Spa treatments just the tonic for what ails you

Judy Chapman, Contributor, Ubud, Bali

There is a welcome stillness in the air and nothing but the sound of a waterfall below. Before me, dozens of coconut bowls are filled with brightly colored substances, creating a visual feast for my eyes.

The aroma of fresh lime caresses my nose, lifting my spirits for a moment before being grounded by the earthy tones of cinnamon and clove. Enthralled, I watch a goddess of Indonesian beauty, Feni Sri Sulistiawati, at home in creating long lasting beauty through her innovative spa range Jamu-Jamu.

I am here at what is considered to be Bali's first holistic spa retreat.

Bagus Jati, the newly opened five-star wellness retreat -- it chooses the term "well-being" -- set high in the mountains above Ubud, has truly one of the most beautiful spas I've been blessed to experience. Yesterday I had an Ayurvedic shirodhara -- where warm oils are poured over the head and massaged -- and today I am looking forward to the exfoliation scrub made out of pandan leaf and cinnamon under a Vichy shower that I'm going to receive today.

Feni is the woman behind both the products and staff training for Bagus Jati health and well-being retreat, with her product company Jamu Jamu -- a comprehensive spa range that is currently being launched in spas and retail stores around Europe, Australia and Asia.

The range includes unisex skin and body care together with a unique range of pre-blended and dry mixes that can be used in spa treatments.

Of course, the name is taken from the time-honored Javanese medicinal remedies and herbal tonics created from fresh blended ingredients which are sold every day on the streets of this country.

"Jamu has its essence in the translation 'to serve life'" Feni said. "It's a manifestation of a miraculous system of Indonesian medicine mainly derived from Chinese and Ayurvedic influences."

She explains how traditionally women would come around to villages with their medicinal tonics made from plants, and it continues to have a hold on the public, with an estimated 70 percent of Indonesians still using it for what ails them.

"Many modern men and women still use and practice every day the ritual of making jamu from fresh herbs, fruits, spices, roots and vegetables as remedies and tonics for vitality and health," she said.

"We are a modern company maintaining a relationship with the natural world by practicing the science of Asian botanical rejuvenation through the use of natural beauty treatments.

"Jamu is in my blood. My birthplace is Semarang in Java, the traditional birthplace of Jamu and as a child I experienced firsthand the true medicinal qualities of my grandmother blending jamu.

"My inspiration for a new product often comes when I am in the process of blending," she said, laughing. "I love seeing and playing with color and texture. When I was pregnant I would often think what oil would make me feel good today and before I knew it I had created a body cream."

She says that her approach to beauty and spa combines the science of aromatherapy.

"I try and capture the life force of indigenous plants and flowers, roots and bark and bring this into the gentle ritual of the spa."

She says much of her motivation stems from her passion to bring the story of the natural ingredients that she learnt from her grandmother and combine this with East and Western philosophies to the world. She said this was why this year's product range is called "secrets of the east".

Feni explains that in the past recipes were not recorded and many therapeutic recipes have disappeared.

"Traditionally, they were recorded on dried coconut leaves or verbally passed down from mother to daughter, and hence many recipes are at risk of being lost forever."

This has led Feni and her husband to set up a non-profit organization and an archive library, the Tamtuwamsi Foundation, to preserve these traditions. They have also started a medicinal herb garden at Bagus Jati to begin preserving endangered plants and record the growing patterns, and are also initiating local community trade programs.

"Our mission is to preserve and keep alive ancient traditions of herbal medicines and remedies and preserve the beautiful mystery of nature," Feni said. "The sacredness of this earth depends on our combined mission to care."

Her product range is packaged in classic recycled glass bottles, nonbleached paper using vegetable inks and stylish labels. Their latest range brings back the fun of the old postal system and the idea of receiving from an exotic far away land -- with stamps defining the main active ingredient used in the product.

Newly added this season are shampoos and conditioners, mood scents and shower gels.

While their product range is expanding rapidly and the Bagus Jati Wellbeing Retreat is considered one of Bali's most holistic destination spas, like many individuals and businesses around the world, they have undergone some major shifts in recent years

"Before the Kuta bombing we had many projects on the go," Feni said, referring to the Oct. 12, 2002, terrorist blasts that killed 202 people.

"However, since then we have taken a step back and have decided to take things more slowly. We are most interested in refining and cultivating our range so that it becomes one that is classic and not another 'pop' product, something our children's children will be using in years to come."

She says they are expanding with integrity in line with the company's philosophy. Eventually she hopes that Jamu-Jamu will become an "Asian Body Shop".

She says of Bali: "It is a place that has been culturally preserved by it's people, the perfect sanctuary for developing natural traditional products. I hope that others will sense the spiritual mysticism and experience the beauty of this tropical island through my creations."

Having already experienced it firsthand, I retire under the Vichy Shower and allow the therapist to smother my body with the turquoise mix of pandan leaf and other delicious smelling spices and herbs.

Ah, that's heaven!