Jamu is a wellness culture practiced by Indonesians consisting of herbal medicine and traditional treatment methods.
According to a traditional system, jamu helps maintain health, increase immunity, and treat diseases. Today, when Covid-19 is spreading throughout the world, this is very relevant. Mostly the jamu bearers and practitioners are housewives and jamu makers. According to a research report by the Indonesian Ministry of Health in 2010, 59% of Indonesians drink jamu.
The majority of communities interviewed attributed the knowledge of jamu to their parents or grandparents. Others were taught by their neighbors and some were self-taught. According to respondents, most communities teach jamu to their children or family members. The jamu wellness culture is primarily passed down formally within families. There were very few respondents who reported being introduced to jamu by a teacher at school. Some had learned from books. Others felt that those who had learned jamu were responsible. A number of responsibilities were identified, including practicing jamu well, keeping secrets, and passing it on to family or trusted individuals. The study of jamu, however, occurs primarily in universities, particularly in pharmacy faculties, as well as in other institutions, such as Surakarta Health Polytechnic. In general, jamu makers focus on three kinds - beras kencur, kunyit asem, and pahitan.
During these times of pandemics, people from all over the world are conscientiously paying attention to their health. As a result, intangible cultural heritage associated with health and wellness culture would receive greater attention, and so too would intangible cultural heritage. Jamu wellness culture could be made more visible at the national level by being discussed frequently on social media in Indonesia. People would want to know what jamu is, and jamu communities would be enthused and confident. Local and municipal governments have expressed their support for Jamu's nomination.
Several ministries have hosted events for drinking jamu together with the assistance of the PAB, Ibu Putri Kus Wisnu Wardani. A program for drinking jamu will be organized by the government in conjunction with Ibu Suwarsi Moertejo's Jamu Makers' Group. There is a special market built by the Sukotardjo District Government for vendors selling jamu ingredients and homemade jamu. Also, as a symbol of Sukoharjo District, they have erected a statue of a jamu lady. As part of the Ministry of Health's collaboration with Laskar Jamu Gendong Jakarta under the guidance of Ibu Lasmi, regular events are held for drinking jamu together.