Indonesian herps in Traditional medicine
The following information is provided so we can look at some of the strange uses for reptiles in Asia. I found the following information in a local book series. There is no way that I am going to encourage any use described on this page and I have no way of confirming any of the claims made! I suspect they are simply translations from Chinese traditional medicine manuals as the other species mentioned are not Indonesian species. They do, however, list books on Indonesian traditional medicine etc. in their reference list. Please forgive any errors as I'm not used to translating traditional medicine recipes! (If you feel that you can correct me, please let me know)
Part of body used for medicine: all parts (dried). Good quality is when the lizard is fat and the tail is not crushed. Lately, there has been fake geckos prepared as replacement. This type is unacceptable as medicine.
Pharmacology: Ethyl sublimated material of this gecko can prolong breeding behavior in mice; in mice with their ovaries removed, it creates the desire to breed; increases the weight of the ovaries of normal mice. Ethyl-sublimated tokay targets the prostate gland and will increase testosterone level.
Processing method: The tokay is cleaned. Those with no tails are discarded. The material is then cut into little pieces. The material is then put in black rice wine and heated until dry. Sometimes after it is dry only the tail is used.
Part of body used for medicine: venom and meat.
Pharmacology: Cobra venom can be used as pain-reliever. At a dosage of 0.168 mg/kg its pain-relieving power is 3-4 times that of morphine at a dossage of 1 mg/kg. Does not induce dependence. Very effective against neural pains, malignant tumors, heart problems, neural problems and leprosy. Can have beneficial effects for Parkinson's disease.
Function in traditional medicine: Relieves blood vessel restrictions, relieves pains of rheumatism and arthritis etc.
Use: 0.3 kg of snake meat in 0.18 kg of wine. Drink the liquid.
Python molurus bivitattus (Burmese Python)
Part of body used for medicine: gall bladder.
Function of python gall bladder in traditional medicine: to dry dirty fluids from body, kill parasites, brightens vision, cures belly aches caused by worms, cures neural problems, haemorrhoids, cataracts. In the ancient book it is noted that powdered python is good for wounds. Powder is put in wine or water and drank. As topical treatment: used as a cream. Other uses: skin ulcers (gall bladder mixed with civet cat musk), periodontitis ( used with almonds), haemorrhoids (used topically with olive oil).
Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill Turtle)
Part of body used for medicine: scales and meat.
Function of scale in traditional medicine: antipyretic, detoxification, clears chicken pox, tumors etc.
Function of cooked meat in traditional medicine: cures neural disorders, tonic, pneumonia etc.
References:
Nugroho, E. , I. Whendrato, I.M. Madyana & Eko Kusumo N. (1994): Satwa berkhasiat pengobatan. Eka Offset, Semarang, 2: 71-75, 93-100, 4: 96-101.
Notes:
In late July 1997 I was fortunate enough to visit a couple of places in Java that were used as holding facilities for the reptile-skin trade and reptile-as-medicine trade. Among the species I saw were: Gekko gecko (Tokay gecko), Naja naja sputatrix (Spitting Cobra), Ptyas mucosus (indo-Chinese Ratsnake), Ptyas korros (Lesser Indo-Chinese Ratsnake), Elaphe radiata (Copperhead Racer), Xenopeltis unicolor (Sunbeam Snake), Amyda cartilaginea (Common Asian Soft-shelled Turtle), Rana cancrivora (Edible Frog) legs and a few Python reticulatus (Reticulated Python), Varanus salvator (Asian Water Monitor), Elaphe flavolineata (Malay Black-Tailed Racer) . It was horrifying to see so many reptiles and amphibians dead or destined for slaughter. The numbers they quoted were so high that it would fill the whole world's pet trade demand in one month!
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ver. 3 Aug 97