'Ampo', edible clay with health benefits

'Ampo', edible clay with health benefits

By Gin Kurniawan

BANTUL, Yogyakarta (JP): Snaky tendrils of mist overtly cloud
the dawn as a septuagenarian trudges down the Alas Sentong hill
that fosters her livelihood back to her sequestered home a
kilometer away. With faltering steps, balancing wizardry and a
back bent by age and 20 kilograms of freshly dug mud, the
76-year-old Wartiyem of Minggiran village, Imogiri, smiles even
though the day's work has yet to begin.

The mud is the sole ingredient of ampo -- a herbal mud used
for traditional treatment of consumption -- and the only kind to
make ampo in Imogiri. The mud is only found in Alas Sentong, next
to a graveyard dedicated for artists -- a project run by noted
local artist Sapto Hudoyo.

Having devoted 50 years of her life to making ampo, Wartiyem
resolutely dedicates herself to the inherited profession without
giving much thought to the amorphous zone between two
generations.

Ampo, known for its medicinal qualities, used to be a delight
of the old people in Central Java and Yogyakarta. Thin,
spiraling, brown strips create an aroma of dried mud after the
first downpour of monsoon ends a drought.

Making ampo is simple and the method is generations-old.
However, the diligence and care taken during the initial stages
of production must be thorough. The mud is soaked in water for a
night and a day, knead into a dough, cleansed of unwanted sand
particles. The dough is then molded into bricks measuring 30x20
cms and hammered into an exact shape.

The bricks are sliced thinly with a bamboo knife. Slices are
twisted into mounting spirals atop one another and left to dry.
Then they are burned among dried leaves to bring out their aroma.
Overheating or over-drying will spoil the ampo.

The official Indonesian dictionary defines ampo as a clay
containing calcium carbonate, usually taken as medicine. The
Javanese used to use ampo for ailments ranging from gastric
problems to diarrhea. Pregnant women believed the ampo could help
with mineral deficiencies and weakened wombs.

A lecturer of Gajah Mada University's Faculty of Pharmacy,
Sarjiman says that there has not been enough research even though
ampo can strengthen the heart and cure general ailments caused by
calcium and carbonate deficiencies.

Calcium, he says, serves as an electrolytic balancing
function, strengthening the heart. "It makes sense that many
pregnant women took ampo to strengthen the heart of the baby."

The carbonate element functions as a toxin absorbent, soaking
up and channeling toxins into the intestines to be excreted.

Sarjiman said it worked well for diarrhea patients. "Carbonate
will relieve the patient of gastric problems, air and help with
excretion," said the doctorate candidate and herbal expert.

Sarjiman explained that side effects were little to none, as
ampo did not enter blood vessels but passed through intestinal
linings and was then excreted.

Ampo is sold at several traditional markets in Yogyakarta and
Central Java, usually at jamu (herb) kiosks.

Sutinah, a 56-year-old mother of five, takes ampo to
temporarily relieve stomach cramps. "I take ampo and my stomach
cramps are gone," she claims.

Others enjoy it. "I do not know about its medicinal
qualities," says 32-year-old Diah of Surabaya. "I take it only
because of its special aroma, when I come to Yogyakarta."

Gradually on the wane, ampo has lost its allure and market to
modern medicine. Imogiri is no more the epicenter of ampo-making,
and as Wartiyem concluded: "I am the only one left here." Early
in the 1990s there used to be at least six ampo makers in the
area, but they have either died or moved.

Wartiyem said that making ampo was no job for the ambitious,
as more people opt for menial construction site jobs over ampo
making. Brokers get a kilo of ampo for Rp 300, which is sold for
Rp 700 to kiosk holders. She manages to make 10 to 20 kilograms a
day when her health allows.

"Actually, making ampo takes so much care and diligent work,"
Wartiyem said.

Generations of ampo making will end with Wartiyem, as she is
widowed and without children. Her adopted child helps her
occasionally, but has no intention of continuing the trade.

"I still hope that someone is out there to carry on this
ancient tradition," said Wartiyem. This is a high hope given
today's circumstances.