ASIAN JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY Volume 2, Number 2, November 2019 E-ISSN: 2580-4510 Pages: 41-47 DOI: 10.13057/asianjethnobiol/y020201 Bakera: tradition of medicinal plants utilization for therapy, prevention and recovery of diseases in Jailolo Sultanate custom society, Indonesia SITI AISYAH SYAHDAR1,♥, M. NASIR TAMALENE2, SAID HASAN2 1Program of Biology Education, Universitas Khairun. Jl. Kampus II Gambesi, Ternate 97719, Maluku Utara, Indonesia. Tel/fax: +62-285-110-442-939, email: [email protected] 2Departement of Biology Education, Universitas Khairun. Jl. Bandara Babullah Kampus 1, Ternate 97728, Maluku Utara, Indonesia Manuscript received: 20 March 2019. Revision accepted: 20 October 2019. Abstract. Syahdar SA, Tamalene MN, Hasan S. 2019. Bakera: tradition of medicinal plants utilization for therapy, prevention and recovery of diseases in Jailolo Sultanate custom society, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 2: 41-47. Indonesia is well-known as the source of tropical plants that are very useful for treating various diseases. In addition, there are also various traditional knowledge of herbal utilization in many societies. The people of eastern part in North Maluku Utara Province, the Jailolo Sultanate Society of Halmahera Island, which consists of four original tribes: Gamkonora, Tobaru, Sahu, and Wayoli, still use traditional medicine to treat diseases. Their tradition called “Baker” is similar to the ‘Spa’ in modern urban societies. Bakera as one of local geniuses in medical field has become entrepreneurial interest, especially for those running the spa business. Medically, plants used in Bakera have been proven to have positive effects on health. This data may enrich other data on the wealth and diversity, as well as knowledge on medicinal plants of Indonesian communities. The research used emic and etic approaches. Data was analyzed descriptively, data presentation, data reduction and data verification, data validity check. Informants of the research were eight people, selected using Purposive Sampling Technique. Bakera can be used in postpartum treatment as well as to treat sore, malaria and liver. As a whole, the use of nine different plant species for Bakera consists of medicinal and spice plants. There are three plant species found that often cultivate in the yard. Bakera has thermotherapy and aromatherapy effects that contribute to Bakera effectiveness. Thermotherapy could pacify muscle tension, lose weight, increase blood circulation, reduce tension headache, autoimmunity, and relaxation. In addition, plants used have immunostimulant, antiseptic, and antiphlogistic effects. Keywords: Bakera, ethnic, Gamkonora, Halmahera, medicinal plants, Sahu, Tobaru, Wayoli INTRODUCTION societies, as well as the increasing health expenses. As a result, traditional medication becomes one of the alternatives by Societies in developing countries are highly relied on people who looking for solving those problems. local natural resources, including especially wild medicinal Supported by available natural resources, as well as plants, to fulfill their needs on daily basic health treatment inherited knowledge of traditional medication, the interest (Quave and Pieroni 2014). The diversity of traditional keeps growing among the Jailolo Sultanate indigenous medicine is due to the diversity of human societies, society in Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province, languages, as well as cultures, combined with local Indonesia. Among methods in traditional potion processing ecological diversity Novy (1997); Ndoye and Eyebe (1997). used by peopole including squeezed, fresh-consumed, Utilization of medicinal plants has been practiced done boiled, mashed, and vaporization. Jailolo Sultanate by many ethnic communities in Indonesia. Each ethnic has indigenous society uses herbal material both in fresh its own knowledge on how to make use of various condition, as well as after being dried. medicinal plants. This is a priceless asset, especially for the There are two ways of processing medicine from plants, development of medical and pharmaceutical industry either boiled and squeezed or mashed. While there are three (Noorcahyati 2012). In human civilization, plants as ways of serving it: drink it, rub it on body, or wash it with medicine materials have been utilized since the era of water. Drinking potion is usually a treatment for inner body gathering. It is inherited from previous generations and part diseases, while the other two are for outer body part lasts until present day, practiced by modern society. Local treatments (Kusuma and Zaky 2005). knowledge is every generation’s heritage. This knowledge One unique method of traditional herbal medication is usually owned by those called as traditional healer (the practiced by the Jailolo Sultanate indigenous society is the hattra) who considered as being consistent in preserving Bakera or vaporization. Bakera is a treatment commonly and practicing local knowledge on how to utilize various used by four ethnicities under the Jailolo Sultanate, namely plants to create many traditional potions. However, many Gamkonora, Tobaru, Sahu, and Wayoli, who live in West rural societies have now been more familiar with modern Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province. This is the medication and chemical medicines. most common treatment for women to keep them fit and The growing interest in traditional medication cannot be fresh during their post-maternal phase. Its method is similar separated from the growing complexity of diseases among to sauna and uses aromatic herbs. 10 ASIAN JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY 2 (2): 41-47, November 2019 Sukenik et al. (1999) stated that sauna is good for (Alexander 2002; Reichling and Saller 2003, Suwanti et al. blood circulation. Minerals contained in the potion 2018). penetrates through the skin pores. Sauna has many Inhaling aromatherapy is considered as the fastest and therapeutic functions including decrease blood pressure, most direct healing method. That is because the easy-to- improve lung function, ease asthma and bronchitis, relief evaporate-molecules of essential oil directly react to pain, as well as improve joints mobility in rheumatic olfactory organs, and then resulting in brain perception treatment (Hannuksela and Ellahham 2001). Sauna is also (Sustrani 2004). good for respiration system, cardiac disease, hypertension, Utilization of medicinal plants is a long-lasting depression, pain reliever, auto-immunity, as well as tradition. Traditional knowledge or local genius of Jailolo relaxing fatigue (Crinnion 2011). Sauna is good as a Sultanate indigenous society in utilizing natural resources, relaxation method since it can improve blood circulation especially medicinal plants, is a cultural treasure that needs and relieve pain. Aroma of the herbal potion used in sauna to be preserved. As such, Indonesian authentic knowledge can also deliver a sedative effect (Taavoni et al. 2013). will not be eliminated from civilization, and so the Essential oil contained in plants used in sauna could medicinal plants will be used as, the way of utilization by evaporate, thus can stimulate memory and emotional the Jailolo Sultanate indigenous society. The research aims response. Apart inside the brain, called the hypothalamus to discover traditional knowledge of Jailolo Sultanate will deliver messages through the whole part of the body, indigenous society in utilizing medicinal plants to prevent which in turn would be converted to actions in the form of (preventive), treat (curative), and recover (rehabilitative) releasing particular compounds that can make our body diseases. become relaxed. Relaxation can make the muscle become relax as well, thus reduces the production of adrenaline hormone, which in turn decreases blood pressure MATERIALS AND METHODS (Werdyastri et al. 2014). Aromatherapy from essential oils can easily infiltrate The research was conducted from March to November into blood circulation and then excreted through urinal 2018 at three sub-districts in West Halmahera Regency system or exhalation (Maddocks-jennings and Wilkinson areas, North Maluku. Four villages were selected of the 2004). Aromatherapy can treat diseases, balancing and three sub-districts (Figure 1). relaxing our body, mind, and soul, as well as stimulating The research used a qualitative method with body immune system to cope with various health problems, phenomenology approach using semi-structured interview, such as respiratory diseases, gastroenteritis disease, neural observation, and documentation. Informants were selected disorder, as well as infection of bacteria and fungus through purposive sampling (Figure 2). Figure 1. Map of the study area in Jailolo, West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, Indonesia SYAHDAR et al. – Bakera tradition of medicinal plants utilization 11 Figure 2. Assignment of Research Informants Figure 3. Common process of Bakera The Informants of the research were eight people. The Each informant was asked for information concerning selection wa based on 1) Healing period/level of healing medicinal plants, as well as their utilization and processing practice to represent level of skill and knowledge; 2) method practiced. The identification of plants used in knowledge on medicinal plants utilization, and; 3) already medication was made directly on the field. The have pupils that will inherit their knowledge. Besides identification process was based on plant’s morphological becoming a hattra (traditional healer), informants also characteristics (root, stem, leaf, flower,