Traditional Medicine in Asia

Traditional Medicine in Asia
Jamu from animal materials
Jamu made from animal materials is not
as popular as herbal jamu. These remedies
use substances from the cobra, lizard,
house lizard, molluscs, earthworm, gabus
fish and other creatures. 9 The animal can
be captured from its natural surroundings,
or procured from the markets. The trade
in animal remedies is not flourishing as well
as that in herbal medicines. Animal
medicines may be more easily obtained
from Chinese drug stores than the regular
markets.
Lizard and house lizard
The house lizard can be easily found in
dwellings or trees while other lizards may
be found in the bushes or grass near the
house, in a garden, or in a paddy field.
Both are used as remedies for Tinea
versicolor, fungal skin infections, eczema
and other skin problems. The medicine may
be taken orally or applied externally. For
external use the animal’s flesh is crushed
and applied to the affected area for 10–
15 minutes, after which the skin is cleaned.
For oral use, the lizard is baked until it is
charred black, ground to a powder, mixed
with some coffee and diluted with water.
Cobra
The cobra is a poisonous snake whose bite
can be fatal. Cobras are found near
swamps, in paddy fields, or in the
underbrush. Cobra remedies are wellknown
in the big cities of Indonesia. All
parts of the snake’s body are used for
medicines. Cobra blood is believed to
enhance the sexual potency of men. The
uncooked bile and spinal cord, mixed with
special herbs, are considered beneficial for
diabetes, high levels of cholesterol or uric
acid, cancer, asthma, malaria, skin
problems and general physical fitness. The
cobra’s flesh is cooked and served by food
58
vendors or in restaurants. It is also sold in
a dried form.
Cobra remedies are sold in kiosks along
the streets of Surabaya. The vendors, who
know how to prepare medicines out of the
cobra blood, bile and spinal cord, get live
cobras from East Java. The preparation
involves the use of arak (alcohol), other
herbs and honey. There are many cobra
consumers, as can be seen from the fact
that, on an average, a cobra seller can sell
up to 20 cobras a day.
Molluscs
Molluscs are considered a plant pest by
farmers as they consume the leaves of
plants rapidly. However, they can be used
for the treatment of certain illnesses. For
example, they can be of use in clearing the
respiratory tract of mucus (mucolytic),
treating oedema, pharyngitis and
haemorrhoids and as a diuretic. The
transparent liquid of a mollusc, obtained
by cutting the small pole of its shell, can be
used as first aid for fresh wounds.
Earthworms
Earthworms loosen the soil and are found
in the earth in pots, yards or gardens. They
are used to treat several ailments. For
example, the rural population drinks the
blended, dried and fried oil of the worms
to treat fever due to typhoid. Chinese drug
stores sell dried and processed worms
which they claim have a beneficial effect
on patients with breast tumours, nose
polyps, headaches and hypertension.
Earthworms are also used as diuretics.
Jamu from minerals
Minerals are not often used as jamu. Tawas
(hydrated alumni kali sulfas) help relieve
body odour, while sulphur powder is
commonly used for treating skin diseases.
In certain areas, women consume ampo,