Plants known as traditional medicines are not entirely safe to\nconsume. Dr.\u00a0Djoko Santosa, an expert in Pharmaceutical Biology at the\nFaculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has reminded the\npublic that a number of plants in fact pose health risks if consumed or\nprocessed without proper knowledge, one example being bitter jamu (jamu\npahitan).<\/p>\n
\u201cNot everything called a medicinal plant is necessarily good and safe\nfor us to consume. There are plants whose use we must be careful with\nbecause they can pose risks to the body,\u201d said Djoko during a workshop\nentitled \u2018Racik Rasa dan Rawat Jiwa\u2019 (Blend Flavours, Nurture the Mind)\nwith the PKK community group of Karanggayam Hamlet, Sleman, quoted by\ndetikJogja from UGM\u2019s official website on Monday (7\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
Djoko cited commonly consumed plants such as soursop leaves, rondo\nnoleh leaves \u2014 known to the public as \u2018insulin leaves\u2019 \u2014 mindi leaves,\nand brotowali (Tinospora cordifolia). These plants, he said, require\nparticular care in their use.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the mothers want to buy bitter jamu, ask first whether what is\nbeing boiled is brotowali or sambiloto. Sambiloto is fine, but if it\u2019s\nbrotowali, I wouldn\u2019t buy it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Another example, he continued, is that continuous consumption of\nsoursop leaves can affect the nerves and kidney health. Meanwhile, rondo\nnoleh leaves and mindi leaves should also be avoided as they carry risks\nto the kidneys.<\/p>\n
Djoko reminded that the term \u2018medicinal plant\u2019 does not automatically\nmean the plant is safe to consume. According to him, the use of certain\nplants must take into account the type, dosage, method of processing,\nand the physical condition of the person consuming them.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot everything called a medicinal plant is necessarily good and safe\nfor us to consume. There are plants whose use we must be careful with\nbecause they can pose risks to the body,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Djoko stressed that this does not mean all medicinal\nplants should be avoided. Their use can still be carried out by paying\nattention to dosage and one\u2019s physical condition.<\/p>\n
He gave the example of turmeric and tamarind (kunyit asam), which can\nbe consumed in reasonable amounts. However, consumption should be\nstopped if it triggers an allergic reaction.<\/p>\n
Djoko also urged the public not to readily believe information about\ntraditional medicine circulating on social media. According to him,\ninformation on the benefits of medicinal plants must be assessed based\non knowledge and safety of use.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe public needs to understand how to make use of the medicinal\nplants found in their own surroundings,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
The workshop covered not only the use of medicinal plants and jamu,\nbut also mental health. Djoko conveyed the importance of maintaining\nmental wellbeing through social interaction and involvement in community\nactivities.<\/p>\n
According to him, activities such as interacting within a community,\nattending religious study groups (pengajian) and social gatherings\n(arisan), and gardening can all be activities that support mental\nhealth.<\/p>\n
The head of the Karanggayam Hamlet PKK group, Wiwik Dwi Karyawati,\nwelcomed the educational activity. She said UGM\u2019s presence provided\nadditional insight to the community, particularly regarding mental\nhealth and the use of jamu, which has become part of local culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis activity is extremely positive because we, the mothers, can\ngain broader insight. Like this afternoon\u2019s material on mental health\nand jamu,\u201d said Wiwik.<\/p>\n
Wiwik expressed hope that similar activities can continue to be held.\nAccording to her, direct guidance from universities is beneficial\nbecause the knowledge gained by the community can be applied in daily\nlife.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor this programme, I hope it will continue because it truly has a\nreal impact. From the campus, it can have a direct impact on residents,\u201d\nshe said.<\/p>\n
The Coordinator of Educational and Outreach Community Service\nActivities at the UGM Faculty of Biology, Dr.\u00a0Dra. Raden Roro Upiek,\nsaid Catur Tunggal was chosen as one of the guidance areas after the\nlocal ward office expressed a wish for the area to receive assistance\nfrom the UGM Faculty of Biology.<\/p>\n
The assistance is carried out in stages through the \u2018road to dusun\u2019\nconcept, moving from one hamlet to another.<\/p>\n
Upiek said the Faculty of Biology\u2019s guidance programme in Catur\nTunggal will be directed towards other hamlets in future. One previously\nguided hamlet, Mrican, is said to have been assessed as self-sufficient,\nallowing assistance to continue in other areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are 20 hamlets in Catur Tunggal; the road to dusun approach is\nexpected to expand the reach of the guidance programme,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Through the \u2018Racik Rasa dan Rawat Jiwa\u2019 activity held at the\nKaranggayam Hamlet Hall, Catur Tunggal, Sleman, on Saturday (5\/9), the\ncollaboration between UGM\u2019s Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Biology\nand the Karanggayam community formed part of efforts to bring academic\nknowledge closer to community needs.<\/p>\n
The event also formed part of the development of partner villages\nthrough health education, the utilisation of local potential, and\nsustainable community empowerment.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ugm-expert-warns-bitter-jamu-cannot-be-consumed-carelessly-heres-why-1788771114", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }