RESEARCHERS TO STANDARDIZE HERB MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 8 (Antara) - Researchers are studying the medicinal properties of medical plants to standardize their effectiveness based on scientific evidence, so they can serve as an alternative to chemical drugs that are relatively more expensive.          "This time, herbal medicines are considered to be less effective, as they are not based on scientific evidence. Hence, later on, every plant having medicinal properties will be cultivated by standard," Head of the Bio Technology Program of the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology Chaidir stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (Sept 4).           Herbal medicines, which are more affordable, can replace chemical drugs, especially for treating serious diseases. In addition, herbal medicines could be included in the Indonesian National Health Insurance System (BJS) formulary scheme.           In order to achieve this goal, Chaidir said the research approach should be carried out comprehensively. Medicinal plants, with healing properties, must be cultivated and be standardized, starting from nurseries to planting and post harvest. The extraction must be as prescribed to maintain the quality chain of medicinal raw materials.          Hence, the development and research of herbal medicines will use biosynthetic raw materials that can be mass produced to reduce the use of raw materials directly sourced from forests.

INDONESIA NEEDS TO STUDY THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF ITS PLANTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 11 (Antara) - Indonesia is one of the countries well-known for its herbal medicines used as alternatives to modern prescribed drugs, yet it needs to further study thousands of its herbal plants to reveal their medicinal properties.          The country is believed to have 30 thousand herbal plants, of which only 13 thousands have been used to produce medicinal herbs. But only a handful has been studied and is proven to have healing properties.          Hence, the country should continue to conduct studies on its herbal plants to reveal their healing properties. Many Indonesians prefer to take herbal medicines, locally known as 'jamu,' to avoid side effects of modern drugs, to cure ailments, or just maintain general health and fitness.          Although most of the country's medicinal herbs are yet to receive scientific recognition for their medicinal properties, jamu continues to attract consumers.          For example, in 2010, based on data provided by the Health Ministry's Research and Development Center, some 50 percent of the country's population used jamu to treat ailments.          Therefore, herbal medicines are very popular in Indonesia. The country has about 3 thousand kinds of jamu products that have long been used in popular alternative treatments for various health issues.

INDONESIA NEEDS TO PROTECT ITS MEDICINAL HERBS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 26 (Antara) -- Indonesia, a major global producer of medicinal herbs (jamu), needs to protect its jamu products in the face of the free trade area under the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community(AEC).          Indonesia has developed some three thousand types of jamu, herbal medicines believed to contain medicinal properties that can cure diseases since time immemorial. It also serves as an alternative form of medication to modern drugs.          The appeal for protecting Indonesia's jamu products was made by producers in the country at the opening of their Seventh National Meeting at the State Palace on Monday.          According to PT Sido Muncul, one of the country's noted jamu producers, jamu industries hope that the Indonesian government will provide protection in the face of the AEC, which will be implemented at the end of the year.          "In the face of the ASEAN Economic Community, we hope the government will supervise and protect the country's jamu industries," President Director of PT Sido Muncul Irwan Hidayat said at the Presidential Palace on Monday.

INDONESIA'S HERBAL MEDICINES TO GET PATENT RIGHTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 3 (Antara) - Rich in medicinal plants, Indonesia has been studying the healing properties of its medicinal herbs to provide them with scientific recognition and patent rights so that they can be developed commercially.          By studying their healing properties, Indonesia is now in the process of providing its 'jamu' products with scientific recognition and patent rights that can increase their competitiveness and allow doctors to prescribe them.      Since 2010, experts have been conducting researches on medicinal herbs to ascertain their medicinal properties that can help cure diseases and explore possibilities for including them in doctors' prescription.          The Health Ministry has since carried out a program to 'scientize' Indonesian medicinal herbs to make them as scientifically credible as modern drugs and internationally acceptable.          Now, the government will give patent rights to its herbal medicines, which have been scientifically recognized as having credible healing powers.

RI NEEDS TO WIN GLOBAL MARKET FOR ITS HERBAL PRODUCTS

Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 9 (Antara) - Owning about 7 thousand varieties of medicinal plants, Indonesia has a great potential in tapping overseas market for its herbal medicines and herbal-based cosmetics products.          Indonesia has at least 3 thousand types of herbal medicines, locally known as "jamu." Jamu has long been used as a popular alternative treatment in Indonesia for various health concerns.        Besides being used to produce jamu, Indonesia's medicinal plants are also used to produce herbal-based cosmetics.          About 75 percent of the cosmetics products sold domestically are herbal based. Herbal medicines and cosmetics are local products that have a great potential to win global markets. Moreover, in recent years, Indonesia's cosmetics exports have continued to increase.          Indonesia's cosmetics exports in 2012 had increased to Rp9 trillion, threefolds of that in the previous year, which stood at Rp3 trillion. Domestic sales also rose to Rp11.2 trillion in 2013, up from Rp9.7 trillion in 2012.          Pharmaceutical expert Prof. Edi Meiyanto of the Yogyakarta-based Gajah Mada University stated that all sides, particularly those concerned with the issuance of regulations, need to support efforts of widening the market zones of herbal medicines and cosmetics.

INDONESIA BOOSTS MEDICINAL PLANT DEVELOPMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 19 (Antara) - Rich in medicinal herbs, Indonesia, like China and other countries where herbal medicines are a popular alternative to conventional medicine, is boosting the cultivation of medicinal plants.          Indonesia has at least 3,000 types of herbal medicines, locally known as "jamu." Jamu has long been used as a popular alternative treatment in Indonesia for various health concerns.          Although most of the country's medicinal herbs have yet to receive scientific recognition of their medicinal properties, jamu attracts consumers who wish to avoid the side effects of modern prescription drugs.           Based on data provided by the Health Ministry's Research and Development Center, about 50 percent of the country's population in 2010 used jamu for healing their health complaints.          Therefore, the government, particularly the Ministry of Forestry, is encouraging the cultivation of medicinal plants in forest areas and the development of the medicinal herb industry as a whole.          "I am convinced that the medicinal plant forest development concept will help boost the herbal medicine industry, which could boost income, provide informal education, and ensure the conservation of Nature and the prosperity of the locals," Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday.

DOCTORS LIKELY TO PRESCRIBE MEDICINAL HERBS

BY Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 22 (ANTARA) - Experts are now conducting a research on medicinal  herbs to ascertain they contain medicinal properties that can help  cure  diseases, while the possibility to include them in doctor's prescription is still a topic of discourse.          "The idea was also discussed at a health ministry's national working meeting in Batam recently. However, many things still need to be considered before it can be implemented," the head of East Java's health office, Dr. Dodo Anondo, said.           The Health Ministry  is currently conducting a program to  scientize Indonesian medicinal herbs or 'jamu' in order to make them as scientifically credible as modern drugs and  internationally acceptable.          Medicinal herbs have been used  in Indonesia since time immemorial to heal different kinds of diseases, yet they have not gained recognition, at least until recently, by the medical world to put them on doctor's prescriptions.          Aware of the effectiveness in curing  diseases and the economic potential of at least 3,000 kinds of medicinal herbss in Indonesia, the government is now launching a program to study and scientize medicinal herbs.

NOW DOCTORS PRESCRIBE HERBAL MEDICINES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 18 (ANTARA) - Since time immemorial, herbal medicines have been used by forefathers in Indonesia to heal different kinds of diseases, yet they have not gained recognition, at least until recently, by the medical world to be recommended in doctor's prescriptions.          Seeing the healing power and economic potential of at least 3,000 kinds of herbal medicines in Indonesia, the government is now however preparing 12 hospitals throughout the country to open herbal clinic services where doctors can prescribe herbal medicines for their patients.          This is a government effort to promote herbal medicines in Indonesia as a complementary healing to modern medication. "Thus, herbal medicines have now become alternatives at hospitals for the people to cure their diseases," Chairman of the Indonesian Herbal Medical Association (PDHMI) Hardhi Pranata said recently.          The 12 hospitals where the government is now preparing to open clinic services for patients willing to use herbal medication included the Cipto Mangunkusomo general hospital (RSCM), the Dharmais hospital, the Persahabatan hospital in Jakarta, the Sardjito hospital in Yogyakarta, the Hasan Sadikin hospital in Bandung, West Java, the Dr Soetomo hospital in Surabaya, East Java, and the Shangla hospital in Bali.