TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Traditional medicine is a medical method that has made an important contribution to human health care before the advent of modern medicine. Original traditional medicine is without the use of chemicals like modern medicine. The diversity of nature has been made one of the main sources in traditional medicine methods. This medicine uses many plants and herbs.

The use of plants and herbs has long been a practice in every nation consisting of various ethnic groups, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian or Orang Asli. The use of traditional medicine has also been scientifically proven and this alternative method has many benefits of its own. Along with the development of modern medicine, traditional medicine is now recommended as one of the alternative treatments/complementary treatments to relieve suffering and increase the effectiveness of modern medicine.

As of 2018, traditional medicine that has been declared as National Heritage so far is as follows:-

1.            Bekam

Bekam in Malay terms means removing wind from the body or releasing dirty blood from the body. In Arabic, it is known as al-Hijamah, which is a method of purifying blood or wind by removing toxic waste in the body through the skin by suction. In English, it is known as cupping, the Chinese know it as gua-sha.

Bekam is an alternative medicine that can provide balance to the body. There are several types of cupping practiced in the world such as dry cupping (wind), wet cupping (blood), magnetic cupping, electronic cupping and acupuncture cupping.

2.            Bidan Kampung

In traditional village societies, midwives are women who are experienced in managing pregnant and giving birth women. They know about traditional medicine that uses many herbal plants. In modern times, midwives have been absorbed into modern health services and appointed to positions appointed by the Ministry of Health after receiving midwifery training at nursing schools and are known as government midwives. Midwives who are not appointed by the government are usually known as village midwives. Midwives are important people for ceremonies or problems related to pregnant women, birth, babies, belly walking, riding a swing/endoi, shaving the crown, circumcision for baby girls, managing breech babies, bleeding, miscarriage, infertility and pre- and post-natal massage.

3.            Bomoh Patah

Bomoh refers to traditional healers in the Malay community in the past. Traditional healers in the Malay community are also known as dukun, or pawang. Broken bones are often referred to as bomoh tulang. The Malay community is more confident in the ability of traditional methods compared to modern ones in healing broken bones. In addition to being known as bomoh tulang, they are also known as bomoh patah. The method used is massage on the painful part accompanied by certain readings which are often taken from the Quran.

4.            Main Peteri

Main Peteri or Main Teri is a traditional medical performance popular in the state of Kelantan to treat diseases related to the disturbance of spirits, loss of spirit, problems with internal energy balance and also related to the disturbance of the wind of 'desire' and will. Among the main characters in Main Peteri are Tok Peteri and Tok Minduk and are intermediaries who connect humans with supernatural beings. This medical session is accompanied by musical accompaniment such as rebab, serunai, gong, gendang, geduk, canang, and also kesi. Uniquely, this performance incorporates performance elements such as prayer, dance, singing, acting and incantation.

2.            Ulik Mayang

Ulik Mayang is a medical practice in the state of Terengganu and is a healing process for patients who are disturbed by spirits, whether from the sea or land. This ceremony involves a shaman who acts as a guard and medium of communication between spirits and humans in treating patients. The important ingredients that must be prepared are a betel nut with a lot of flowers in addition to incense to smoke the nut after applying coconut oil. This ceremony is carried out in coastal areas at night. Shamans will not treat patients on Friday nights because it is one of the taboos that must be followed.

3.            Urut Tradisonal

Massage is a traditional treatment in Eastern society. Massage has been known for ages as an alternative in the world of medicine. However, massage should be done by those who are skilled and professional because it can also be harmful if not followed the proper procedure. Traditional Malay massage uses an approach of massaging the entire body and through three techniques, namely while lying down, lying down and sitting cross-legged. All three methods provide relief and tranquility to the patient until healing and restoring blood flow in the body.