Article from Jamu Lady :
Jamu is a herb drink which can cure minor ailments. It consist mainly of vegetable substances supplemented with dried ingredients. Approximately 150 different plants are may be used - everything from eucalyptus oil, tamarind, turmeric, to acacia and ginger. Spices and sweeteners such as cinnamon, fennel, mint and palm sugar are often added for flavour, as the mixtures can be bitter.
So now you know! ’Jamu’ is used as a cure for minor ailments like colds, headaches, and fatigue. It also alleviates specific problems such as a man’s desire to better satisfy his wife or increase stamina. Jamu might be effective against most minor ailments, skin diseases, it improves sexual performance, it alleviates female problems associated with menstruation, childbirth.
So if you feel under the weather drink some jamu. You will often see the "women with bottles" wandering down the streets carrying a heavy basket of colourful liquid in bottles. This is the ‘jamu lady’. She serves your drink in glasses which she carries along with her home-made brew. You don't know the composition of the jamu, nor do you order specific mixtures.
The jamu lady knows which tonics are intended to alleviate your minor ailments
