Zingiberaceae Rhizome as Traditional Medicine Based on Dayak Linoh, Malay, and Javanese Local Wisdom

Abstract

Zingiberaceae rhizomes have been used in the traditional medicine practices of three ethnic groups; Dayak Linoh, Malay, and Javanese, of the Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia for generations. Althogh, it has been around for a long time, the culture of herbal medicine and knowledge about using Zingiberaceae rhizomes as traditional medicine is still not well documented. This research aims to identify, document, and determine the types, methods of processing, and use of Zingiberaceae rhizomes as traditional medicine. The research methodology was an ethnobotanical survey involving participant observation and interviews with informants in the three tribal communities. The research results showed that the three tribal communities use thirteen (13) species of Zingiberaceae rhizomes as herbal medicine. The most commonly used Zingiberaceae rhizomes were the rhizomes of K. galanga, C. longa, Z. officinale, A. galanga, Z. cassumunar, and C. zedoria, each with a percentage use of 11.54%. The most widely used methods of processing these Zingiberaceae rhizomes were by grinding and boiling. The most widely used mode of application of the Zingiberaceae rhizomes as a traditional medicine was by drinking. Fifteen diseases were reported to be treated using Zingiberaceae rhizomes in these tribal communities. The findings from this study indicated that the three tribal communities studied use the same types of Zingiberaceae rhizomes in their traditional medicine practices, but differ in their method of processing and mode of application of these plants.