Iban Beliefs : Healing plants and medicinal oils for New Mothers

All these plants are very relevant for the new mother in the long house. If the new mothers are residing in the town or city, they might find it difficult to get them.

Daun Mambong - for bathing. The Chinese sin seh have already packaged them for the urbanites. So you might be able to buy the leaves in Chinese medicine shops. Ask for leaves for confinement bathing.




Pucuk Paku Uban - eating this is good for the new mothers to encourage lactation.


Minyak entemut/kunyit






Pound the entemut or wild kunyit and add some oil, for a refreshing massage. Good for blood circulation for new mothers.



Halia Merah - use this for cooking chicken for new mothers.

Oil infused with the wild red ginger is good for blood circulation too.






The Indonesians also believe in the use of red ginger as a good nourishing confinement dish.