SOLO CULTURE : Javanese Medicine

I hate airconditioning. So I drive around the countryside with the car windows wound down, letting in the fresh aroma of diesel fumes and dust. The two girls complain like mad, mainly about the heat and the probability of their skin getting black – what we westerners would call a golden tan. But being the boss has advantages, and the windows remain firmly in the down position. Anyway, the car ac has been broken for 5 years now, and is way down on the list of priorities.

There are disadvantages however. The worst seems to be reoccurring bouts of “Flu mata” – eye flu, or what we call conjunctivitis. Red and rheumy eyes are not necessarily the results of yet another boozy session at of the local watering holes, I try and explain to everyone. Taking medicine from the local chemist shop or hospital sort of works, but slowly. Then a couple of days ago it was explained how this problem could be quickly fixed, Javanese style. “What you have to do” said Bu Titin “is when you get up in the morning, piss in a bucket. Then use it to wash your eyes out”
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wo days later, and my eyes are still sore. Trying to alleviate the itchiness with beer the night before had had little effect, other than a splitting headache and an ample supply of Javanese medicine. So at 4.30 in the morning, I piddled in a bucket and applied the ointment. Actually, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. It’s warm and wet and very slightly smelly. It stings a little a first. But it does seem to give some sort of relief. And it’s cheap.






















There are a lot of traditional herbal remedies here in Java. Some, like the use of the sap from Lidah Buaya (crocodile tongue, or aloe vera) on burns or scratches works very well. There are all sorts of leaves, bark, berries and bits of trees than can cure almost anything.

And then there are the Jamu Gendong, Javanese ladies who walk or cycle around the villages and towns with a bamboo basket of bottles on their back. For Rp500 (US 5 cents), you can get a glass of tonic. For Rp1500 (15 cents) a more elaborate concoction with a sachet of factory made jamu added. They have cures for aches and cancer, potions to increase milk for nursing mothers and energy for flagging fathers. I am searching for a cure for hangovers.