Gianyar, Regency

Traditional Healing at ”Puri Damai” Clinic

One of the bad impacts of technology and globalisation era is the emergence of pollution, either environmental, air or food. As a consequence, people may easily fall sick. Today, they turn to change their mind. They set about to leave chemical matters, including medicine and discover the science of ‘Ancient Balinese’ that highly took advantage trees, leaves, fruits and tubers for herbal medicine.

It is this quality that we will come upon at Puri Damai Clinic. This is a clinic that provides traditional herbal medicine of Bali. Even, it grows its own medicinal plants. Its owner is Ida Ayu Rusmarini who lives and opens her practice at Tunon Hamlet, Singakerta Village, Ubud, Gianyar or some 16 km north of Denpasar.
Puri Damai Clinic does not only open practice and do healing, but also intensively teaches the science of traditional healing to its surrounding community. Originally, she tested on her friends and neighbours free of charge. When they feel its benefit, many patients ultimately come for a treatment and order her herbal medicine to the clinic.
On performing the treatment, this clinic stays to refer to the fundamentals of Balinese traditional healing. So, she also initiates it with a ritual intended to the Supreme God, appeal for instruction of healing.
In her practice, a supernaturalist, reflexologist and an officer who checks blood tension assist Rusmarini. Ambience at her practice office is adequately unique where between the medicine and patient as if had emotional relationship so it composes a familial climate.
Her system of healing is the same as that of physician. Its difference only lies on the joint worship prior to the healing. Then, patient is asked to lie down to be diagnosed and performed reflexological massage to detect its illness. Once in a while, the patient also brings the result of laboratory check up or roentgen film that he gets on undergoing treatment by physician. “It’s just for comparison before a reflexological massage are carried out,” said Dayu, familiar name of Rusmarini.
Other than treatment, patient will also be given explanation on the kinds of plant along with its use for medicine. If the patient does not know, she will straightforwardly lead him to her garden near the clinic.
Her patients are not only of the Balinese, but also Japanese, American and other tourists. “One day, there is an American who suffers from diabetes and is afraid of being injected by insulin so he dare not go home to America on account of trauma. But here, he likes the atmosphere and his glucose level gradually turns to normal,” she added.

Medicinal Plants
Courtyard of Puri Damai Clinic that extends some 1-hectare (10,000m2) is filled up with plants that can be used for ingredients of herbal medicine. They comprise endangered species, medicinal, ceremonial and wild plants. There are some 387 medicinal plants, in which 98% of them function as medicinal plants and the rest as antidote against pesticides. “We have collected these plants since 1985. Some are also the heritage of our ancestor and some other imported from other regencies in Bali or even from outside Bali or abroad (India),” she added.
To maintain the plants, she has established a group consisting of 45 household heads. This group is named Toga Turus Lumbung of Tunon Hamlet that is assigned to water, pick and gather them into herbal medicine. From distilling, drying to packing with semi-modern equipment is also performed here. Here, she also has ciler, heater, roller and tucklet. “On particular days, they are trained to produce fertilizing oil for hair treatment, scrub and do massage. They are also registered to be a group of preserver of natural resources,” she said. To mix the ingredients, Rusmarini still does it by herself and acts as pharmacist. Most of the herbal medicine she produce is in the form of capsule that lasts for 1.5 year. “Due to many orders, we produce it every week,” she added again.
Amounting to 20% revenue of such medicinal products is transferred to the account of the group and another 80% allocated for income of each member. Even though she has deeply involved in traditional healer, Ida Ayu Rusmarini admitted to continue learning about the science of fundamentals of medicinal plants. She has ever improved her knowledge in this field in Jakarta. “In years to come, I would like to expand this clinic by adding Spa treatment that utilizes plants and natural substances,” she said to Bali Travel News. (BTN/015)

Tirta Empul Heals a Variety of Illnesses

Tirta Empul is a name of spring located at Tampaksiring Village, Gianyar. Tirta Empul means ‘holy water’ considered to be ‘poison antidote’. According to Dewa Aji Mangku Samut, priest at Tirta Empul Temple, spring of Tirta Empul emanates from the essence of oozing liquid of 1800 mountains over the world. “Water in this spring is contained in a pond measuring 15 x 23 meters,” he said to Bali Travel News.

This pond is bordered by fence as high as adult’s shoulder. The pond then flows to 32 kinds of waterspout occurring at outermost courtyard of the temple. The 32 waterspouts are divided into 5 groups along with each efficacy.
I Putu Ngurah Ardika, in his book entitled ‘Menembus Batas Tirta Empul Tampaksiring”, writes in detail about the function and efficacy of each waterspout. The first group is called ‘Tirta Cetik’ (water of poison) that is believed to be able to affect death when drinking. The waterspout located on western side consists of five waterspouts facing to the west.
The second group is called ‘Tirta Pembersihan’ or purificatory water. Within this group lies 14 waterspouts that function to relieve sadness due to poverty, cure illnesses like toothaches, asthma, shedding hair and rheumatism. It is also considered to have the ability to get rid of hostility, appeal for wealth and as corpse purification.
The third group consists of two waterspouts. These waterspouts are used to release one’s self from a parent, ancestor or gods’ curse. Within the fourth group occurs six waterspouts that function to cure a variety of acute illnesses as cancer, tumour and the like. Fifth group is made up of five waterspouts that are intended for religious ceremonies.
Dewa Aji Mangku Samut confirmed what Putu Ardika spells out. Ngurah Ardika is a preceptor of ‘Sejati Kundalini’. He was born on 2 September 1970 at Banyuning Village, Singaraja. His spiritual capacity has emerged since his childhood when he did not go to school. He is now a lecturer for the subject Supra Awareness at Hindu University of Indonesia (UNHI), Denpasar.
Bali Travel News had time to watch the purificatory process led by Ardika. Tens of his students joined this process. “This purification is not only intended for corporeal and spiritual body but also for certain purposes”, he said.
Currently, Ardika has 18,000 students. Wayan Puja, for instance, is one of them. He has performed the purificatory process based on the instruction of his preceptor. “I’m very grateful to Mr. Putu. Due for his suggestion, we along with family can feel something extraordinary,” he commented.
Jana Sari, an owner a travel bureau in Sanur added that he just executed what was suggested by Putu Ardika. His uncle who has suffered from a visual disorder since the age of eight is now able to see, even though not perfect yet.
Meanwhile, Made Putra from Denpasar seems to be very happy to tell the condition of his child who cannot wake from the bed at all, due to headache. “Now, my child has recovered,” he said while asking his child to shake hands with Bali Travel News.
There is one thing to remember for those who would like to perform purification at Tirta Empul. “Do not take bath at the two waterspouts as they are intended for the dead,” he said while pointing to the waterspout Tirta Pengentas. Should you need to attain composure and live in prosperity, do purification at waterspout number three, eight and fourteen,” Putu added.
In the meantime, for you who would like to learn more about the function of each waterspout simply read the book “Menembus Batas Tirta Empul Tampaksiring” (Explore the Border of Tirta Empul of Tampaksiring) that is co-authored by I Putu Ngurah Ardika and Made Astawa. (BTN/Made Suambara)