes. Source: Jamu dan Lulur, Rahasia Cantik Para Putri Keraton. Tribun Jogja (in Indonesian). 21 May 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
Though heavily influenced by Ayurveda from India, Indonesia is a vast archipelago with numerous indigenous plants not found in India, and include plants similar to Australia beyond the Wallace Line. Jamu may vary from region to region, and often not written down, especially in remote areas of the country. Source: Susan-Jane Beers, Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing (Hong Kong: Periplus, 2001)
Herbs for Jamu
There are hundreds of herbs for jamu prescriptions such as :
- - Rhizomes:
- - Bengle (Zingiber brevifolium)
- - Jahe Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- - Kencur Aromatic Galangal (Kaempferia galanga)
- - Kunyit Turmeric (Curcuma domestica)
- - Lempuyang (Zingiber zerumbet or Zingiber aromaticum)
- - Lengkuas or Laos Greater Galangal (Alpinia galanga)
- - Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza)
- - Leaves:
- - Brotowali or bratawali (Tinospora crispa or Tinospora tuberculata rumphii)
- - Sambang Darah (Excoecaria cochinchinensis or Excoecaria bicolor)
- - Secang (Caesalpinia sappan)
- - Seeds:
- - Adas (Foeniculum vulgare Mill)
- - Fruits:
- - Ceplukan Cutleaf groundcherry (Physalis angulata)
- - Jeruk Nipis Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)
- - Nyamplung or kosambi (Calophyllum inophyllum)
- - Barks
- - Kayu Manis Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii)
- - Flowers
- - Ilang-ilang Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)
- - Melati Jasmine (Jasminum sambac)
- - Rumput Alang-alang (Gramineae)
Non-herbal elements of Jamu are eg. :
Honey, Royal jelly, Cow, Buffalo and Goat’s Milk ,free range ‘ ayam kampung ‘ eggs, dried seahorse, sea cucumber…
