Nature and Traditional Medicine

In previous times, when there were fewer doctors opening professional practices in our cities and rural districts, many parents preferred alternative ‘witch doctors’, known to the Balinese as balian, for healing their sick children. Parents also tried to find herbs or plants in local forests and hedgerows, which they would use as traditional medicines. Balinese parents believe that the natural environment produces plants and herbs for the well being of humankind and that a balance between the human body and the ecological environment is a prerequisite to human health. The raw materials collected go into a medicine-preparing process, according to a traditional prescription passed down by ancestors. The medicine produced is known as usadha.
The Balinese should study ‘Taru Pramana’, an ancient lontar manuscript written by Empu Pakuturan, to learn about the preparation of traditional medicine. Almost all countries have their own knowledge of traditional healing, both internal and external. In India, people should read the ‘Jayur Weda’ ancient manuscript to master such medical techniques.
The Javanese make traditional medicine called jamu, which is prepared from various roots and leaves for internal use by patients, while parem is for external application. Balinese loloh is similar to Javanese jamu and is made from extractions from leaves, fruits, bulbs and roots, which are mixed with water, salt, citrus and acid. A less liquid form of this mixture is called boreh and is applied externally. Boreh is produced by milling the raw ingredients by stone to make a yellow cream for the skin. The Balinese community believe boreh warms and refreshes the body and cures headache.
The great strides being made today by science and technology have meant that traditional healing techniques have been put aside in favour of modern medicines produced by chemical processes. However modern medicines do have side effects and should only be used according to a doctor’s prescription. For this reason, some people to prefer traditional medicines to chemical ones. (Darmawan)