HISTORY OF HERBAL MEDICINE

Indonesia's biodiversity can be said to be very complete. This makes Indonesia a very potential country for the discovery of the best herbal treatment in the world. Where various types of herbs can grow fertile in Indonesia. Herbs are the main ingredients in the manufacture of herbs. All Indonesians must know jamu.
Jamu is the name for traditional medicine from Indonesia, especially Javanese society. Herbal medicine is a herb derived from natural herbs formulated without using chemicals as additives (additional ingredients). Herbal medicine is often referred to as a traditional herb because herbal medicine has been known since ancient times before science-related modern medicine into Indonesia. Most recipes for herbal concoctions are tens or even hundreds of years old and continue to be used for generations to this day.
Herbs are made from natural ingredients, in the form of plant parts such as rhizomes (roots), leaves, leather and stems and fruit. As a form of traditional medicine, herbal medicine plays an important role in the treatment of the population of developing countries. It is estimated that 70-80% of the population in developing countries has a dependence on traditional medicine.
In general, herbal medicine is considered non-toxic and has no side effects. Benefits of herbal medicine has been tested by time, age and history, as well as direct empirical evidence in humans for hundreds of years who have been using traditional medicine. The term herbal medicine emerged in the New Javanese era, beginning around the middle ages 15-16 AD. Because herbal medicine is synonymous with Javanese culture then the understanding of herbal medicine was taken from the Old Javanese language.
According to the Old Javanese linguist, the term "jamu" is derived from the two ancient Javanese word abbreviations namely "Djampi" and "Oesodo". Djampi means healing using medicinal herbs or prayers and ajian-ajian while Oesodo means health. In the Middle Ages (15-16 AD), the term oesodo was rarely used. In contrast the term jampi increasingly popular among the palace. Then the term "herbal medicine" was introduced to the public by a traditional "healer" or healer. Evidence that herbal medicine has existed since ancient times and often used is by the relief of Borobudur Temple in the Hindu-Buddhist era in 722 AD, where the relief depicts the habit of mixing and drinking herbal medicine to maintain health. Another historical evidence is the discovery of the Madhawapura inscription from the Hindu-Majapahit Hindu relics that is the profession of "artisan meracik jamu" called Acaraki.
Botanists publish writings on the variety and benefits of plants for treatment. So that herbs that were only enjoyed by certain circles at this time can be enjoyed by all levels of society both parents and young, children and adults. Thus herbal medicine became very popular in Indonesia. Increasingly, the herbal medicine is sometimes referred to as herbal medicine. Where herbs are medicines derived from plants that are processed / extracted without chemical substances. At the present time, in an effort to cure the illness people are more interested in using herbal / herbal remedies than using prescription drugs. They think herbs / herbal remedies are safer because side effects are not harmful but it makes healthy other body organs.
The difference between herbal / herbal medicine and modern medicine lies in its ingredients, where herbs use a variety of herbs that are directly taken from nature, while modern medicine is produced from synthetic chemicals. Herbal medicine is not only used for medicine, but also used for disease prevention, health care, health restoration, fitness, beauty, daily supplement enhancer and passion, and increase happiness in household life. The form of herbal medicine is not only powder / powder but also growing, some are made in pill form. Capsule, caplet, or liquid.