Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine April 2017 | Page 80

78
Good Living
IN SEARCH OF TEMULAWAK
Natural health practitioner Tjok Gde Kerthyasa ventured out to
Yogyakarta in search of healthy, high-quality natural ingredients.
Named the second-largest biodiversity
megacentre in the world after Brazil, and
home to some 30,000 plant species – at least
7,000 of which have health benefits –
Indonesia is without question a fertile
ground for medicinal plants.
Temulawak or Javanese turmeric is one
of the most popular of such plants.
Though its uses remain underrated to date,
Javanese turmeric, also known as Curcuma
xanthorrhiza, is the perfect herb for those
living an urban lifestyle, where people are
becoming increasingly aware of the
importance of using organic resources
to stay healthy.
While unappealing in its appearance,
Javanese turmeric has countless health
properties to offer. Rich in antioxidants
and antiviruses, the plant has long been
used to ease gastric ulcers, diarrhoea,
bloating and heart disease, and to reduce
cholesterol levels. But the main benefit of
temulawak is as a liver protector. Temulawak
acts as a natural detoxifier that helps
protect your liver from the damaging
effects of alcohol, toxic chemicals and
even some pharmaceutical drugs.
The city of Yogyakarta became my top
choice in my search for the finest Javanese
turmeric, as the region’s loose soil helps the
plant grow in excellent conditions.
Located in Central Java, the city is also
blessed with a special kind of beauty, known
for its thousands of temples and natural
aesthetic charm and ancient traditions to
experience. Jamu may just be the most popular
of these traditions. For generations, a variety
of herbs and plants have been turned into
concoctions meant to keep the royal family
healthy and to soothe ailments, and today
the drink can easily be found at the streetsides
or in the city’s markets.
Javanese turmeric is a major ingredient in
a jamu, typically used by cutting off the
plant’s roots and later having them boiled
to get the most of its properties.
I was able to observe something interesting
during my time in this city, which is that
the remaining part of the plant is often
later replanted to produce new shoots,
serving as a sweet message on conservation.
In today’s society, and the way we live, we put
a lot of pressure on our bodies, especially our
liver and our digestive system. While changing
bad eating habits and unhealthy lifestyles
may take some time in an urban society,
consuming temulawak on a daily basis could
help supply the body with the support and
nourishment it needs to stay healthy.