Traditional method 'Gurah', a breath of fresh air for many<\/p>\n
By Tarko Sudiarno and Nugroho CH<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): For many Javanese, gurah is a means to
\ncleanse their respiratory system of what ails them.<\/p>\n
In Javanese, gurah means to rinse; in the healing process, a
\npractitioner treats his patients by assisting them to expel mucus
\nthrough the nose and mouth.<\/p>\n
The revitalized patient is supposedly blessed with a clear
\nvoice, and the method has long been favored by singers and
\norators.<\/p>\n
Giriloyo, which is located 20 km south of Yogyakarta, has long
\nbeen associated with the gurah healing method, with many
\npractitioners promoting special skills they claim to posses.<\/p>\n
Mohammad Hisyam, 56, a direct descendant of Marzuki from the
\nfirst-generation gurah healers in the village, has the
\nmost patients, who include ordinary people, celebrities, and even
\ngovernment officials, in the village.<\/p>\n
He claims to have treated such noted figures as singers Nicky
\nAstria, Dorce Gamalama, Renny Djayusman, as well as actresses
\nWidyawati, Silvana Herman and Elma Theana.<\/p>\n
Apart from celebrities and officials, Hisyam also treats qori
\nand qoriyah, Muslims who study reciting the Koran and wish to
\nproduce good tones while reciting the holy verses.<\/p>\n
Gurah is performed by dropping an extract from the Sirgunggu
\ntree into a patient's nostrils. The patient is treated lying
\ndown, told to inhale deeply and then exhale slowly. Then, inhale
\nagain and hold his or her breath. At this time, the plant extract
\nis dripped into the nostrils, with Hisyam praying before the
\nperson is treated.<\/p>\n
Then, still holding the same breath, the patient must swallow
\nthe extract. The patient then has to lie face down; 10 minutes
\nlater, great amounts of mucus will come out of the nose and
\nmouth. This process lasts about one-and-a-half hours, during
\nwhich time the patient, still lying face down, is massaged.<\/p>\n
Hisyam said removing the mucus led to loss of all the
\nimpurities from inside the body. The method is good for smokers
\nand people with allergies, migraines, sinusitis and asthma. And
\nto get the best results, it must be repeated after 10 days.<\/p>\n
The practitioner also advises heavy smokers to regularly
\nundergo the treatment.<\/p>\n
\"The lungs of a heavy smoker are usually stained by nicotine
\nand this process is needed to keep the lungs free from nicotine,\"
\nHisyam said.<\/p>\n
True<\/p>\n
But is it true that a gurah treatment can remove nicotine from
\nheavy smokers' lungs?<\/p>\n
According to ear, nose and throat specialist Soepomo
\nSoekardono from Gadjah Mada University, there has been no in-
\ndepth study made of the treatment.<\/p>\n
\"Scientifically, once nicotine gets into the body it is very
\ndifficult to remove because it has formed a reaction with some
\nbody substances,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, he did not deny that the \"dust\" on the respiratory
\ntract could be removed from the body along with the mucus. As the
\nresidue is removed, the function of the hairs inside the nostrils
\nwill be maximized as they can fully push dirt into the throat to
\nbe later moved into the stomach and then destroyed by the
\nsecretions there.<\/p>\n
Tales about the treatment's healing power prompted the
\nuniversity's ear, nose and throat department to conduct a study
\nat Hisyam's consulting room from October 1996 to March 1997.
\nEvidence of the study -- a certificate signed by the head of the
\nuniversity's ear, nose and throat department, Ketut Losin --
\nhangs on Hisyam's wall.<\/p>\n
\"However, we have yet to make a definite conclusion about the
\nbenefits of gurah. Further study is still being conducted,\" said
\nSoepomo, one of the researchers.<\/p>\n
Scientifically, the sirgunggu (Clerodendron serratum spreng)
\ntree contains saponin and tannin. Saponin encourages the
\nproduction of mucus because it dilates the blood vessels.<\/p>\n
\"That's why a patient with sinusitis will feel relief as the
\nmucus can easily flow through the dilated blood vessels after
\napplication of the extract,\" Soepomo explained.<\/p>\n
He said a patient would be in no danger when mucus left the
\nbody in large quantities over a relatively long period of time.<\/p>\n
\"The mucus that leaves the body is, at most, less than one
\nliter. And Hisyam is really skilled. Before and after the gurah
\nprocess, he always asks patients to drink. This shows that he can
\nthink scientifically. His logic is that the liquid that leaves
\nthe body must be replaced,\" Soepomo said.<\/p>\n
Caution<\/p>\n
Although no patients have complained of any bad side effects
\nfrom this healing method, Soepomo advised patients with asthma or
\nheart problems not to try it. The reason is simple.<\/p>\n
\"Someone having an asthma attack finds it difficult to
\nbreathe. Gurah could be fatal for the asthmatic because during
\nthe cleansing, the nose will be filled with mucus,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As for a patient with heart problems?<\/p>\n
\"When you take gurah, a lot of mucus leaves your body. Then
\nyou must lie face down for a relatively long time. A heart
\npatient could go into shock,\" Soepomo said.<\/p>\n
The Gurah healing method has brought prosperity to the
\nGiriloyo villagers, prompting others to offer their gurah healing
\ntreatments.<\/p>\n
The treatment fee is not fixed by the gurah practitioner.
\nUsually, the fee ranges between Rp 10,000 and Rp 20,000 per
\nperson. Then another Rp 5,000 to Rp 7,500 for the masseur. In
\nsome cases, it is left to the patient to determine the fee.<\/p>\n
Tight competition among gurah practitioners has made some of
\nthem offer \"alternative gurah\" treatments. Alternative here means
\nthat some add honey to the extract while others even add chili
\nfor more potency. Some healers have put the extract into capsules
\nas a practical measure for busy consumers.<\/p>\n
The emergence of alternative methods of gurah treatments makes
\nSoepomo worried about the patients' safety.<\/p>\n
He said Hisyam's traditional method was scientifically safer
\nthan \"alternative\" methods -- one of the reasons why the
\nuniversity conducted research at his practice.<\/p>\n
\"When you swallow a capsule, the process becomes systemic
\nbecause the capsule will be digested in the stomach and the
\ncontents will be circulated by the blood throughout the body. If
\nthere is an adverse side effect, it will be more difficult to
\nhandle. But if the extract is dropped into the nose, an adverse
\nside effect can be immediately dealt with because it only affects
\na localized area.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traditional-method-gurah-a-breath-of-fresh-air-for-many-1447893297",
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