West Papua food, tools, clothes, and homes are made from materials found in the forest, and when they got sick, local doctors would treat them with mixtures of medicinal herbs from West Papua. While some of the herbs are solely known to the local Papuans, others are more well-known. The plants are even being grown outside the island.
The Origins of Medical Herbs from West Papua
In 1800-1950, beriberi, venereal disease, leprosy, and the Spanish flu appeared. The construction of hospitals and pharmacies in Papua occurred from 1950-1969. Malaria control measures emerged because almost the entire coast was affected by malaria. Residents from coastal areas are not allowed to go to the mountains or must be quarantined for a week before going to the mountains.
A local government program produced a booklet on using local plants for daily nutrition books that people could plant around the house between 1969 and 1980. There are 1000’s of plants that can be used as medicinal herbs in West Papua.
Communities question how to protect local knowledge. People are reluctant to become research informants on medicinal plants because they do not understand what research benefits are for them.
It is no longer possible to recognize many medicinal plants since they are no longer in use. Forests are damaged due to oil palm plantations being converted into oil palm plantations, resulting in the loss of some medicines.
Herbal Medicines Growing in Papua’s Forests
More than 20,000 plant species, 602 bird species, 125 animal species, and 223 reptile species call the West Papua woods, which make up more than 38% of Indonesia’s primary forests, home. For the Papuan natives, the forest has been an essential component.
When they got sick, local doctors treated them with mixtures made from various woodland plants, and they used food, tools, clothes, and homes made from forest materials. While some of the medicinal herbs from West Papua are solely known to the local Papuans, others are more well-known and are beginning to be grown outside of the island of New Guinea.
Buah Merah
Buah Merah, or Red fruit, describes the fruits of the Pandanus plant. The fruit weighs 3 kilograms and has a long, oval form that may reach a length of 55 cm. Its diameter ranges from 10-15 cm.
Some varieties exhibit vivid crimson hues when mature, although brown and yellow types are also prevalent. The plant may be found throughout the island, from Baliem Valley’s high area to Manokwari’s lowlands.
The Merah Panjang (long red) variety is the cultivar utilized in traditional medicine. In fact, the numerous cultivars have a sizably high market value in West Papua. People typically consume this fruit when celebrating Bakar Batu. Locals use fruit juice as traditional medicinal herbs from West Papua. They use it to treat parasitic worms and skin diseases, avoid eye issues, and boost stamina.
Red fruit eating is also said to prevent cancer, preserve eye health, be anti-inflammatory, and assist lower LDL cholesterol levels.
Akway Wood
Several kinds of shrubs of the Winteraceae family go by the name “Akway.” Akway wood refers to the dried bark of the plant. Akway is a native of Manokwari, West Papua, where at least three species of Tasmannia (Tasmannia Beccariana GIBBS, Tasmannia Piperita HOOK, and Drimys winteri WINE) have been recognized.
During a lengthy voyage, Arfak people will boil Akway the bark, chew the softened bark, or sip the liquid as herbal tea. This tradition is to promote stamina. West Papuans have frequently used the tea to ease joint pain and menstruation discomfort. Elda Kristiani Paisey, a lecturer at the University of Papua’s Faculty of Agriculture, Akway has several chemical components that boost men’s virility.
Sarang Semut
Although the Indonesian word for this plant, Sarang Semut, means “anthill,” it is not a genuine anthill. This Indonesian term refers to several plants from the Southeast Asian native genus Myrmecodia of the Rubiaceae family.
The epiphytic plant Sarang Semut, whose cross-section resembles an ant tunnel, got its name from the unusual evolutionary characteristic that causes it to build a tunnel system inside its vast, tuberous stems. 15 of the 26 species found in Indonesia are dispersed over Papua and West Papua.
People also marketed Sarang Semut as a therapeutic herb more than the other plants mentioned above. The dried stems are commonly accessible in marketplaces and online retailers. Additionally, there are capsules created from crushed, dried branches. It is possible to make herbal tea from dried stems and consume them raw.
Wrapping Up
The consumption of these medicinal herbs from West Papua offers several health advantages. The plant’s high flavonoid content aids in reducing carcinogenic activity and preventing the growth of cancer cells. Additionally, it can help boost insulin production, lowering the risk of diabetes. The plant’s flavonoids, tocopherol, and other antioxidants also function as xanthine enzyme inhibitors that are beneficial for treating rheumatism.
