Traditional herbal 'jamu' needs scientific proof<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian traditional herbal medicines, known
\nas jamu, need to have empirically-proven curative elements to be
\nscientifically proven and in order to compete in the world
\nmarket, officials and manufacturers said at a seminar Friday.<\/p>\n
The scientific proof is necessary to assure people of the
\nherbal medicine's quality, according to Health Minister Sujudi in
\na written speech delivered Friday by Director General for
\nMedicine and Food Supervision Wisnu Katim at a two-day seminar on
\nalternative medicine.<\/p>\n
Sujudi said that in 1981 the government set up centers for the
\ndevelopment and application of traditional medicine in Jakarta,
\nWest Java, East Java, Yogyakarta, South Sulawesi, North Sulawesi,
\nSouth Sumatra and Bali.<\/p>\n
The centers' task is to study scientifically the herbal
\nmedicines made by various manufacturers and either endorse or
\ninvalidate the companies' claims of healing elements.<\/p>\n
But the Indonesian Consumers Foundation's Zoemrotin K.S. said
\nthe centers were not working well.<\/p>\n
The two-day seminar also featured an exhibition of jamu made
\nby big and small manufacturers and traditional vendors.<\/p>\n
Azis Kongsjahsju, a manager at large jamu maker PT Martina
\nBerto, said a lack of scientific proof or studies hampered the
\nmedicine's trade in the world market.<\/p>\n
Consumers from countries like Malaysia, Thailand, the United
\nStates and Japan always asked for lists of ingredients, and an
\nexplanation of their healing properties as supported by
\nscientific study.<\/p>\n
The number of big jamu makers rose from 40 in 1995 to 66 in
\n1996, while the small manufacturers grew from 507 in 1995 to 517
\nthe next year.<\/p>\n
The export value of jamu increased from Rp 20.4 billion (US$7
\nmillion) in 1995 to Rp 29.5 billion in 1996.<\/p>\n
In addition, there are about 50,000 traditional jamu vendors
\nin Indonesia, about 5,000 of which operate in Jakarta, Bogor,
\nTangerang and Bekasi.<\/p>\n
Hartarti Soekarto, the head of jamu preservation at the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Jamu and Traditional Medicine
\nManufacturers, said poor hygiene was one reason Indonesian jamu
\nwas not a successful export commodity.<\/p>\n
But the Directorate General of Medicines and Food Supervision,
\nhas launched a training program to teach traditional jamu vendors
\nhow to make their product hygienically. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traditional-herbal-jamu-needs-scientific-proof-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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