ABSTRACT
Indonesian people used to consume herbal medicines called "jamu", which is as a hereditary alternative
medicine, to heal or fresh the body. Furthermore, the postpartum mother, who needs recovery after birth, also
drinks the herbs. This essay employed a literature review of 14 ethnographic books conducted by National
Institute of Health Research and Development, which focused on the herbal medicines for puerperal mothers.
The results of the literature review revealed that the majority of mothers in Java and Sumatera using jamu during
the postpartum period to heal and recover the mother's health. Not only do the mother drink jamu, but she also
applies certain herbs on her body. Clinical trials have proved the efficacy of ingredients for herbal medicines.
Therefore, people prefer to use the herbs because it is easy to find and inexpensive, and it also has a long-term
effect on the mother's health and fitness. However, herbal medicine, which is usually employed by the people,
needs further research, in particular, the dose of jamu. So, herbal medicine based on local wisdom can be one of
consideration in the health development program.
ABSTRAK
Masyarakat Indonesia umumnya menggunakan obat-obatan herbal yang disebut "jamu". Jamu merupakan obat
alternatif turun-temurun, untuk menyembuhkan atau menyegarkan tubuh. Lebih lanjut, ibu nifas yang
membutuhkan pemulihan setelah lahir, juga meminum ramuan itu. Artikel merupakan literature review dari 14
manuskrip hasil riset etnografi yang dilakukan oleh Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kesehatan, yang
berfokus pada obat-obatan herbal untuk ibu nifas. Hasil review menunjukkan bahwa mayoritas ibu di Jawa dan
Sumatera menggunakan jamu pada masa postpartum untuk menyembuhkan dan memulihkan kesehatan. Ibu
bersalin tidak hanya meminum jamu, tetapi ia juga menggunakan ramuan tertentu pada tubuhnya. Uji klinis
telah membuktikan khasiat tanaman obat. Karena itu, masyarakat lebih suka menggunakan herbal karena
mudah ditemukan, murah dan memiliki efek jangka panjang pada kesehatan dan kebugaran ibu. Namun, obat
herbal yang biasanya digunakan oleh masyarakat perlu penelitian lebih lanjut khususnya dosis jamu. Sehingga
jamu bisa menjadi salah satu alternative perawatan dalam program pengembangan kesehatan.
©2020 IJPH. License doi: 10.20473/ijph.vl15il.2020.93-102 Received 1 July 2019, received in revised form 10
July 2019, Accepted 17 September 2019, Published online: April 2020
94 The Indonesian Journal of Public Health, Vol 15, No 1 April 2020:93-102
of plants and is inhabited around 300-700 Island have a habit of drinking herbs
ethnic groups. These ethnic plants have including for the treatment of Nifas
been converted to various purposes, one of because of the ease of obtaining, more
which is for the purpose of treatment economical and potent (Ratih Sari
(Silalahi, 2017). Indonesia is a developing Prastiwi, 2018)(Triratnawati, 2010).
country where one of the its is the Secondly, the absence of dissatisfaction
dominance of traditional elements in the with modern medicine. It is like a study
lives of everyday society. Diversity of conducted by Green (2006) About Chinese
biological wealth becomes a supporting migrants in the UK who are still looking
element in the tradition of life, one of for traditional medicine and Chinese herbal
which is the utilization of plants as a remedies because it is not satisfied with
medicinal ingredient by various ethnic modern medicine (Green et al., 2006). It is
groups (Rahayu et al., 2006). According to also supported by the difference of healthy
the Executive Secretary of the Central concept and pain in various ethnic groups,
Asian agricultural and Food Science and whereas according to Kalangie (1994), the
Technology Development Center knowledge and belief of the people about
(SEAFAST), there are 30 plants in illness is one component of the search for
Indonesia where 7 thousand of them have treatment (Kalangie, 1994).
been exploited as traditional medicine
(Budi, 2016). METHODS
Riskesdas Data 2013 shows that
30.4% of households in Indonesia have The writing of this article uses a
been utilizing traditional health services literary review method or a literature
and one of the services used by households review to explain the phenomenon and
by 49% is a type of herb. The province that study of previous research, digging the
utilizes many herbs is East Java (65%), IN linkage between the research being done
Yogyakarta (58.1%) and Papua (55.7%) with what has been done (Chariri, 2009).
(Ministry of Health, 2014). The utilization Subsequently, the data was analyzed
of Jamu that is part of traditional medicine descriptively and explained in order to be
is closely related to the growing culture in understood
the local community (Rahayu et al., 2006). The review literature was conducted
The use of Jamu in the community against 14 manuscripts with the focus on
is very broad, one of it is for maternity the problem of jamu utilization for the
care. After childbirth, it is necessary to Mother Nifas Health Ethnography
restore the physical condition of a mother. Research (REK) conducted in 2012-2016
Jamu is one of the alternatives in recovery by the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, the
of the energy of a mother. Childbirth is a 14 manuscripts of the REK results are
welcome event that welcomes new family limited to the results of the research in Java
members who are very awaited as a special and Sumatra so as to produce 5
concern for the whole family. Various manuscripts to be analyzed more deeply.
preparations are carried out since the This article discusses the characteristics of
period of pregnancy with the aim that the the region, management and efficacy and
process of childbirth and mothers and community perspectives on herbs.
babies survived (Efendi, Permana and Health ethnography research has
Astuti, 2015). obtained the ethics approval of the Ethics
Why people use Jamu in their daily commission of Health Research body R
life. First, the management of Jamu is very & D Health Ministries Ministry of
easy, cheap, and supported by many types Health. TO. 01.05/EC/393/2012 Year 2012
of medicinal plants that grow in Indonesia. for ethnic Gayo, Java and Madura and
Recorded 70%-80% of people in Java
Zulfa Auliyati Agustina dan Yunita Fitrianti, Utilization of Jamu in Puerperal... 95
In 2012, the REK theme was Figure 1 shows that from 32 ethnic
maternal and child Health (KIA), so the research locations REK, Sumatra,
entire book was produced themed about Kalimantan, Java and Sulawesi are the
KIA. While the following years the theme most locations of REK implementation
of research began to vary according to the from 2012 to 2016. Based on the results of
health problems found in the ethnicity. Riskesdas year 2013, Java and Sumatera
Each ethnic at the research site has Island are regional with the highest
its own distinctive cultural features. In utilization of traditional health services, so
terms of childbirth and the utilization of the discussion of the utilization of Jamu
herbs for the treatment of mother Nifaspun Nifas focused on the 2 regional.
diverse. In 2012, out of 12 ethnic research Based on table 2, not all ethnic
locations recorded 7 ethnicities (58%) That groups in Sumatera and Java are utilizing
utilize jamu for the NIFAS time treatment medicinal herbs for the care of the mother
process. Year 2014 recorded 12 ethnicities Nifas. Of the 9 ethnic locations of research
(60%) Utilizing Jamu for the mother of in Sumatera region that utilize Jamu for
Nifas, in 2015 there were 12 ethnicities Mother Nifas, only 2 ethnic who utilize
(41%) That utilizes Jamu Nifas and in Jamu to restore energy and maternal health
2016 only 1 ethnicity that utilizes herbs for after childbirth. As for the Java region
the treatment of Nifas. The overall there are 3 ethnic, namely Java, Madura
recorded 32 ethnicities are utilizing herbal and Sunda, which utilize the herb herbs to
medicine in the care of Mother Nifas. restore maternal health after childbirth.
96 The Indonesian Journal of Public Health, Vol 15, No 1 April 2020:93-102
Ethnic use herbal medicine after Java use herbs to accelerate wound
maternity is listed in table 2. Gayo ethnic, healing, clean up dirty blood, slimming
coastal, Java Bantul, Madura and Sunda and to prevent the possibility of other
use Jamu to restore energy and maternal diseases that arise after childbirth.
health. Other ethnic groups in Sumatra and
Table 2. The use of herbal medicine recovery by Regional and ethnic Nifas
How to use and efficacy of Jamu People believe the efficacy of every
ingredient and herb consumed. Efficacy
Consumption of jamu and
obtained by Mrs. Nifas from proper use of
Indonesian people are two things that are
jamu.
not separated. People have a different
Table 3 shows the diversity of
method of consuming herbs.
natural materials utilized by people in
Various ways to consume jamu is
Sumatra and Java to restore the health of
not separated from the traditions and
maternity mothers. Medicinal materials are
culture implemented by the local
formulated and used in accordance with
community. Jamu consumed by boiled and
the habits of the community.
drunk water, in slices (chopped) eaten
Turmeric and ginger rhizome is a plant that
directly in the form of chili sauce or
is mostly used as a ingredient for making
vegetables or crushed into a param powder
jamu in the form of jamu that is consumed
or lullaby games. Composition of herbal
by drinking, as well as in the form of
ingredients and how to use the acquired
param powder that is balbed in the body of
community by hereditary from ancestors.
post-natal mothers.
Zulfa Auliyati Agustina dan Yunita Fitrianti, Utilization of Jamu in Puerperal... 97
Table 3. Medicinal plants and how to use them by ethnicity
Regional Ethnic Herb Ingredients How to Manage How to use
traditions in a hereditary even though for treatment. Research on the ups and
sometimes not well documented. downs of Jamu making notes that there is a
Not only the activity of drinking fossil in the island of Java with the form of
herbs to maintain health or part of the lumping, Alu and stone which is a tool to
healing efforts, but many cultural make herbal medicine. The relief of
perspectives underlying the preservation of Borobudur Temple, notes on the fiber and
herbs. Gayo Society, ACEH assessed that the Primbon herbal medicine Java is
jamu is not merely an attempt to treat evidence that Jamu is used by people in the
illness. But the community argues that in island of Java since the era of ancestors
addition to curing, Jamu also provides a (Purwaningsih, 2017)(Mulyani, Widyastuti
long-term healing effect so that maternity and Ekowati, 2016).
mothers are stronger and body stamina is Riskesdas results (2013) related to
awake. public access to health facilities showed
“... Better medicinal village than that 66.3% of the public knew the
medicine doctor. Parents said, because we existence of midwives practice and home
are working, Menyangkul, gardening, maternity. The mode of transportation is
carrying firewood on the back. Indeed quite affordable. 63.7% of people in rural
medicine Doctor is also quick to make it, areas walk to the nearest Puskesmas
but briefly only the time of the kitchen (Ministry of Health, 2014).
(Nifas only)..., "[KS] The tradition of society in keeping
This is because the majority of herbal drinking culture is the reason why
Gayo community livelihoods are farmers Jamu is still utilized today. One of jamu
and gardening in the fields. So a mother utilization is to restore and improve
must be back healthy to be able to work in maternal health after passing through the
the fields again. Similarly, the tradition of process of childbirth.
society in Cianjur West Java. Consuming
Jamu after childbirth is a tradition to How to use and efficacy of Jamu
accelerate the recovery process.
It is in line with the results of
".... here if it has been birth like
research on medicinal herbs(RISTOJA) in
nyedu drugs traditional herb from leaves
2012. Noted 521 herbs are utilized for
like Kotok jawer so that the uterus quickly
post-natal treatment, the three most widely
dry yes if you give birth to the womb like
used rhizome are turmeric, ginger and
wounds if the same good Kotok jawer fast
kencur (B2P2TOOT, 2012).
rotunda plus again same lime leaves So as
Sources of local natural resources
not to smell and clear blood... " [SH]
and hereditary cultures of local ancestors
influence the diversity of the ingredients
DISCUSSION
used by the community. Shanti's research
(2014) shows that traditional treatment for
Region characteristics
women's care in Keraton Surakarta uses
Indonesia is a country rich in spices 120 plant species. There are 61 types of
and diversity of natural results. Treatment herbs that are still used for women's
and treatment using herbs, herbs and herbs treatment. The herb is divided into 17
have been practiced by the community in different usability categories. Application
hereditary. Although Jamu seems to be of the herb by drinking and spreadable
closely related to Javanese tradition, but (Boreh, Lulur, Tapel, Masks) (Shanthi,
almost every region in Indonesia has its Jumari and Izzati, 2014).
distinctive characteristics in the utilization The results of the research on the
of plants to make traditional ingredients. use of Jamu for Mother Nifas, showed that
The ancient manuscript in Java has the type of jamu consumed varies, there
recorded a long history of the use of Jamu are consumed in the form of pills there are
Zulfa Auliyati Agustina dan Yunita Fitrianti, Utilization of Jamu in Puerperal... 99
also processed herbs that are consumed to Kencur is one of the rhizome of
maintain endurance (Ratih Sakti Prastiwi, medicinal plants that is widely used as a
2018). herbal herb for mothers after childbirth.
The Ethnobotanical review and Dayanthi Research (2016) on the extract of
efficacy test of turmeric has been carried Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) indicates
out. Ethanol extracts in turmeric rhizome that there is a tonic efficacy in the kencur
have been tested at various dosages. The to refresh the body and help restore vitality
test results showed an anti-inflammatory or stamina (Dayanthi, 2016) (B2P2TOOT,
effect and at high doses (1000mg/kg) 2015).
turmeric was able to suppress the edema to
78%. In addition turmeric also efficacious Community Perspectives on Herbs
in restoring stamina or vitality of the body
The tradition of consumption of
(Rustam, Atmasari and Yanwirasti,
jamu after childbirth in Sundanese people
2007)(Elfahmi, Woerdenbag and Kayser,
used ways that they believed to be
2014) (B2P2TOOT, 2015).
hereditary. In the time of Nifas, a mother is
Ginger demonstrated efficacy as a
required to drink packets of traditional
proven anti-microbial in some research and
medicinal herbs or herbs. Jamu is believed
laboratory tests (Bhargava et al., 2012 in
to be able to restore womb quickly. In
(Royyani et al., 2018)). People use ginger
addition, jamu consumption is also
by boiling and drinking, other than that
beneficial to restore mother's stamina. Not
Ginger is also utilized for bath herb.
only that, after giving birth a mother will
Handayani Research (2012) shows that
feel aches, hence a series of ritual massage
after childbirth, a mother underwent a
and herbs should be given to refresh the
ritual that aims to restore the stamina of the
body ((Purwanto, MJK and Soerachman,
mother after childbirth. Mother bathed in
2015). Research on the cultural factors of
warm water from the tub containing the
NIFAS treatment suggests that consuming
Luli lo lambi (dried banana leaves), bintalo
herbs in addition to regulating the distance
(distance/balacai), Leaf Tapulanga, Goraka
of pregnancy, also beneficial to restore the
(ginger), yellow (turmeric), Onumo,
body condition such as the original and the
Sulasi, and Herani leaves. The leaves and
body tasted good (Sri Rahayu, Mudatsir
spices were previously boiled and then
and Hasballah, 2017).
mixed with water for bathing (Handayani,
The study of traditional medicine in
2012).
postnatal mothers in Aceh shows that Jamu
Research on Jamu for health care
is not merely the process of using
mother Nifas in the Tegal area showed that
medicinal herbs, but is believed to help the
the consumption of herbal medicine for
healing process of postnatal mothers,
mothers after childbirth issafe for the
relieving muscle pains and The body feels
health ofmother. Composition of Jamu
more stamina so that mothers are stronger
consumed contain several medicinal plants
carrying out physical activities such as
that are able to support the recovery of
farming, caring for farms and Livestock
maternal health such as Kencur and Temu
(Fuadi, 2018). Paryono Research (2014)
sleigh (Ratih Sakti Prastiwi, 2018). The
states that Javanese people use traditional
results of the research ever Sinaga et al.
herbs that are inherited from the ancestors
(2011) indicates that the Zingiberaceae
for the treatment and prevention of
people are widely used for medicinal
diseases. The community assesses that
herbs. Rimpang from Zingiberaceae is
traditional herbs are generally safer and
shown to contain Limonen, Eugenol, and
more potent if formulated according to the
Geraniol and has the efficacy of restoring
recommended dose, easy to obtain, natural
vitality (Shanthi, Jumari and Izzati, 2014)
and inexpensive compared with modern
(B2P2TOOT, 2015).
medicine. In addition to the traditional
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