The Malay Medicine

Tonic in traditional medicine

2012-04-28T20:15:00.002-07:00

Tonics are substances which neither immediately nor sensibly call forth actions like stimulants nor depressed them like sedatives but give power to the nervous system to generate or secret the nervous influence by which the whole frame is strengthened.

Tonics are health preparation used in Malay traditional medicine. Infusion of bitter roots is an important part of the Malay pharmacopeia, used as general tonic.

Traditionally a decoction of the bark is used by Malays as a tonic after childbirth. The Malays also give the juice of fresh turmeric as a tonic after childbirth. Bitter roots, bruised with vinegar and water is a carminative; used for diarrhea and dysentery.

Daun pegaga or hydrocotyle asiatica L. can be used to treat sore eyes. Water boiled with leaves and little sugar mixed to it before drink. Water boiled with the roots is taken as a tonic.

Ali’s walking stick or tongkat Ali is very common in Malay community and was traditionally used in Malay medicine. It was believed that its bark and roots have an aphrodisiac properties.

Tonic in traditional medicine

Cinnamon in Malay society

2012-03-18T18:37:00.003-07:00

Cinnamon is an aromatic bark nowadays obtained from two species of the genus Cinnamomum, of the family of Lauraceae or laurels. that is Cinnamomum zeylanicum Ness and Cinnamomum cassis Blume.

Kynnamomon, its Greek name, can claim seniority among the well known spices. The word may be related to one of Malay origin, kaimanis or ‘kayu manis’, literally means ‘sweet wood’. It was made known to Europe by de Orta.

The cinnamon tree is a native of a tropical climate and the prepared bark was probably conveyed to Palestine from the Oriental Archipelago, by means of Phoenician merchants.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum of Malay Peninsula is the source of cinnamon. Its bark is used to treat rheumatism, tuberculosis and headache and as a respiratory and circulatory stimulant.

As a medicinal agent, cinnamon is a powerful excitant acting primarily on the stomach, causing a sensation of warmth in the epigastrium, and exciting the whole nervous systems, which sympathizes with the stomach and causes all the organs to exercise their functions with augmented energy.

In traditional herbal medicine, combine cinnamon, ginger and licorice is a common practice that would make a flavorful and most likely effective treatment for gastric ulcers.

In modern medicine, some scientists suggest that this cinnamon can help control blood sugar making it potentially useful in the management of diabetes and the spice may also have antibacterial activity.

Cinnamon in Malay society

Maajun in traditional medicine

2012-01-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

Maajun is one of herbal remedies in Malay traditional medicine. The practices incorporate influences from Arab, Persia, India and China.

The term of maajun itself meaning ‘kneaded’ or ‘paste’ in Arab.

Traditionally, jamu is produced at home. An experienced family member provides friends and relatives with a homemade version of the product.

Knowledge of such cures have been gained through centuries of trial and error and is passed on to the next generation through word of mouth.

Maajun medication is based on a broad conception of body, health sickness; the notion of care and therapy. Maajun are believed to cleanse the blood, increase male virility and build health.

This Maajun made from various tree roots and are taken daily.

Some Maajun is known good for treating rheumatism, blood circulation and others.

To regular coffee drinkers sometimes they added small dose of maajun especially tongkat ali maajun because of its ability to increase male virility .

Maajun in traditional medicine

Minyak pengasih

2011-10-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Love magic using minyak pengasih is widely practiced in Malay villages even until present day. It is considered unfair to its victim and dangerous to others.

Minyak pengasih is a love potion used to turn around girl’s feeling towards the man who in love with her. It also can happened the other way around. Young women may use minyak pengasih to make themselves loved by man.

Everyone fears being affected by minyak pengasih, yet at the same time, everyone also wishes to own them in order to posses the power to control others.

Other of possibility of using it when meeting a socially superior outsider, so as to make the other lean towards flavoring the user of the oil. By using the minyak pengasih it will brighten the face of the user.

Minyak pengasih sometimes prepared from dead man chin’s. This called minyak dagu. While according others it can be prepared from tear drops of sea cows. It is the strongest minyak pengasih.
Minyak pengasih

Buah petai

2011-09-19T02:36:00.000-07:00

Buah petai or scientifically name Parkia speciosa can be eaten either raw or cooked. It is important ingredient in Malay cuisine such as in sambal.

There the odorous or stinking seeds also can be roasted and fried after sun, drying and storage, or else cooked in sauce and curries, more as a condiment.

Parkia speciosa indigenous to Southeast Asia, where it can be found in cultivated plantation.

To pluck the petai, the collector climbed the 20-30 meter tall petai trees to reach the ripening pods.

Petai is rich in iron and can be remedy for anemia. Its vitamin B6 content can also control glucoses levels. Furthermore, as it is high in potassium and low in salt, it is a good dish for people with high blood pressure.

The Malay treatment for diabetes is to consume the bitter bean seed of the petai. The bean also were said to be good treatment for obesity.
Buah petai

Curcuma xanthorrhiza

2011-08-01T03:51:00.000-07:00

Locally it named ‘temu lawak’, is similar to turmeric. The rhizome is mostly valued for its medicinal properties. It plays an important role in Asia as spices and herbal drug.

In traditional medicine it can be used for treatment of liver disease and yellow fever. It has been shown in animal experiments to provide protection from hepatoxin-induce liver damage.

It too mostly uses for dyspepsia and other gastrointestinal problems.

Curcuma xanthorrhiza have been reported to retain an anti-inflammatory. It contains chemical diarylheptanoids. It also has characteristics of anticancer.

The genus Curcuma originated in the Indo-Malayan region. The genus Curcuma belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and contains 49 genera and 1400 species.
Curcuma xanthorrhiza

Allium sativum or bawang putih

2011-06-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

The name garlic is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words gar-spear and lac-plant that refer to the shape of garlic leaves. Allium sativum is a member of the Liliaceae family, which also includes onions leeks, scallions or chives.

Garlic herbs have a bulb consisting of a cluster of smaller bulbs. The leaves are long, linear and sword shape.

In Bahasa Melayu, garlic named as bawang putih.

In Malay traditional medicine Garlic or allium sativum has been used as an herbal to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent blood clots and ward off arteriosclerosis.

Garlic also has been used since prehistoric times as a spice as well as a medicine to combat microbial and fungal infections, help in cardiovascular problems, stimulate immunological system or stop s tumor growth.

Garlic also helps keep the arteries flexible. Garlic has also been reported to help protect from some infections and particularly useful for digestive system health.

Malay also believes that garlic can help increase the female sexual drive. One of the instructions: pound garlic, young betel and ‘kucai’ until fine and then mix with the water. Add egg yolk. Drink this mixture, every night, about two hours before bedtime.
Allium sativum or bawang putih

Sea Cucumber in Malay Traditional Medicine

2011-05-07T22:34:00.001-07:00

Malays have traditionally utilized sea cucumber for their medicinal properties and traditional medicines are used in would healing, treatment of stomach and as a painkiller. They are renowned for their medicinal oils, which treat a multitude of ailment.

Sea cucumber or gamat are covered with a very elastic, leathery skin, kept moist by mucus that exudes through the pores; they have a somewhat worm like appearance the radiate structure only visible in the tentacles which usually surround the mouth.

The sea cucumber collected are used for the preparation of traditional medicinal products like gamat water and gamat oil.

Preparation for gamat water involves draining the coelomic fluid from the gamat, which is then returned to the net cages holding them. Animal are only harvested when there is a demand for gamat oil.

The pure type or gamat water is to be consumed orally. It is used to cure all internal ailment such as peptic ulcer, duodenal ulcer, bleeding piles and stomach aches. It also said can enhance body immune system.

The mixed kind or gamat oil is for external application. It is used to quicken the healing process of toothaches, cuts or wounds. Minyak gamat is a liniment prepared with the mixture plus sea cucumber.

The modern world only get to known about sea cucumber when in 1874, scientist on a round the world oceanographic voyage aboard HMS Challenger captured some very odd animals. They did not realize it at the time, but they had found the first known specimens of swimming cucumbers.

Sea cucumber contains 900 species echinoderms with reduced ossicles resulting in a rubbery or leathery skin. Sea cucumbers may be an inch long to three feet or more and squat to wormlike.
Sea Cucumber in Malay Traditional Medicine

Malay Santau

2011-03-30T00:37:00.000-07:00

Santau can be defined as ‘a slow and sure poison; not a specific drug, but a compound of several poison’. It is targeted to another person who the client much hated.

The cause of death from santau is usually from internal hemorrhage.

It is apply using traditional ingredients mixed into meal and drinks. In this case food and drinks are perceived be manipulated in order to other person. The ingredient including broken glass, bamboo, fingernails, hairs and some other materials.

This santau involves summoning jinn or syaitan to do ones bidding. Word charms and meal can effect the emotions the person who consumes them.

It will help a client become more spouses, business associates. When these privately effective it is an instance of but if they cause serious illness or death, it is the case of santau.

Santau angin is the most powerful poison. The victim would not know that he or she had been infected.
Malay Santau

Healing Properties of Aloe Vera

2010-12-25T01:28:00.000-08:00

Botanically name Aloe barbadensis Mill., Aloe Vera is the species under family of Aloeaceae.

Malay community called it pokok daun lidah buaya, which literally translated to mean the tongue of crocodile.

For centuries, aloe vera has been used extensively by Malays because of its apparently magical properties and effectiveness in treating burns, healing wounds and relieving aches and pains.

It traditionally used to clean hair and used as cosmetics, but contains a purgative. It also can treats scalds and insect bites.

Aloe vera is good for headache, constipation, malnutrition, pertussis and diabetes.

However it’s not suitable for pregnant women or patients with weak gastro-intestinal condition.

Aloe, actually popular houseplant, has a long history as a multipurpose folk remedy. Ancient Malays used aloe vera for wounds, insomnia, kidney aliment, sunburn, skin care, stomach disorder, itching, blistering, hemorrhoids and blemishes.

The plant can be separated into two basic products: gel and latex.

Aloe vera gel is the colorless mucilaginous gel obtained from the parenchymatous cells in the fresh leaves of Aloe vera.

The gel contains carbohydrate polymers and water. It also contains amino acids, lipids, sterols, tannins and enzymes. Mannose 6-phosphate is a major sugar component.

Aloe latex, commonly referred to as "aloe juice," is a bitter yellow exudates from the pericyclic originating from the bundle sheath cells of the leaf.

Earliest recorded medicinal uses of aloe vera can be found on an ancient Sumerian clay tablet dating back to 2100 BC.
Healing Properties of Aloe Vera

Who is Tok Mudim?

2010-09-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

Who is Tok Mudim?
The Tok Mudim performs circumcision on boys. Most boys are circumcised after religious instruction, sometime between 9 and 13 years of age, but the range is 6 to 20 years of age.

Traditionally, the circumcision ritual and feasts as a public event, sometime hosted by a single households with one or several boys and sometimes by several households in neighborhood.

Tok Mudim will laid out wicker mats along with a mat type used for daily prayers, on which Tok Mudim would perform the circumcisions.

On top of this he placed a log of from a banana tree for the boys to sit on during the operation. On other either side of the log was a pile of ashes, used by the Tok Mudim so that his grip would not be slippery.

The event usually begins in the morning. About an hour before, candidates are told to bathe and soak in the water for a few hours to help ‘shrink the size of the bodies’. It is the essential to success of the operation.

The circumcision takes place immediately after that. Tok Mudim said a prayer at the head of the banana tree log and dashed a handful of rice onto it.

The boys were then called in one by one. Each sat on the log, with the assistant sitting behind them, holding them firmly with one hand, covering their eyes with other and encouraging them to chant to Allah as the operation was perform.

Tok mudim pulls the the foreskin over the end of the glans of the penis, clamps the foreskin with a traditional implement, and cuts off the excess foreskin with a bamboo knife.

The wound is wrapped in a mixture of tree root powder to stop the bleeding and to prevent infection.

Tree roots commonly used are pokok Jerman (Eupatorium odorotum), gelenggang besar (Cassia alata), kecubung (Datura metel), and inai (Lawsonia inermis).

The boys now fully Islamic males, lie down on cots or bedding dressed only in their sarongs and are on public view the first day.
Who is Tok Mudim?

Rice Spirit

2010-07-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

Rice Spirit
For Malay ‘Semangat’ or spirit of life is not limited to animals. It permeates the universe, dwelling in man, beast, plant and rock.

The universe teems with life: the life of a fire is swift and soon runs out; a rock’s life is slow and dreamlike.

Semangat strengthens its dwelling place, whether the human body or a stalk of rice and maintains its health and integrity.

However, it is extremely sensitive and can be depleted; it can even flee, startled or frightened, from its receptacles.

The vulnerability of the semangat governs the conduct of the traditional Malay rice harvest, whose performance has become increasingly rare as modern technology supplants the handiwork of traditional methods of rice production.

Modern methods may be more efficient, but they are not calculated to spare the feelings of the Rice Spirit (semangat padi).

To a traditional Malay, the field of rice is like a pregnant woman and the harvest is equivalent to the birth of a child.

It is inaugurated by the taking of the Rice Baby, a stalk of rice swaddled like a human child after being cut from its plant with a small, curved blade concealed in the hand, so as not to frighten the Rice Spirit by its brutal appearance.

The harvested rice rice crop is stored in a special bin with as coconut , coconut oil, limes, beluru root (used for shampoo), bananas, sugar cane, water and a comb, all for the use of the Rice Spirit, personified as a timid young woman.

Since she is easily frightened , the rice must be brought back to the storeroom and left there in silence for three days.
Rice Spirit

Malay Beliefs

2010-06-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

Malay Beliefs
The study of early cults shows that the place of a sky god tends later to be taken by gods of the sun, the moon and the stars.

So in some ancient layer of Malay beliefs before the introduction of Saivism, the white spirit of the sun, the black spirit of the moon and the yellow spirit of sunset may have been important, seeing that they have Indonesian names (mambang), have been incorporated into the Malay’s Hindu pantheon, and have survived under Islam as humble genies.

The fishermen along the west of the peninsula sacrifice to four great spirits (also called mambang) who go by many names but whose scope is always the same. One is the spirit of the bays, another that of banks or beaches, another that of headlands, and last and fiercest is the spirit of tideways and currents.

Three of these bear primitive names used by the Proto Malays. The spirit of the tides is famous. The spirit of the bays mentioned as a black genie and the spirit of headlands as a white.

Was there originally a fourth spirit? To the three Proto-Malays names yet another, not convincingly authentic, is sometimes added.

But only three of the four bear Sanskrit names. And the modern naming of four spirits after the Archangels may be due to the liking of the Malay Muslim pantheist for that number.

It is uncertain, too, if the primitive Malays, like the people of Madagascar and Celebes, believed in four gods of the air in charge of the quarters of the globe.

In Bali Indian influence gave these gods Hindu names, and three are still worshipped there as forms of Shiva.

On peninsular charm speaks of “the four children of Siva who live at the corners of the world.” A Perak charm describes Berangga Kala as the spirit of the West, Sang Begor as the spirit of the East, Sang Degor as the sprit of the North and Sang Rangga Gempita as the sprit of the South.

But generally the four corners of the world are held to be in charge of four Shaikhs, of whom the most often mentioned Abdul Qadir, is probably the founder of the famous order of Muslim mystics.
Malay Beliefs

Malay Traditional Medicine

2010-05-24T01:41:00.000-07:00

Malay Traditional Medicine
Before the advent of Islam in the Malays States, Malay traditional medicine was largely influenced by the belief and practices existing then. This certainly chanting and the used of supernatural powers.

Traditional medicine has been used since time immemorial and until today, it remains a popular method of treatment.

In the earlier century, the local community held traditional medicine in very high regard. This is obvious from the respect accorded by the community to the bomoh (shaman), the mak bidan (midwife) and also the mudin (religious man who performs circumcision on boys). These practitioners of dispensing medicinal care.

However, time have changed and the attention given to them now, is not the same as before. This is due, not just the progress of science and technology or modern methods of treatment, but in part, to the weakness of the practitioners themselves.

Their inherited knowledge is undocumented and has therefore resulted in a decline of the knowledge thus making it unreliable.

In Malay traditional medicine, knowledge of treatment methods and materia medica were imparted orally and committed to memory.

In the case of specific skills, it was imparted to select pupils only and if none was found befitting, the knowledge was ultimately buried with dead practitioner.

Malaysia is rich in natural resources basic to traditional medicine. There are over six thousand species of tropical plants all over the country and in Peninsular Malaysia there are 550 general containing 1,300 species.

Most of these are medical plants beneficial for the human body. Traditional medicine is well known for its high nutritional value, as well as its ability to cure various ailment.

Unfortunate, thus far it has not been presented to the community in a very impressive manner. Probably a more scientific and modern approach, combined with cautious and hygienic measures may earn traditional medicine a more respectable place in the community, and not just as products to be peddled on the payment.
Malay Traditional Medicine

Adhatoda vasica

2010-04-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

Adhatoda vasica
Common name for this plant are Adhatoda, vasaka, adusa, Malabar nut tree and many theirs.

It is a lush, evergreen, many branch shrub that usually grows to a height of 2.5 m, but can reach 6 m.

The large leaves, bright green on the upper surface and pale below have an unpleasant odor when crushed.

The leaves and roots are well-known drugs and recommended for a variety such as colds, bronchitis, asthma, fever and jaundice.

Leaves of Adhatoda vasica are sources of an expectorant drug used to relieve coughs. In ancient times Yunani people use the fruit for bronchitis, the flowers for jaundice, poor circulation and strangury; the emmenagogue leaves in gonorrhea and the diuretic root in asthma, bilious, nausea, bronchitis, fever, gonorrhea and sore yes.

Sometimes ago European physician have successfully in treating typhoid and diphtheria.
Adhatoda vasica

Plants in Medicine

2010-04-02T03:49:00.000-07:00

Plants in Medicine
Since the beginning of life, plants have played a major role in influencing man and his thought.

Similarly, man has influenced the forms and characteristics of plants in helping them adapt to man’s progress.

This is evidence from the changes in vegetation and environment, as agriculture and technology, central to human civilization, continue to progress.

If go back in time a few thousand years and we can find that plants were widely used as food and medicine.

Agriculture is believed to have flourished nearly 10,000 years ago, and there were records on medicinal plants even in ancient times.

In 490 BC, Hippocrates, the ’Father of Medicine’, established the Temple of Aesculapius, a college in medicinal studies.

Hippocrates learnt about medicinal herbs from the Egyptians and after his death, this knowledge was passed on to Aristotle.

Aristotle was a naturalist and tutor to Alexander the Great. With Alexander the Great’s army expeditions, he traveled far and wide.

He collected various herbs and learned about them from captive doctors.

One of his pupils, Theophrastus (372-278 BC) developed his works and produced two books called The History of Plants and Reasons for Plants.

He studied over five hundred plants from the Mediterranean Valley and categorized them scientifically. He also discussed medicinal value of these plants.

When the Romans took over the power from the Greeks the focus in medicinal study naturally shifted to the west.

Consequently, the Arab scientists began to learn, preserve and develop the field of medicine and botany. The Muslims especially were highly interested in agriculture and medicine.

Muhammad Ibnu Zakariyya al-Razi and Abu Ali Ibnu Sina were two great experts then.
Plants in Medicine

What is Keramat?

2010-03-19T08:41:00.001-07:00

What is Keramat?
Keramat are “tombs or reputed of saints that are believed to wonder working shrines.”

A specifically Malayan institution, the worship of innumerable saints arises from Indian-derived Shia’ belief and practices in local Islam.

This worship involves making offerings at the graves of ancestors, founders of settlements, rulers, religious teachers and even rocks or stones.

It is said that the Malays, who are otherwise Sunni Muslims do the School of Shafie, adopted the institution of the Keramat to continue under the guise of Islam, some of their former animistic practices.

While keramat worship was originally a Malay practice, members of the Chinese and Indian communities have also adopted it.

There persists a folk believe that keramat and the various religious “deities” worshipped at shrines do not only have the power to heal, protect and bless devotees, but also the ability to admonish, punish and torment individuals, should disrespect be shown to them or their abodes disturbed.
What is Keramat?

Buah Jering

2010-03-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Buah Jering
General
Botanical name for buah jering Archidendron Jiringa. Buah jering originated in Southeast Asia, it grows wild and also cultivated in Southeast Asia. Rarely grown outside Southeast Asia.

Jering are medium-sized trees that can reach 20 m in height. The bark is smooth and light grey in color. The leaves are compound, two pinnate up to 25 cm long, leaf stalks up to 6 cm long.

The leaflets are 8-25 cm ling, 4-5 cm wide, ovate to booing in shape, light green, shiny.

Young leave are soft, purplish red in color. Young leaf are normally produced on the whole tree at the same time.

Fruit is a legume, 5 cm wide, twisted in a spiral, purplish brown in color. Seeds large, testa yellowish when young, reddish brown when mature, the edible cotyledons are yellowish when young, becoming orange brown when mature.

Health benefits
Leaves are pounded and applied in chest pains, pains, skin ailments. Ashes obtained by burning the old leaves are applied on itch. Ashes obtained by burning the young leaves are applied on cuts, wounds.

Bark are pounded and applied on chest pains, pains, skin ailments, made into a gargle for treating gum pains, toothache.

Fruits are eaten at meal tome to treat diabetes, hypertension.
Buah Jering

Petai – Parkia speciosa

2010-02-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

Petai – Parkia speciosa
The tree is tall buttressed, leaves bipinnate; leaflets 20-35 pairs on side stalks; flowers very small, crowded on pear shaped head, pods large, flattened and twisted, with onion smell, edible.

It is fresh local salad or ‘ulam’ is widely accepted as a kind of food in our menu served during lunch or dinner.

Petai can be eaten raw. Petai also used in sambal or as a vegetable. Fresh petai is very rich in vitamin and fiber. They are believed to have medicinal values for.

The tree of petai about forty five feet high, is grown for its seeds. These seeds have an offensive smell but the people eat them either raw or toasted. The odour of this vegetable is present in urine passed after eating.

The beans grow in clusters of several pods, with the swollen seeds clearly visible though the bright green aid. The pod, which contains about 10-18 large seeds or beans, is opened by pulling the “strings” of each side and twisting.

The seeds contain about 70% water, 11-17% carbohydrates, 9% protein, 1.8-8% fat, 1% fiber, alkaloids, calcium, cystine, iron, lectin, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur compounds, tannin, thioproline, provitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin C.

The seeds are used in the treatment of diabetes, hepatalgia, hypertension, nephritis, edema, stomach and intestinal worms.

The leaves are used to treat jaundice.

Supernatural in Primitive Medicine

2010-01-30T19:02:00.000-08:00

Supernatural in Primitive Medicine
In primitive medicine, the supernatural is involved in all aspect of disease and healing. Because disease and misfortune are attributed to supernatural agents, magic is essential to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

All events must have a cause visible or invisible.

Thus the disease for which there are no obvious immediate causes must be due to ghosts, spirits, gods, sorcery, witchcraft or the loss of one of the individual’s special “soul.”

Illness called for consultation with those have the power to control the supernatural agents of disease: the shaman, medicine man, wise man, diviner, witch-smeller, priests, chief, soul-catcher, or sorcerer.

A close examination of the roles and powers assigned to such figures reveals many specific differences, but for our purpose the general term “healer” will generally suffice.

However, we should note that most societies differentiate between healers and herbalists who dispense ordinary remedies and the shamans or priests like healers who can intercede with the spirits that affect, weather, harvest, hunting, warfare, conception, childbirth, disease and misfortune.

Although the shaman performs magical acts, including deliberate deceptions, she or he neither a fake nor a neurotic.

The shaman is as sincere as a modern physician or psychiatrists in the performance of healing rituals.

When sick, the shaman will undergo therapy with another shaman, despite, knowledge of all tricks of the trade.

For shaman, the cause of the disorder is more significant than the symptoms because the cause determines the manner of treatment, be it penicillin or exorcism.

Diagnostic aids may include a spirit medium, crystal gazing and divination.

Having performed the preliminary diagnostic tests, the healer conducts a complex ritual involving magic spells, incantations, the extraction of visible or invisible objects, or the capture and the return of the patient’s lost soul.

To drive out or confuse evil spirits, the shaman may give the patient a special disguise or a new name, offer attractive substitute targets, or prescribe noxious medicines to transform the patient onto an undesirable host.

The shaman may dispense powerful drugs but it is the ritual, with its attempts to compel the cooperation of supernatural powers, which is of prime importance to healer, patient and community.

Outsiders may see the healing ritual in terms of “magical” and “practical” elements, but for healer and patient there is no separation between the magical and empirical aspects of therapy.
Supernatural in Primitive Medicine

From: http://medicine-history.blogspot.com/

Mandi Minyak

2010-01-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

Mandi Minyak
There are many rituals similar to mandi minyak in many parts of the world and the theory of ritual heat has developed to account for this type of “supernatural” or shamanic performance.

It is hard not to see these entertainments as means of generating heat which must then be cooled through various means.

Similarly, in the mandi minyak heat could be said to be generated in the separation of the initiate from the regular community as he or she enters the liminal stage of silat training.

Reincorporation into the community with enhanced social status is similarly a heat filled process that is symbolized through the blazing fires of the mandi minyak.

The student must literally overcome this heat to be cooled by the soothing properties of the oil which is rinsed off the following day.

The raising of ritual heat helps to explain the potential of the mandi minyak to act as a precursor to explosions of violence.

Ritual heat works well where the symbols fit, for example, linking hot coals, knives and boiling to explosions of violence.

The mandi minyak is a judicial ordeal, an invulnerability rite, and a bath in healthy oil.

Ritual heat does not account for the mandi minyak’s transmutation over time.
Mandi Minyak

Pokok Misai Kucing

2009-12-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

Pokok Misai Kucing
One of the commonly used herbal medicines in Malaysia is Orthosiphon stamineus, Benth (family: Lamiaceae) or locally known as Misai Kucing.

The plant is the native to tropical Asia.

The main component of Orthosiphon stamineus, Benth, leaves and extracts are the pharmacological active polyphenols, the polymethoxylated flavonoids and the caffeic acid derivatives.

The plant is sued for treating the ailments of the kidney, since it has a mild diuretic effect. It is also claimed to have anti allergenic, anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly used for kidney stones and nephritis.

It is also sometimes used to treat gout, diabetes, hypertension and rheumatism.
Pokok Misai Kucing

Music of the Shamans

2009-11-16T04:16:00.001-08:00

Music of the Shamans
A shaman without music and sound is one without power.

On the East Coast, main Puteri is a popular trance dance accompanied by a makyong ensemble which consist of a rebab (fiddle), two gendang (double headed drums), and a pair of tetawak.

The chief performer, Tok Puteri, entranced by the music of the rebab, communicates with the spirits.

Aided by his attendant, Tok Minduk, who is also the rebab player, he “sucks out” evil spirits from afflicted patients.

A popular form of folk singing is Ghazal mostly in Johor. Ghazal is the vocal rendition of love poems, known as pantun, to the accompaniment of various musical instruments such as the gambus, table, violin, accordian, guitar, and maracas.

Like Nobat, Ghazal came from the Middle East and became an instant hit with the locals especially so because of its Arabic/Persian melody and the romantic lyrics.
Music of the Shamans

Pokok Cekur Manis

2009-10-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

Pokok Cekur Manis
Botanically name: Sauropus androgynus is a common vegetable food in Malaysia and consumpotion of the raw leaf or its jucie was a lad for losing weigth.

The superb and unique flavor of these leaves is most similar to peanuts, also similar to snow peas. Then tender tips, the leaves, the flowers and the young berries are all used for food. Older leaves can be eaten raw but are commonly cooked. The young leaves and tips are eaten raw in salads. When cooked all parts of the plant have a distinct agreeable odor and flavor and the leaves and stems retain their dark green color. The leaves have about 6-10% protein content.

The leaves and the top 15 cm of stem tips of the Sauropus plant have a pleasant taste, similar to fresh garden peas, and slightly nutty and are normally eaten raw in salads or steamed, to add to stir-fry, rice and egg dishes, soups or casseroles.

The dark-green leaves provide a rich source of chlorophyll which is a valuable blood building element, cell rejuvenator, and beneficial to the circulation, intestinal flora, and for regular bowel elimination.

An infusion made of the leaves, is used as a poultice to treat fevers and ulcers.
Pokok Cekur Manis

Pokok Sambung Nyawa

2009-10-08T17:56:00.001-07:00

Pokok Sambung Nyawa
Gynura procumbens Merr is an herb belonging to the family Compositae. Locally known as Pokok Sambung Nyawa.

Pokok sambung nyawa is herbaceous climber of forest margins and thickets. It is native of South East Asia.

Originating from Myanmar and China, it can live with the height of 1 until 500 meters from the sea levels.

It grows vertically, or sometimes the edge collapse and comes out root, wet stem, branches purplish in color.

The leaves are almost egg-shaped and slightly different shape between each leaf. The size is 3 cm – 10 cm x 0.5 cm – 3 cm. The lower surface is more or less purple.

The leaves serve in Malay peninsular as a flavoring for food, and also widely used for treatment of: kidney diseases, rashes, throat infection and high fever.

In addition, the leaves of the plant have been used in folk medicines and antihypertensive agent.

It has been reported that an ethanolic extract of Gynura Procumbens significantly reduces serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels of diabetic rats.

It can be used to stop bleeding, overcome menstrual cycle problems, improves the kidney function, for animal bite.
Pokok Sambung Nyawa