Traditional body care for modern women

JAKARTA (JP): Traditional jamu herbs have been used for ages by the Javanese as medicine and cosmetics. Javanese princesses, famous for their beauty, use jamu to make their skin smooth and healthy. The herbs are also rumored to be the secret of the princesses' graceful, slim and perfumed bodies.

Today, urban Indonesian women are turning from the modern, chemical cosmetics back to traditional cosmetics and body care. Jamu is now trendy and traditional body care in demand.

Perceiving the trend, Puri Ayu Martha Tilaar, a beauty center in South Jakarta, offers various traditional cosmetics and body care treatments devised from time-tested Javanese formulas.

The response is encouraging, said Ariani Widjaja, Puri Ayu's marketing executive. Wives of senior officials, some expatriates, executives and celebrities including Dewi Sukarno, the ex-wife of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, are regulars, she said.

In the past, water was boiled for the steam bath, but today electrical steamers have replaced the traditional method. Blending the herbs for the lulur aromatic body scrub was done by hand, now sterile machines do the grinding. The only thing that hasn't change is the herbs.

The massages that accompany each treatment have also been analyzed to prevent side effects.

Packages

Puri Ayu, which only caters to women, offers over twenty traditional body care packages, including the following:

The lulur malih warni treatment is said to smooth and brighten skin. The treatment starts with a massage with aromatic oils like kenanga (Canangium odoratum) and of cendana (sandalwood). A body steam comes next followed by an aromatic body scrub. The treatment ends with a soak in aromatic spices. Jamu Pamor herbs are provided to improve blood circulation and digestion as well as give the skin a healthy glow.

The tubuh darah putih (white bodied girl) is a body bleaching treatment. The therapy leaves the skin silky and firm and removes unwanted spots. A vitamin E cream is first massaged into the skin and is followed by an aromatic body steam, a body scrub, bleaching, a bubble bath and finally a drink of Jamu Pamor.

To stimulate and moisturize the body, a milk bath is complimented with a massage, body steam and Jamu Pamor.

Brides and women who want to revive their sex lives go for the Ken Dedes body treatment. Ken Dedes, was a wife of King Ken Arok of Singosari kingdom in East Java in the 13th century. Like Cleopatra, she is known for her striking beauty. The treatment supposedly transforms a woman into a physically perfect being who is good in bed.

The Ken Dedes treatment includes a kenanga oil massage, an aromatic body steam, a bath with mangir herbal soap which lightens the skin, a soak in aromatic and "women's secret" spices. After another bath in flowery fragrances, it all ends with body and genital scenting with smoke from ingredients including betel.

'Ratus'

"Perfume often doesn't last long, but this kind of perfuming, we usually call ratus, last longer," insisted Puri Ayu's beauty therapy specialist Worro Harry S.

Ratus is traditionally used to reduce sweat production and to cure discharge.

Those wanting firmer and bigger breasts can try Puri Ayu's special package. It includes breast massage, compresses, masks, aromatic foams baths, breast exercises and Jamu Pembayun aimed at body shaping.

A slimming package, called selangking singset, offers aromatic oil massage and body steam, a soak in aromatic herbs, a body wrap or mask using the selangking herb for slimming and jamu selangking singset. The jamu is said to slim the body, reduce appetite, beautify the body shape and eliminate fat.

"Usually our clients lose around two kilograms after eight treatments," said Worro.

Carrot, apple or avocado baths are aimed at smoothing and brightening the skin while making it healthier. The beauty center claims that the vitamin C, E and B5 contained in the fruit and vegetables regenerate dead skin cells.

They also vow the apple bath cures skin irritations.

Other organic treatments include the biogenic protien and cellulose enzyme rich aloe as well as seaweed, algae and rose extract.

All body treatments included massage to relax the client, improve blood circulation and make it easier for the herbs to penetrate the skin, said Worro. (als)