THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Bali and Lombok - page 215

JAMU: HERBAL TONICS FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTY
Ubud has long been famous for its herbal medicine - ubad means “medicine” in Balinese
- known both for the medicinal plants that flourish around the Campuhan river gullies and
for the local healers who know how to use them.
The pills, pastes and potions distilled from medicinal herbs are collectively known as
jamu and are widely used throughout Bali (and the rest of Indonesia), both in the treatment
of serious ailments and for general wellbeing. Healers usually make their own jamu from
herbs they may have picked or even grown themselves and will have a standard range of
special, secret, mixtures to prescribe to their patients as pills or for use in infusions; often
they'll custom-make jamu for particular conditions as well. Commonly used mainstream
plants include turmeric, ginger, galangal and garlic, but there are countless others. Some
jamu -makers don't offer healing sessions but simply hawk their home-brews around the
market in old glass bottles. Several Ubud spas and cafés also serve ready-made jamu drinks
to tourists, including Bali Buda .
Commercially produced jamu is also a huge industry and tends to focus more, but not
exclusively, on the wellbeing side of things. Sex and beauty enhancers for men and wo-
men are predictably big sellers, as are diet and breast-enlargement elixirs, but there are also
plenty of products for cleansing the blood, easing joint pain and muscle ache, improving
circulation and dealing with skin conditions. The reputable brands use entirely natural in-
gredients, often to recipes that are familiar to those who make their own and, like home-
made jamu , should have no side effects at all (though it's always best to seek local advice
first). Pharmacies sometimes sell these commercial powders and pills but there are also
dedicated jamu shops, like the one towards the eastern end of Ubud's Jalan Raya. Commer-
cial jamu is distinctively packaged, often carrying a helpful graphic, like a pulsating knee
joint (arthritis) or a smiling, muscular male (better sex), and the most vital information is
usually also given in English.
Bali Botanica Day Spa Jl Raya Sanggingan, Sanggingan 0361 976739, balibotan-
ica.com . Cute little day spa overlooking a small flower garden and river where the signature
treatments are Ayurvedic and herbal massage. Massages start from Rp150,000 (1hr 15min)
and packages are available. Daily 9am-9pm.
Balinese Traditional Healing Centre Jl Jembawan 5, but in future may also work from
Rumah Lingkungan, Banjar Jungjungan, about 1.5km north of Ubud Botanic Garden 0361
884 3042, [e-mail] . Fourth-generation Balinese healer Ni Wayan Nuriasih
uses a combination of local herbal medicine plus Chinese and Ayurvedic practices, massage
and jamu to treat her clients. Her popularity has soared since the publication of Elizabeth
Gilbert's bestselling spiritual memoir, Eat, Pray, Love , in which Wayan plays a major role.