The Wonders of Nature: Noni Fruit as a Treatment for Stomach Pain according to Usadha Tiwang

In Balinese Hindu society, there is a rich scientific heritage of medicinal traditions, which have been perpetuated and passed down through the generations. This knowledge is enshrined in a form known as Usadha, creating a precious legacy that combines local expertise of the environment and surrounding herbs with time-tested knowledge. Usadha involves a range of specialized medicinal purposes such as, treatment of childhood illnesses, leprosy, anxiety, and various other health issues. Among the various types of Usadha, there is an Usadha called Usadha Tiwang, which specializes in curing illnesses with symptoms of body aches, pain, anxiety, muscle stiffness, and fainting.

Usadha Tiwang does not simply heal the physical symptoms of illness, but goes deeper by creating a holistic balance between the three main aspects of human life: the body (sthula sarira), the mind (suksma sarira) and the soul (antahkarana sarira). The healing process involves trying to balance these three dimensions, and that is what makes Usadha Tiwang so unique. In its quest to achieve this balance, Usadha Tiwang practitioners apply specific treatments and remedies that are documented in detail in the Usadha's teachings. Each step in the treatment process is geared towards supporting holistic healing, creating harmony between body, mind, and spirit, which in turn brings healing to individuals in need of relief from ailments that affect not only the physical but also the psychological well-being of a person.

There is a knowledge of traditional medicine that has been passed down from generation to generation in the Balinese Hindu community. This knowledge is recorded in the form of Usadha. Usadha has many medicinal purposes such as treating children's diseases, leprosy, anxiety, and so on. One of the Usadha that focuses on the field of healing diseases with symptoms of body aches, pain, anxiety, muscle stiffness, and fainting is Usadha Tiwang. The healing of diseases through Usadha Tiwang is done by balancing the conditions between physical conditions (sthula sarira), mind (suksma sarira), and soul (antahkarana sarira). The balance of the body, mind, and soul can be achieved through the care and treatment written on the Usadha Tiwang. 

Picking of Noni Fruit (photo source: personal collection)

In the traditional Usadha system of Balinese medicine, there are various home-made ingredients that are considered to have healing abilities. These include arak, sugar, salt, coconut milk and a host of other ingredients. These ingredients can then be mixed with certain herbs, such as turmeric, ginger, cloves, noni, and various other medicinal plants that are believed to have the ability to cure an illness according to the guidelines found in Usadha Bali. The selection of the above medicinal materials is not chosen based solely on their availability around the house, but also on the belief in their ability to cure common ailments. Each ingredient has a specific role and use in a person's healing period, and the right combination can create a synergistic and sustainable effect that can increase the overall effectiveness of the treatment. Through the utilization of ingredients that are easily found around the house, Usadha Bali makes it easy for a person to take care of their health along with curing an illness experienced by them or their family members.

According to I Gusti Ngurah Agung Mangku, a spiritual leader at Kresek Temple, Gianyar, Bali, Tiwang Leyak disease, which is characterized by symptoms of abdominal pain, a feeling of being stretched, difficulty breathing, and difficulty swallowing, can be treated by using a combination of certain herbs. He recommends several herbal ingredients that are considered effective in treating this disease. First, the inner contents of a noni fruit, which is known as an herbal plant with healing properties in accordance with Balinese beliefs. Then, salt, which is believed to be used due to its properties that can help regulate electrolyte balance in the body. Next, cinnamon, which is believed to be a traditional medicinal plant with various health benefits, and garlic, which is believed to have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

The selection of these herbal combinations may be based on the belief in the healing properties of each ingredient, and their use can create a synergistic effect that is expected to help overcome the symptoms of Tiwang Leyak disease. The entire selection of herbal combinations mentioned by the interviewees is the result of hereditary knowledge and traditions that have become an important part of the heritage of Usadha medicine in Bali. This shows the expertise and care in the use of herbs in the process of implementing treatment according to traditional rules in Bali, where a combination of natural ingredients that can be found around the house can be carefully selected to achieve the desired healing results.

Interview with I Gusti Ngurah Agung Mangku (photo source: personal collection)

The herbal combination described by the resource person needs to be prepared in accordance with the Usadha Tiwang rules. The application of Usadha Tiwang can be done by formulating the herbs in the following way. 

First, prepare all the herbs to be used, including noni, salt, cinnamon, jangu, and garlic. Take the noni fruit, then cut it to get the inside of the noni fruit. Take cinnamon the size of one finger and place it together with the noni that has been cut before. Take 3 peeled garlic cloves along with the herbal root plant and place it along with the noni fruit and cinnamon. Add two tablespoons of salt to all the herbs that have been prepared. Prepare two glasses of water placed in a container with medium heat, then boil the entire mixture that has been prepared. Wait for the two glasses of water to shrink to one glass. Let it cool and drink twice a day.