Exploring the Benefits of Pomelo as a Treatment for Swelling in Balinese Usadha

The word usadha comes from the Sanskrit word ausadhi, which means plants that contain medicinal properties. The term usadha is frequently used in everyday life in relation to treating the sick, so it is a familiar term for the Balinese people. In some regions, this word has undergone changes and has become wisada, ubad, tamba, or obat

Usadha Bali encompasses a wide range of knowledge. The source of Usadha Bali's knowledge comes from lontars (palm-leaf manuscripts) passed down by the ancestors of the Balinese people. Many lontars serve as sources of knowledge in usadha Bali, such as Lontar Usadha Budha Kecapi, Usadha Kalimo Usadha, Taru Pramana, Usadha Dalem, and others.

In Lontar Usadha Dalem, many plants are mentioned as having the properties to cure various diseases. One such plant mentioned in Lontar Usadha Dalem is the pomelo. The pomelo (Citrus maxima), also known as Jeruk Bali, is the largest species of citrus. The distribution of pomelo plants in Indonesia includes areas such as Bali, West Java, Sulawesi, East Java, and West Kalimantan. In addition to Indonesia, pomelo can also be found in several Southeast Asian countries.

Pomelo Tree (Photo Source: Private Collection)

In Lontar Usadha Dalem, pomelo is believed to have properties to treat swelling. Swelling is a condition where a part of the body enlarges or expands abnormally. Many factors contribute to the appearance of swelling, and it is often accompanied by pain. Swelling can be caused by inflammation, fluid accumulation under the skin, infection, and other factors.

To make a medicine for swelling using pomelo, several ingredients are required. According to Lontar Usadha Dalem, the necessary ingredients include pomelo fruit, kalundian root, kepundung root, kusambi root, kepah root, peso-peso, galangal, kitchen charcoal, vinegar, and coriander.

Ingredients for Swelling Medicine (Photo Source: Personal Collection)

Processing and Usage of the Swelling Medicine:

1. Wash All Ingredients
Before processing the ingredients into medicine, they must be thoroughly washed to maintain their hygiene.

2. Grate the Ingredients
Grate the kalundian root, kepundung root, kusambi root, kepah root, kitchen charcoal, and galangal, then collect them in a container.

3. Squeeze the Ingredients
Mix all the grated ingredients with pomelo and peso-peso, then squeeze the mixture thoroughly.

Grated and Squeezed Ingredients (Photo Source: Personal Collection)

4. Boil the Ingredients
After squeezing, the mixed ingredients are boiled to remove the water content. Boiling continues until all the water evaporates from the ingredients.

Boiling Process of the Ingredients (Photo Source: Personal Collection)

5. Cool the Ingredients
Once the water content has evaporated, remove and let the ingredients cool down.

6. Application of the Medicine
The swelling medicine made from pomelo is applied by blowing it onto the affected area. The processed ingredients are chewed until they become mushy and then blown onto the swollen area. Before chewing, mix the processed ingredients with vinegar and whole coriander seeds. Take a sufficient amount of the mixture and chew it until it becomes soft. Once it is fully mushy, blow the mixture onto the swollen area. This treatment must be performed continuously until signs of swelling begin to subside.

Boiled Ingredients (Photo Source: Personal Collection)

Pomelo contains beneficial nutrients for health. It is rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins B, vitamins B1, vitamins B2, vitamins B3, vitamins B6, protein, minerals, and more. One of the advantages of pomelo is its antioxidant content. The antioxidants in pomelo have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help the body recover from inflammation or swelling. With its diverse range of nutrients and vitamins, pomelo not only improves overall health but also helps relieve inflammation or swelling.