Mixture of Herbs

Alternative Therapies in Indonesia You Should Try

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You should be aware that Indonesians use alternative therapy and conventional medical care to treat their health problems. It is a type of medical service that uses techniques, apparatus, and supplies that do not adhere to current medical norms. Alternative therapies are therefore only used to complement or replace current medical procedures.

This treatment includes every technique for treating illness, starting with the consumption of organic ingredients like herbal beverages, spices, and herbs. It is also possible to use methods of treatment that are external to the body. Generally speaking, this therapy may make use of particular methods or apparatuses that are believed to be effective against a variety of diseases.

In this article, we want to share some alternative therapies that might solve your health problems during your time in Indonesia. Here are some of them:

Jamu

A bottle of jamu
Source: Unsplash

Jamu is an Indonesian traditional medicine. It later gained popularity with herbal drinks and was often used as a companion for alternative therapies.

Natural ingredients such as rhizomes, leaves, bark, and fruit are used to make the herbs. Animal material, such as goat’s gall, snake’s gall, or crocodile’s tank, is also used. The yolk of a village chicken egg is frequently used to add a herb mixture.

The herbs are typically bitter, so honey is added as a sweetener to make the taste more tolerable for the drinker. There are even herbs mixed in with the wine. Wine, in addition to being a bitter drinker, also serves to warm the body.

Bekam

Bekam treatment
Source: Unsplash

Bekam (Arabic: al-hijamah) is a form of local blood suction from small skin incisions. Bekam is an alternative treatment method for blood that contains toxins from the human body. This comprehension includes two basic bekam mechanisms: vaporizing the skin and then removing the blood from the previously vacuumed skin.

Bekam is thought to improve blood flow throughout the body. According to Houman Danesh, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesia medicine and rehabilitation at Mount Sinai Hospital, blood flow is a natural way for the body to heal itself, as reported by the Minister of Health. Danesh frequently combines it with general therapy techniques during the treatment process.

According to some studies, bekam can help reduce pain. This therapy can also treat various diseases, including carpal tunnel syndrome, waist muscle pain, and chronic neck pain.

Gurah

Man wiping his nose
Source: Unsplash

Gurah is a traditional alternative therapy that is commonly used to treat sinus problems. To remove mucus, this treatment involves dripping srigunggu fluid into the nose. Gurah can be used to treat other respiratory disorders in addition to sinusitis. More research, however, is required to demonstrate the gurah’s efficacy and safety.

A plant called srigunggu or senggugu is the main ingredient in the treatment of gurah. Clerodendrum serratum, as it is known in Latin, is a medicinal plant that can treat pain, inflammation, rheumatism, respiratory distress, and fever.

The roots of the srigunggu tree will be rinsed out of the foam and filtered. This is then mixed with ripe water to make a gurah potion, which is applied to the nose. Gurah treatment can take up to two hours.

Chiropractic

One of chiropractic method
Source: Unsplash

Chiropractic therapy is an alternative therapy administered by a specialist or chiropractor. The goal of this therapy is to restore the joints’ ability to move normally. It can also relieve muscle pain and stiffness until the soft tissue is completely healed. This procedure is considered safe for therapists, but you will typically experience numbness.

According to Better Health Channel, chiropractors typically perform chiropractic to treat a variety of other musculoskeletal disorders, including:

  • Backache.
  • Neckaches
  • Headaches.
  • Whiplash.
  • Sprain.
  • Muscle strain is caused by daily activities.
  • Arthritis, such as osteoarthritis.
  • Motion restrictions in the back, shoulders, neck, and legs.

However, keep in mind that this method will not work for all motion system disorders. As a result, please consult with a bone specialist about chiropractic therapy first.

If you want to learn more about alternative medicine in Indonesia, you can read this article:

 

Content Writer

A Jakarta-based content creative enthusiast who started his content-making journey by joining a school reporter community at a well-known teen magazine in Indonesia during high school in 2013. Besides writing, he also loved to listen to podcasts and watch pro wrestling shows.

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