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Working to modernize herbal medicine
When we sneeze during a cold, rainy day, drinking a cup of hot ginger tea can be a good choice
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hen we sneeze during a cold, rainy day, drinking a cup of hot ginger tea can be a good choice. The pungent smell and spicy taste refreshes our lungs, helps us breathe better and warms us at the same time.
Herbal healing is a part of centuries-old traditions that exist in numerous countries and cultures around the world, including Indonesia. Traditional herbal medicine, locally known as jamu, has been used by royal families for ages and has become a part of daily routines at all levels of Indonesian society.
While the development of manufactured medicine by pharmaceutical companies speeds across the world, herbal medicines in Indonesia move at snail’s pace, slower than in other Asian countries such as China and India.
JP/Indah Setiawati
PT Deltomed President Director Nyoto Wardoyo said the herbal medicine industry had to comply with the demands on curative products.
His company produces traditional herbal drinks targeting symptoms of common and light illnesses such as nausea, cold, cough, fatigue and pre-menstruation syndrome.
“People have acknowledged the benefits of herbal products in maintaining health, but the products have no record of curing degenerative disease,” he said during a recent media tour of PT Deltomed in Wonogiri, Central Java.
Nyoto said some of the big obstacles in taking herbal medicine to the curative level were the costly and lengthy clinical trials that must be passed.
“I am not saying I am pessimistic. Indonesia has extraordinary experts and equipment. It’s just an issue of time,” he said.
The company’s managing director Mulyo Raharjo said he always looked for opportunities to cooperate with other countries in developing herbal products. He said their German-made extraction facility enabled them to export cinnamon extract to a company in the United States.
“The company uses the extract to make medicine that treats diabetes,” he said.
Early this year, the Health Ministry launched what they called saintifikasi jamu, an effort to get scientific evidence on the benefits of herbal medicine in preventive, rehabilitative and palliative capacities. The ministry also recorded 12 hospitals that opened herbal clinics to serve patients.
Growing interest in herbal medicine can be seen in the rising market demand. Mae Sri Hartati Wahyuningsih, a researcher with the Gadjah Mada University’s pharmacology department, said the herbal medicine market expands every year. It recorded an estimated Rp 6 trillion (US$702 million) in domestic sales last year.
Nyoto said he hoped medical doctors would use herbal medicines in formal medication. He said that the currently ratio of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines was five to one.
“We hope herbal medication in our country can develop like what we see in China, where patients can choose between herbal and modern treatments,” he said.
— Indah Setiawati/The Jakarta Post
