Each plant description has an accompanying detailed drawing like the above.
Now swept away by modern medicine, these plants were used by the Borneo people. The indigenous groups and the coastal Malays knew which plants to collect for a wide variety of illnesses. However, the plant is a fickle creature producing its’ cures at various times of the day. The plant is not the same, chemically, as when the sun first strikes it, the noon day passes over head or the last rays of sunshine sink into the sea. Many times the collector will say this plant works for this illness, the orang puith sees with his own eyes that it does and then goes back to his country, cultivates it and finds it does not work at all. It is not only the plants name that is important but even more so, the time of day to collect.
The following plants have been said to have medicinal properties among the people but when to collect the plants is the problem. The knowledge of the plant collectors has been handed down along with time of day. So, don’t go out and whack off a leaf and expect it work. Ask the collector, if he will tell you, when to collect the leaves, roots stems or bark. Also remember the child mortality rate in the longhouses and kampongs were over 50% in the early days.
Below, please find some of the more interesting ones.
Alocasia becarri
Gamba (Bidayuh)
Bomohs use this plant to cure people suffering from coughs. The Bomoh waves the plant over the head of the afflicted while chanting some magical prayers. (okay, maybe you don’t need to know when to collect this one )
Artocarpus elasticus
Malay-Terap; Iban-Tekalong; Bidayuh-Mayuh
The Bidayuh use the inner fibrous for tying any sacred items used during religious occasions. They believe the sticky white latex will bind the evil spirits together if they come to steal their property. Malays ascribe occult powers to the leaves. A simple human figure is drawn on the leaf with white lime. The leaf is hung above the door or above a sleeping baby. It is believed this leaf will prevent the approach of evil spirits.
Cordyline fruiticoasa
Prugat-Bidayuh; Sabang Iban; Daun Jiwang or Nyiwang Malay
The plant is considered sacred by the Bidayuh community. It is used to drive away evil spirits during the Gawai Batu and Gawai Hantu festivals.
The plant is used in the slaughtering of a pig by the Iban. Just before the slaughter, a sacrifice of food is offered. The food is contained in two Tersangs which are made from bamboo trunks. They are split into small strips at one end, spread out and fastened into bell shaped containers. One Sabang is then tied onto the leg or handle of each tersang.
Two Sabang leaves are placed on the side of the throat of the pig which is then slaughtered by cutting through the leaves. The liver is taken out and put in a plate which is placed on a pua kumbu. The liver is covered with two or three Sabang leaves. The plate with liver is passed around for examination by experienced elders.
The Malays use the leaves for Mandi Safar (Day of Purification) which takes place on the last Wednesday of Safar in the Moslem calendar. An Ayat (prayer) is written on the leaf which is then put in the water which is used for bathing. For bathing in the river, the leaf with prayer is put upstream.
Desmodium capitatum
Dendam-Bidayuh
Used for the cure of chicken pox. On the fourth day after the person has concocted the disease, the leaves are collected and boiled in water for thirty minutes. The extract is used as a medicinal bath for the patient.
Dillenia suffruticoasa
Buan-Iban and Bidyuh; Simpoh-Malay
The Bidayuh make a ladder from the wood of this species. It is placed at the altar or longhouse. They believe their gods would climb up this ladder to protect them and their farms from evil spirits.
Homalomena propinqua
Tingon Aud-Bidayuh
Inserted into the padi grains by old women singing religious songs to prevent the padi from being stolen by evil spirits.
Mucuna biplicata
Brading Merading-Bidayuh; Akar Beruru-Iban;Wa-Sia- Malay
The Bidayuh use the extract for healing cuts and wound. They also rub some of the sap on the gums of babies who are teething. The Iban use the juice from the stem as a mosquito repellent. The dry stem is used to sweep off the honey bees from their hives at night.
Polyalthia lapadantha
Karal Semukah Iban; Sinaai-Bidayuh
The Bidayuh use this plant for curing eye sores.
Vernonia arborea
Mupuot Bidayuh; Entupong-Iban
The leaves are used for healing cuts and sores on the skin. The young leaves are pounded thoroughly and the extract from the paste is then squeezed onto the wound.
Linarian bicolor
The Penan use this for curing stomach pain in babies at night. The plant is pounded, wrapped in leaves and warmed over the fire. The warm paste is spread over the stomach.
Flassistigma rigidum
Randau-rarak- Iban
Plant used for fever. The plant is boiled in water and the cooled extract is taken.
Polyalthia cauulifora
Karai-Iban; Balet-Penan
The penan use the plant for birth control. Three sections of the roots, equal in length to the first section of the middle finger of the husband are cut. The sections are laid side by side. The husband will step over them once after which the roots are boiled in water. The husband will drink from the extract only once. The wife must drink from it a few times.
Goniothalamus dolichocarpus
Paku-kelindang-Iban; Paku-rayan-Bidayuh
Use to draw out pus from a boil. Malays also use the fern for similar purposes and also eat them as a vegetable. The Chinese use the plant for urinary complaints.
Ageratum conyzoides
Ruput-puteh-Iban; Serak-semalam-Malay; Suokning-Bidayuh
The leaves are used by the Bidayuh for boils and abscesses. The leaves are used by the Malays for children’s fever. The leaves are pounded together with Rempah nyaman. The paste is rubbed on the child’s stomach twice a day.
Blummea balsamifera
Sembong-Malay; Mambong-Iban; Susuch-Bidayu
Strong aromatic herb. The Bidayuh use this herb for curing fever in infants. For speedy recovery after childbirth, the mother drinks and bathes in the extract. The Chinese have the same extract but it is just used for bathing. The Malays drink it to cure a stomach ache.
Macaranga tanarius
Nenuah-bulu-Malay; Purang-Iban; Menanya-Penan
Use by the Penan for blood in the stool. Used by people in the Moluccas and Philippines for toughening fishnets and as a cure for dysentery.
Dimorophocalayx dentiiculatus
Penan use it for the speedy recovery after childbirth. The Malays on the Peninsula use for sores and relief of constipation. Roots are used for pain in the bones, ulcers, swellings and for an enlarged spleen.
Pangium edule
Kepayang-Iban and Malay; Pae-yang- Penan
Penan use properly prepared seeds to remove poison. It is used for relief of constipation and stomach pain. Ibans feed seeds to enemies pigs as an act of revenge. Properly prepared seeds ie removal of poison, used for cooking and hair cream. Juice from the bark is used to kill worms in the wounds of dogs.
From Ethnobotany part one in the Sarawak Museum Journal by Paul Chai in the Sarawak Museum Journal, 1975 and Ethnobotany part two by Paul Chai Sarawak Museum Journal, December, 1978
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