For the non-Indonesians in the readership, jamu is a broad term that refers to traditional Indonesian (Javanese in particular?) patent medicine. In days past jamu gendong vendors, exclusively women, would go around door-to-door carrying a basket of jamu bottles on their back (thus, gendong). Alas for us (especially males) (but good for them) they now ply their wares with the aid of bicycles, and as a result there has been an upward trend in the average BMI index of vendors.

Now, as with patent medicines everywhere there are some spectacular claims made about various jamu concoctions. The more traditional ones merely claim to be health drinks, but those offered in commercial packaging would try to pass themselves off as slimming pills, cure erectile dysfunctions, and solve world hunger. I'm kidding about the last item, but it's probably only a slight exaggeration.

Yesterday I saw a jamu advertisement in a local newspaper (Pos Kota, if you must know, and no, I only read it because the barber shop I went to had it and I did not have anything else to read. Amusing, though) that goes something like this:

OTS patent medicine

Scientifically developed by Mr. X (name changed since I can't remember the exact name), in collaboration with local pharmacists (Pharmacists?! Err.. ok.), take this to cure erectile dysfunctions and balance your testosterone levels. Mr. X's charitable gesture is meant to aid fellow countrymen and women in restoring harmonious family lives.. Buy for only Rp. 90,000 (about US$ 9.50) from address or your local pharmacist. Rp. 3,500 extra for delivery within Greater Jakarta and Rp. 12,500 for delivery by post.

The patent medicine carries a Department of Health registration number and, best of all, among its active ingredients list.. estrogen (oestrogen for the more British-oriented).

That just made my day...