History stated that the main reason why the Dutch once wanted to conquer Indonesia is because this country is the heaven of herbs. Indonesia has tropical climate, so this country is gifted with sun light all year around, just a perfect place to grow almost all kind of plants and below is the list of Indonesian herbs and the health benefits that you should know. Some of those plants are easily found in your back yard and could be used as home remedy for several light diseases.
From the name, surely you have known that Indonesia cinnamon is native to Indonesia. The locals called this herb as simply kayu manis. This herb is loaded with nutrients which according to some studies could bring a lot of benefits to human health. The health benefits of Indonesian cinnamon are preventing cholesterol, essential solution to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes up to treating Parkinson’s diseases.
Cloves are excellent source of calcium and vitamins especially vitamin C. That’s why cloves are important ingredients to be added to chicken soup served as cold or flu remedy. The other health benefits of Cloves are as temporary herbal remedy to toothache because it contains anti-inflammatory properties to help you dealing with the pain until you see the dentist. Furthermore, cloves also could be used diabetes treatment because it contains certain properties that could help optimizing the insulin production to help regulating blood sugar level.
The locals called yellow turmeric as kunyit and this spice has a lot of benefits to human health because it contains powerful anti-bacterial properties that makes yellow turmeric is popular among herbal plants used as traditional medicine. Yellow turmeric is also used as home remedy for baby who is suffering from flu, mothers usually rubbing the yellow turmeric to baby’s nose area (between eyes) to relieve the flu and make the baby sleep tightly.
The health benefits of aloe vera could be endless but among them, aloe vera is so rich of vitamin C, dietary fiber and also excellent source of powerful antioxidants that contribute to the improvement of immunity system and detoxification. As rich of fiber, aloe vera is great for digestion while vitamin C makes aloe vera is excellent for skin health.
As mentioned above, the health benefits of cardamom could be endless but among those lists cardamom is well known for its ability to treat dysentery and some stomach problems. It also could help easing up digestion and improve bowel movement. Cardamom is also natural remedy to acidity. For oral health, cardamom could be used to treat toothache up to sore throat even fighting bad breath.
This herbal plant has been used by Indonesian since ancient time in the form of concoction. The main health benefit of java tea is to deal with urination conditions. It has been believed to be excellent solution to treat urinary stones caused by excessive minerals in the urinary track. However, it is not the only benefit of java tea, actually drinking concoction of java tea could help managing blood sugar level as well as hypertension.
The main health benefits of curcuma is great for kidney and liver health. Furthermore, the potassium content found in curcuma is quite high and make this herb is great for heart health as well. However, as jamu, don’t expect curcuma to taste great, instead it is very bitter. That’s why a lot of people are combining curcuma with gingger and sugar cube to improve its taste.
Not only the fruit, all parts Averrhoa bilimbi are useful as traditional medical herbs like the leaves, stems and even the flowers. This herbal plant has been used to treat conditions like rheumatism due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The locals use this herbal plant to deal with bleeding gum and toothaches.
Surely you have known that when it comes to Indonesian herbs and the health benefits, the list could be endless. However, the seven herbs mentioned above are top eight herbs widely and easily cultivated in Indonesia. The best thing about those herbal plants is to plant them, there is no such condition required. Just simply plant them in your back yard; they could grow easily because most of regions in Indonesia are gifted with fertile soil in where you could grow almost anything.