Indonesian Exotic Pearl is Heading to The Scientific Era

During the Covid 19 pandemic, the author often saw articles discussing the role of herbal medicine for boosting immunity. Various recipes of herbal medicine appeared on the timelines of our social media. The author witnessed housewives starting to buy up various types of herbs which were allegedly having potential as ingredients of the " jamu anti-covid 19 ". Jamu is Indonesian traditional herbal medicine which empirically has been used for centuries.  Well, the majority of Indonesian people would already be familiar with this term “jamu”. The author wants to analogize jamu as a pearl from Indonesia. Like pearls, jamu is a very valuable asset for Indonesia, which also supports the maintenance of public health from time to time. Herbal medicine is a legacy of the ancestors and has become one of the cultural products that has never been lasting for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Exotic, why ?? Jamu has a distinctive aroma of tropical herbs that are very rich. The distinctive aroma that comes from a variety of spices, rhizomes and so forth. This has become one of the attractions for herbal medicine itself. Usually the stronger the aroma of a herbal medicine, the more confident the community to enjoy its usefulness.

Although herbal medicine has been used for generations, there is still little scientific data that can support the efficacy of herbal medicine in community medicine. For this reason, the government since 2019 through the Center for Research and Development of Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicines (B2P2TOOT) has carried out a saintification of several medicinal herbs to be able to guarantee the efficacy and safety of these herbs. Saintification of herbal medicine is scientific proof of herbal medicine through studies based on health services.

According to Minister of Health Regulation Number 003, 2010 on the Saintification of Jamu, it is stated that the purpose of the regulation of herbal medicine is to provide a scientific basis (evidence based) on the use of herbal medicine; encourage research networks and herbal services (dual system); increasing the supply of safe, quality and nutritious herbs. The scope of herbal medicine is mainly prioritized for prevention of diseases, efforts to improve health, efforts to restore health and efforts to improve the quality of life of the patients. Meanwhile, herbal medicine as a treatment effort can only be done at the written request of the patient after the patient gets sufficient explanation.

The development of certified herbal medicine begins with ethnopharmacology studies (empirically has been used in communities for generations). From here you will get data related to the use of traditional medicinal plants. Then a selection of formulas which is potential to be used as a complementary therapy and study is carried out preclinical to prove the efficacy and safety in animals. After going through these stages, clinical studies must be carried out in order to obtain evidence of benefits and safety for humans. Herbs that are proven to have efficacy and safety can be integrated in the health care system.

     There are eleven jamu blends that have been recorded and have passed through saintification, namely uric acid, high blood pressure, hemorrhoids, joint arthritis, concoction of high cholesterol, liver function disorder peptic/gastric disorders, kidney stones, diabetes mellitus, obesity and fitness jamus. All types of jamu have been summarized into  Eleven Saintification Jamu by B2P2TOOT. Thus it is hoped that the public being able to know the composition, method of making and what things should be concerned in using the eleven jamu formulations.

Bali has a great potential to participate in developing herbal medicine science. Bali has a large enough source of medicinal plants that can be developed and the tourism sector as a promotional vehicle. In addition, Bali also has a heritage of traditional medicine that we know as Usadha Bali. These are very beneficial aspects for the Bali if they want to participate in developing traditional medicine based on local medicinal plants. Bali Province now also has many public and private universities which have study programs that focus on the development of medicines from natural ingredients.

How can we develop medicinal plants to become a herbal medicine? It would be nice if this program can be accompanied by industries that have a CPOTB system in order to meet market criteria and for product registration. The related Health Office should be able to participate in socializing to PKK cadres or housewives to become a community of herbal medicine.

Refferences:

1. Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Nomor: 003/MENKES/PER/I/2010 TENTANG SAINTIFIKASI JAMU DALAM PENELITIAN BERBASIS PELAYANAN KESEHATAN.

2. Sebelas Ramuan Jamu Santifik Pemanfaatan Mandiri oleh Masyarakat. 2019. Balai Besar Penelitian dan Pengembangan Tanaman Obat dan Obat Tradisional. Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia.