MUGWORT

Latin name: Artemisia vulgaris

Other name(s): Artemisia chinensis, ai ye, mugwort, wormwood, St. John’s plant,
Indonesian name: Baru Cina, suket gajahan

This fuzzy herb is originated from China and has a pungent smell, favors damp soil, and can be found growing wild in woods and open fields up to 3,000 meters above sea level. Another variant, Artemisia argyi is the one cultivated in home-yards as one among the common healing plants in Indonesia. This yearly shrub is half wooden, multi-branched, grooved and fuzzy that can grow erect up to 1 meter high. 

The single leaf is egg-shaped, with finger-like divided edges and sharp tip, and is 8 – 12 centimeter in height, and 6 – 8 centimeters wide. Both surfaces of the leaf are fuzzy, with the upper is green in color, while the underside is white-greenish. Multi-flower, that grows in small yellow cobs from the base of the leaf near the tip of the branch. It has a square, needle form, small and brown fruit with small brown seeds.   

This herb is well known for the treatment of female disorders. It is often prepared with chicken broth and consumed as vegetables. Like Adas, Baru Cina is one among nine sacred remedies among the Anglo Saxon citizens. 

The leaves contain volatile oils: phellandrene, cadinene and alpha-thujone. Other chemical substances found in the leaves are: alpha-amirine, fernenol, dihydromatricaria ester, cineole, 1-alpha-terpineol, beta-kariophilene, 1-quebrachitol and tanine. The rood and stem contains inulin, while the small branches contain oxytocin, yomogi alcohol and ridentine.

MEDICINAL PART: Fresh or dried leaves, seeds and root

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS: The leaves taste bitter, pungent with an aromatic fragrance. It warms up the meridians of the kidneys, lung and spleen. It has a tonic effect, analgesic, hemostatic, diuretic, anti-flatulence, anti-perspiration, appetite stimulant, astringent, enhances blood circulation and prevent clotting, prevent miscarriage in pregnant women, and correct the menstrual cycle. 

INDICATIONS: Leaves: menstrual disorders: hypermenorrhea (excessive menstruation), dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea; spotted bleeding during pregnancy; hyperactive fetus; facilitate smooth delivery; facilitate conception; post-partum cramps; epilepsy; leukorrhea; dysentery; bloating; epigastric pain; hematemesis; hemoptysis; epistaxis (nose bleeding); bleeding hemorrhoids; post-partum bleeding; bleeding wounds; cough with phlegm; laryngitis; excessive use of opiates, edema due to vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. Seeds: impotence; root: epilepsy; flowering herb: stomachache, appetite stimulant.  

DOSAGE AND USAGE: General: (1) Boil 10 – 30 grams of fresh leaves or 5 – 10 grams of the dried leaves with 3 glasses of water until left to only 1 glass. Drink the decoction at once after cooling or divide into 2 – 3 portions to be finished in one day.

(2) Wash fresh leaves with clean water, and add adequate amount of vinegar to wet the leaves, fry without any cooking oil until the leaves blackens. Then pound to a black powder.  For each usage take 3 – 6 grams of the powder, steep in boiling water, cool down and drink. For external usage: roll a dried leaf like a cigar and burn one of the tips to warm up the targeted acupuncture points controlling the respective organs affected by the ailment e.g. gastric pain due to ulcer, loss of appetite, hearing impairment, paralysis, pneumonia, chronic enlargement of the lever and spleen, ailment of the vertebrae, scrofula, pleuritis, eczema, pruritis. Fine ground fresh leaves can also be used for external treatment of bleeding wounds, boils and sores as well as a repellent.

The following are specific conditions with the recommended usage and dosage:

Cuticle (verruca)

Wash adequate amount of fresh baru cina leaves, grind to a mushy mixture. Apply directly to the cuticle. Repeat this 3 – 4 times per day for 30 days.

Post-partum recovery care

Wash 4 trees of this herb and cut to pieces. Boil with 6 glasses of pure water until left to 2 glasses. Strain after cooling, and drink 1 glass twice a day on an empty stomach before meals.

Impotence

Grind 15 – 45 grams of the seeds, add warm water and stir evenly, and then drink at once.

Epilepsy

(1)   Prepare the following ingredients:

      Baru cina root 1 handful

Ginger I thumb cut

Palm sugar 100 grams

Wash and cut to pieces put in a pan, add 4 glasses of pure water and boil until left to 2 glasses. Strain after cooling, and drink 1 glass twice a day

(2)   Steep 1 teaspoonful of dried baru cina powder in warm water. Drink after cooling, 3 times a day

Laryngitis, cough with phlegm

Wash adequate amount of the fresh whole herb, then pound to a mushy substance. Squeeze and strain the mush, collect until you get ½ a cup. Drink this twice a day until the condition gets better

Dysentery

Wash 20 grams of the fresh whole herb and 1 thumb cut of ginger, cut to small pieces. Boil with 3 glasses of pure water until left to 1 glass. Strain after cooling, divide into 3 portions, and drink each portion in the morning, afternoon and before bedtime.

Spotted bleeding during pregnancy, miscarriage prevention

Prepare the following materials:

Baru cina dried powder 6 grams

Cuscuta chinensis seeds 15 grams

Benalu (Loranthus parasiticus) 15 grams

Angelica sinensis root 10 grams

Boil all ingredients in 3 glasses of pure water until left to 1 glass. Strain after cooling, and drink the decoction ½ glasses twice a day

Hypermenorrhea (excessive menstruation), gastric pain

Prepare the following

Baru cina dried powder 6 grams

Umbi teki (Cyperus rotundus) 12 grams

Paeonia lactiflora root (chi shao) 12 grams

Angelica sinensis root (tang kuei) 10 grams

Corydalis yanhusuo rhizome 10 grams

Boil all ingredients in 3 glasses of pure water until left to 1 glass. Strain after cooling and drink the decoction ½ glass twice daily

Epigastric pain, digestive disorders, menstrual disorders

Boil 15 grams of baru cina leaves in 3 glasses of pure water, and drink like tea

Dysmenorrhea

Wash 20 grams of baru cina leaves and boil with 2 glasses of pure water. Strain after cooling, divide into 2 portions and take it in the morning and afternoon

Boils

Grind adequate amount of fresh leaves, and apply the mush to the boil

Hemorrhoids

Grind adequate amount of fresh leaves, warm up a while on small fire, and apply while still warm to the hemorrhoid

Prevention of leucorrhea

Take 30 grams of the tip of baru cina stalk including its flowers, then steep with boiled water, drink it as tea. When preferred to drink it cold, you may as well add sugar and milk

Excessive use of opiates

Drink ¾ cup of baru cina herbal juice

Rheumatism

Grind adequate amount of fresh baru cina leaves to a mush. Steam the mush, and apply to the affected area while warm

SIDE EFFECTS: About 30% of patients taking the herb’s decoction experienced a dry mouth, stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or dizziness. These side effects do not appear when using the oil from the leaves.

REMARKS: The leaves of the other variant; Artemisia argyi folium, is known to possess the effect to treat cancer affecting various organs e.g. gastro-intestinal cancer, breast cancer, and lymphosarcoma, It is also used in the treatment of hepatitis, prostatitis, bronchitis, hypermenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea.

At present baru cina has been made available in the forms of tablets, injection, rubbing oil and aerosol, combined with other herbal plants under several brand names 

IMPORTANT NOTE

The recipes and techniques mentioned in this page are not meant to replace diagnosis and treatment of a medical practitioner. Before using any of these recipes, the author recommends to consult a physician. All the recipes has been used without any side effects and are considered safe. However, since some people have more sensitive skin or digestive system than others, and since the user’s actual recipe preparation is beyond the control of the author, the author accept no liability with regard to the use of recipes or techniques contained in this page.

GARLIC

Latin name: Allium sativum

Other name(s): Da suan; Allium odorum; Allium chinensis; Allium scorodoprasum; Chinese chive,
Indonesian name: Bawang Putih

The plant grows to a height of 10 – 15 centimeters, with cylindrical stalks rising from a leaved base, long narrow leaves, and round bulbs that grow in clusters, or “heads”. It has been used as food and medicine in China for at least five thousand years, although traditionally it has been a forbidden food for Buddhist monks in China, due to the presence of a volatile oil that is said to excite sensory appetites, particularly lust. Garlic has long been known to protect people from all sorts of parasites, microbes, toxins, and other noxious elements contained in food and water, and therefore it’s a very effective preventive against a wide range of infectious agents that can enter the body through the digestive tract.

The garlic plant grows worldwide, in many species, but the variety referred to here is native to China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal, and northern India

MEDICINAL PART: Bulb

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS: Anthelmintic; antibacterial; antifungal; antiseptic; antidote; stomachic; tonic; eliminates accumulated mucus and phlegm; digestive, especially for meat; increase gastric, intestinal, and bronchial secretions; inhibits tumor growth; lowers blood pressure

INDICATIONS: tumors and swelling; tuberculosis; hookworm, pinworm, and other parasites; diarrhea and dysentery; nosebleed; bacterial infections; abscesses; high cholesterol; arteriosclerosis; high blood pressure; colds and flu; vaginitis; Candida and other fungal infections; athlete's foot

DOSAGE AND USAGE: Fresh cloves: 3 – 5 per day; taken raw in food, or in capsules. External: puree of fresh garlic cloves can be applied to abscesses as an antiseptic and healing agent, also to ringworm on the head; for athlete’s foot, apply liberally to infected area and wrap well with a clean, dry cloth for 1 – 2 hours, then remove and wipe away excess garlic with dry cloth (but no water)

Cold preventive: if you’re susceptible to “catching cold”, a traditional Chinese preventive is to peel and puree ten cloves of fresh garlic, then extract the pure juice through a cloth; store the juice in a clean jar with dropper; put one drop in each nostril three time a day; this is said to be highly effective preventive against contagious colds

SIDE EFFECTS: Excessive use of garlic is said to be harmful to the eyes, cause dizziness, and scatter energy

REMARKS: Garlic has remarkable antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and numerous scientific studies have shown it to have a broader range of bactericidal powers than penicillin. One milligram of its major active compound, allicin, has the equivalent antibacterial power of 15 standard units of penicillin. It is also effective against many fungal infections, including Candida, which responsible for most cases of vaginitis.

A traditional Chinese cure for tuberculosis involves placing a thick compress of chopped raw garlic on the patient’s back, covering it with a clean damp cloth, then using a laundry iron to heat the compress and force the garlic fumes through the skin into the chest cavity, where they kill the bacteria responsible for the ailment

The therapeutic benefits of garlic have been established beyond doubt by numerous modern studies conducted throughout the world. It has been conclusively shown that allicin effectively lowers serum cholesterol by blocking its biosynthesis. Another active sulphur compound contained in garlic, methyl allyl trisulfide, helps expand constricted blood vessels, thereby preventing high blood pressure. Yet another compound called ajoene inhibits the tendency of blood cells to stick together (platelet aggregation), thereby helping to prevent stroke, heart attack, and other heart diseases caused by blood clots and restricted flow of blood.

A remarkable study on garlic in China involves eleven patients suffering from cryptococcal meningitis, which is usually fatal. All eleven patients were successfully treated and recovered after several weeks of garlic therapy. Recent independent studies in Japan and Romania have also shown garlic to be effective in protecting living organisms from the influenza virus.

FENNEL

Latin name: Foeniculum vulgare

Other name(s): hui hsiang; fennel; Foeniculum officinale; adas, jintan manis

Jintan manis (Fennel) is considered as one out of nine most potent healing herbs in the Anglo Saxon region. It is cultivated in Indonesia as one of the basic spices as well as a healing plant. Fennel grows at a height up to 1,800 meters above sea level and is originated from the Middle East which is indicated by the Chinese name; hui hsiang, meaning Muhammadan spice.

It is a perennial herb with a height of 0.5 to 2 meters tall. It grows in clusters of 3 – 5 green blue, grooved and hollow stalks which produce an aromatic smell when crushed. The medicinal part -the fruits- are oval in shape with a length of 6 – 10 millimeters and width of 3 – 4 millimeters, and when still young are green in color and become brownish green to dark brown when they get mature. However this color may differ in each country. The ripe fruit has a specific aromatic smell and taste a bit that of camphor.

Fennel produces a volatile oil called “minyak adas” (Fennel oil, oleum foeniculi) which comes in two types; the sweet and the bitter one. It is distilled from the mature and dried adas fruit powder and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Adas is also used as spices in food preparation and to enhance food taste as well as to improve the taste of herbal decoctions.

MEDICINAL PART: Dried fruits, leaves

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS: Dried fruits: tonic, analgesic, stomachic, carminative, mucolytic, and stimulates lactation or lactagogue. Leaves: diuretic, lactagogue, stomachic, and improve vision. Fennel oil can be used as carminative, antibacterial and anthelmintic. 

INDICATION: Dried fruits: stomachache, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, loss of appetite, exudatiive coughing, asthma, dysmenorrheal, amenorrhea, lack of lactation, proteinuria, insomnia, orchidoptosis (sagging of testicle), hernia inguinalis, epididimitis, testicle hydrocel, pain due to gallstones, gout, drug and fungal poisoning. Leaves: Coughing, flatulence, colic, excessive thirsty and to improve vision

DOSAGE AND USAGE: Decoction: boil 3 – 9 grams of adas fruit and drink it as recommended. Or you may grind the dried fruit and steep in boiling water, drink while warm. Leaves can be consumed as vegetables or by boiling it in pure water and then drink it. For external use, the dried fruit is finely ground to powder. Apply the powder to affected area of sprue, toothache, earache or wound. Adas oil can also be used to rub the body of a child with colds. For the specific indication as mention above, adas is used as a single herb or mixed with other herbs or ingredients to cure the ailment as follows:

Cough: 
(1) Steer 5 grams of adas powder with ½ cup of boiling water. After cooling off add 1 teaspoon of honey, and stir well and drink until you get well.

(2) Prepare the following materials:
Abrus precatorius - folia (daun saga) - ¼ handfuls
Shoeflowers (Hybiscus Rosa-sinensis, kembang sepatu) - 2 flowers
Mentha arvensis - folia (daun poko) - 1/5 handfuls
Lantana camara - flowers (bunga tembelekan) - 10 flowers
Red scallions (Allium ascolonicum, bawang merah) - 2 bulbs
Fennel powder (Foeniculum vulgare, bubuk adas) - 1 teaspoon
Pulosari tree - stem (Alyxia stellata, pulosari) -1 finger-size cut
Ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale, jahe) - 1 finger-size cut
Palm sugar - 3 finger-size cuts
Wash all materials and cut to small pieces. Boil the ingredients together in 3 glasses of pure water until left to half. After cooling, strain and drink ½ glass 3 times daily.

Asthma:
(1) Pour 10 drops of fennel oil with 1 tablespoon hot water. Drink 3 times daily while warm until the condition gets better

(2) Prepare the following materials:
Fennel powder (Foeniculum vulgare, bubuk adas) - ½ teaspoon
Pulosari tree - stem (Alyxia stellata, pulosari) - ¼ finger-size cut
Zedoary (Kaempferia galanga, rimpang kencur) - 2 finger-size cuts
Round turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza, rimpang temulawak) 1 finger-size cut
Black cumin (Cuminum cyminum, jintan hitam) - ¼ teaspoon
Jasminum pubescens (daun poncosudo) - ¼ handful
Palm sugar 3 jari
Wash all materials and cut to small pieces. Boil all with 4½ glasses of pure water until left to half. After cooling, strain and drink ¾ glass 3 times daily until the condition gets better.

Sprue or mouth ulcer:
Prepare the following ingredients:
Fennel powder (Foeniculum vulgare, bubuk adas) - ¾ teaspoon
Coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum, ketumbar) - ¾ teaspoon
Mayana leaves (Coleus scutellarioides, daun iler) - 1/5 handful
Ngai camphora leaves (Blumea balsamifera - folia, daun sembung ¼ handful
Gotu kola levaes (Centella asiatica - folia, daun pegagan) - ¼ handful
Paederia foetida - folia (daun kentut) - 1/6 handful
Pulosari tree - stem (Alyxia stellata, pulosari) - ¾ finger-siza cut
Zingiber aromaticum - rhizoma (rimpang lempuyang wangi) ½ finger-sizs cut
Turmeric (Curcuma domestica, rimpang kunyit) - ½ finger=size cut
Cinnamon bar (Cinnamomum burmanni, kayumanis) ¾ finger-size cut
Palm sugar 3 jari Wash all materials and cut the leaves and roots to small pieces. Boil all ingredients with 4½ glasses of pure water until left to half. After cooling, strain and drink ¾ glass 3 times daily until the condition gets better.

Dysmenorrhea:
Ingredients:
Coral jasmine leaves (Nyctanthes arbortristis, daun srigading) - 1/5 handful
Coral jasmine flowers (Nyctanthes arbortristis, bunga srigading) - 1/5 handful
Black cumin (Cuminum cyminum, jintan hitam) - ¾ teaspoon
Fennel powder (Foeniculum vulgare, bubuk adas) - ½ teaspoon
Pulosari tree - stem (Alyxia stellata, pulosari) - ½ jari
Bixa orellana - flowers (bunga kesumba keling) - 2 flowers
Sour lime (Citrus aurantifolia, jeruk nipis) - 2 pieces
rock sugar - 1 egg-size
Wash all ingredients and cut the leaves and flowers into small pieces. Boil with pure water until left to 2 ¼ glasses. After cooling, strain and drink ¾ glass 3 times daily.

Drug and fungal poisoning 
Steep 5 grams of fennel powder in ½ cup of liquor and drink on an empty stomach

Gallstones
Steep 5 grams of fennel powder in 1 cup of hot water. Drink after cooling, repeat daily until pain subsides.

REMARKS: Surgery remains the best treatment for hernia inguinalis, while the effect of fennel is just temporarily lifting up the sagged intestine. Avoid consuming adas in large doses. Some discomfort effects are flatulence and burping. Adas fruit is also en effective insect repellent.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE

The recipes and techniques mentioned in this page are not meant to replace diagnosis and treatment of a medical practioner. Before using any of these recipes, the author recommends to consult a physician. All the recipes has been used without any side effects and are considered safe. However, since some people have more sensitive skin or digestive system than others, and since the user’s actual recipe preparation is beyond the control of the author, the author accept no liability with regard to the use of recipes or techniques contained in this page.

THE GINGER FAMILY

The Ginger Family, Jamu’s Core Ingredients

Kunyit (Curcuma domestica, turmeric, kunir)

In cooking, turmeric add flavor and taste. In terms of healing ability, turmeric has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. It also contains curcumin, an active chemical substance, which possesses an anti-inflammatory effect and is useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatism. It is also proven by scientists that curcumin has anti-mutagenic properties and can help protect living cells from carcinogenic substances, and also function as anti-oxidant. Turmeric increases the flow of bile that causes the contraction of the gall-bladder, hence preventing the formation of gallstones. The swift flow of bile improves the digestion of fat in the intestine, thus turmeric helps in reducing cholesterol and blood cleansing. That is the reason why turmeric is often used in slimming jamu formulas and in slimming pills in the West. Turmeric is found in every jamu, since it is trusted for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic, and cleanses the blood and improves circulation. Its also used to reduce bleeding, wound healing, itching, ulcers and abscesses. Burnt and inhaled, turmeric is proven effective in relieving a stuffy nose. It also plays a role in the treatment of asthma, angina, high blood pressure and fever.

Lengkuas (Languas galangal, greater galangal, laos)

Lengkuas is used in the Indonesian cuisine as culinary flavoring and is commonly used in dishes like beef rendang and fish curry as well as chicken dishes. The galangal rhizome has a fresh smell and tastes of ginger and pepper, with a hint of sour lemon. There are 12 kinds of Lengkuas that are widely used in the Indonesian jamu healing, but the most popular variety is Languas galangal which is used in jamu for stomach aches, diarrhea and flatulence. Its active component, cineol, is a proven antiseptic. Many jamu are galangal based jamu, and works best with other ingredients to obtain an effective result. Galangal is often combined with garlic, mengkudu (Indian mulberry), pepper and tamarind. Every combination is selected based on the therapeutic effect of each end every ingredient to cure a certain ailment.

Kencur (Kaempferia galangal, resurrection lily)

Kencur is one important ingredient in the Indonesian daily cuisine. It has a sharp, slightly camphor-like taste in soups, sauces, curries and stews. It’s rhizome is always used in warming jamus’ and is recommended for about 20 illness. Due to its warming effect, it causes perspiration, hence effective if used for poultice and compress paste in treating fever, muscular rheumatism, abdominal pain, stomach ache and swelling. In the Javanese households, the primary remedy for coughs and colds is a drink of squeezed kencur juice. Another very well known jamu formula is Beras Kencur – a mixture of kencur, rice, sugar, salt and tamarind - which is the antidote for rheumatism, muscle strain and joint pain. Kencur is also an appetite stimulant, thus not recommended for people on diet. Kencur is also an ingredient in health and beauty jamu preparation formulated to resolve hormonal problems.

Lempuyang (Lempuyang pahit; Zingiber amaricans, bitter ginger and lempuyang wangi; Zingiber aromaticum, fragrance ginger)

The main function of Lempuyang is to warm the body and increase muscle flexibility. In terms of flavor, lempuyang has a strong and extremely biting and bitter taste hence it is a popular appetizer seasoning that activates the taste buds. For this reason, lempuyang is often prescribed as an appetite stimulant during convalescence after illness. Draughts are prescribed for stomachache accompanied by cramps in the legs. It could also be applied externally to treat fever and numbness in the feet. The rhizome’s irritants apparently over-stimulates blood vessel and nerves under the skin which draw blood to a certain part of the body. The skin may become red due to the increased blood flow and cleansing of toxin from tissues.

Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza)

Like turmeric and galangal, its main function is to stimulate digestion and release bile from the gallbladder. It has been used to cure a broad range of ailments from diarrhea and constipation, fever, muscle spasm, skin complaints, stimulates lactation during breast feeding and improves blood circulation. A mixture of Temulawak with desiccated sap from the stem of mata pelanduk (Ardisia elliptica, mousedeer’s eye) is a cure for itchy skin. A combination of turmeric and temulawak can relieve the symptoms of rheumatism. A common used ladies care preparation is a combination of temulawak with sidowayah (Woodfordia fructicosa, grandchild’s arrival), kunci pepet (Kaempferia rotunda, white turmeric) and cabe jawa (Piper retrofractum, Javanese long pepper) is used to improve blood circulation and to restore muscle tone in busy women. The rhizome plays a part in cosmetics, where full use is made of its medicinal properties in face and body care preparations of body slimming.

Jahe (Zingiber officinale, common ginger)

Common ginger is the best known member of the Zingiberaceae family and has been used by herbalist to warm the body since ancient times. It is used for food flavoring and to improve appetite and digestion as well as to help relieve rheumatic pains. Ginger tea is very well known to be the cure for nausea. Jahe juice is believed to work effectively for colic, coughs and catarrh. Ground ginger is good for itching, grazes and deep wounds, and one of the main function of ginger in Indonesia is to warm the body. The red ginger, a smaller variety of ginger, is an important antidote for snakebites when combined with salt.

IMPORTANT NOTE

The recipes and techniques mentioned in this page are not meant to replace diagnosis and treatment of a medical practitioner. Before using any of these recipes, the author recommends to consult a physician. All the recipes has been used without any side effects and are considered safe. However, since some people have more sensitive skin or digestive system than others, and since the user’s actual recipe preparation is beyond the control of the author, the author accept no liability with regard to the use of recipes or techniques contained in this page.