A Bitter Pill

Traditional remedies are big business. While many look modern with snappy packaging, a large number are not registered with the Ministry of Health. What protection is there for consumers?

March 6, 2001

"MINUM jamu, Mas?" ("Drink some jamu?"). A woman dressed in traditional attire, carrying a woven basket containing large bottles of various traditional remedies (jamu), asks this question. She adeptly mixes the multicolored remedies to meet the request of the customer. Be it beras kencur (medicinal rice and herb mixture), asam manis (tamarind remedy), pakai madu atau telur (with honey or egg), the choice is up to you. This is how we nostalgically rem...

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