The Core Ingredients of Jamu – The Ginger Family
Here are some members of the Ginger family, which are the core ingredients in jamu making:
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.