Bertangas – Iban traditional herbal spa

AS people say, life goes on as usual in most kampungs – and that’s where an interest in ‘bertangas’ has recently been discussed by a group of friends in Miri, who bemoan the fact that many younger Ibans have lost contact with traditional herbal cures, especially the home-based herbal spa.

They are even hoping a few women could get together to initiate a Traditional Indigenous Spa Business or Bertangas Centre, employing very old traditional methods and even a ‘smoking’ treatment  – a legacy from the olden days.

Bertangas is a ‘steam cure’ which many Iban elders would prepare for a sick person in the longhouse.

An elder not feeling well and needing to get rid of ‘wind’ would request for a steam or sauna to alleviate the pain or illness.

This is usually prepared by a woman helping with longhouse healthcare for many years and recognised for her contributions.

She would normally have inherited the ilmu or knowledge from her mother, who would have inherited it from the generations before.

Anyone, both in the longhouse and in the city, who has been exposed to bertangas would immediately think of this medicine woman to help heal them.

When called upon, she would come when she had finished her chores at home and after bathing.

On arrival at the bilik, she would ask about the sickness. If there is enough light, she can immediately go and collect the leaves in preparation for the sauna or bertangas.

A big pot of water and leaves would be boiled. The pot would be placed in front of the patient. A mat would be wound around the patient and to cover this little sauna, a few towels would be placed over the opening at the top.

The patient stays in this little space for as long as he can bear it. The sauna would help him sweat and after half an hour or one hour, he would feel very refreshed.

Forthcoming with contributions

Alexander Isut and his wife Regina, are very forthcoming with their contributions to the discussion.

Regina’s mother used to help sick people get better. Her mother, from the Katibas, with relatives from Lubok Antu and Kapit, was very popular as a healer.

But unfortunately, today, Regina’s mother is too elderly to give any more steaming cures.

Her friend, Madam Enti, remembers the names of the leaves required for bertangas.

Enti has often helped Miri friends with their bertangas at home.

She explained: “The most important time for a woman to be given bertangas is after her confinement as it will help lose the toxins accumulated in her body during pregnancy and after childbirth.

“Many women have a few treatments and a few sessions of bertangas will ensure the new mother will not have headaches for years.

“So the bertangas healer is a very important person in the longhouse community.”

Balanced with forces

An Iban professional who chooses to remain anonymous opined: “Bertangas is actually very spiritual. A sick person usually needs to be become balanced with the forces of the world.

“Perhaps he needs another kind of balance that bertangas can help fulfil. So in the past, this kind of treatment was actually done very carefully with a lot of sincerity and ritual in fact. Once the balance was created, the patient would get well.”

The leaves are berpakak, sireh, serai, daun mamboing, to name a few. The other leaves could be the secret recipe of the healers.

According to Enti, a middle-aged friend actually was considered a “gone case” by the hospital when he was discharged.

In despair, he went home to the longhouse, but Enti’s relative gave him a bertangas. He survived and was soon seen going to his farm. He lived for many years after that.

Another friend, Aunty Flora from Kanowit, also said bertangas had helped many people to improve their health. Many women feeling weak or exhausted often get well after one or two sessions of bertangas.

Jetli Jelian also mentioned bertangas as a very helpful longhouse remedy for anyone suffering from flu and body aches.

He himself has tried betangas several times. He thinks bertangas is better than the commercial sauna because of the healing nature of the leaves used.

“This method of relieving us Ibans in particular of our flu and bodily aches must be documented for the future generation.

“It’s a pity in the past many of our elders only passed down their knowledge orally because they believed people’s memory was very good.

“Today bertangas is no longer a common knowledge and references are hard to make! Not many people can remember the names of the leaves or recognise them – which is a real pity.”

He added that indigenous knowledge was too precious to be forgotten or forsaken, noting that, in fact, in many different cultures, plants and leaves are used by indigenous healers to relieve pains and aches, especially to cure some sicknesses and even save lives.

A report on indigenous cures said: “Plants were prepared as remedies in a number of ways. Leafy branches were often placed over a fire while the patient squatted or knelt on top and inhaled the steam.

“Sprigs of aromatic leaves might be crushed and inhaled, inserted into the nasal septum, or prepared into a pillow on which the patient slept.

“To make an infusion, leaves or barks were crushed and soaked in water (sometimes for a very long time), which was then drunk, or washed over the body.

“Ointment was prepared by mixing crushed leaves with animal fat. Other external treatment included rubbing down the patient with crushed seed paste, fruit pulp or animal oil, or dripping milky say or a gummy solution over them. Most plant medicines were externally applied.”

The turpentine bush (beyeria lechenaultii) has been used. Its leaves are boiled to make a good cure. The kapok tree in Indonesia, and in parts of Sarawak, is very useful. Its bark and flowers can be boiled to make a good tea.

Lemon grass is one of the most common indigenous cures for many ailments. The Indigenous people boil the leaves to make a “wash” or antiseptic.

Helps blood circulation

It also helps blood circulation, and many believe lemon grass helps reduce swelling after child birth if taken as a tea. The heat from the herb will also help when used as a steam.

Tea tree is very effective. Its leaves are boiled for cleansing and bathing for hundreds of years. Today, tea tree leaves are commercially prepared for treatment of acne, skin problems and itchiness.

The river gum’s leaves are also boiled to generate steam and patients inhale the steam and get cured.

Kaffir lime leaves, when used in a steaming bath, helps tkeep a woman’s skin taut and smooth. It further helps to get rid of body odour.

Besides the sauna or bertangas, ‘smoking’ is another longhouse cure. About 20 years ago, one of the penghulu’s aunts in Ulu Limbang was struck down by a very unusual virus and relatives had given up hope on her.

Lengki, a relative, recollected: “I was still a teenager back then but I remember it very well.

“It was amazing how a few ladies got together and decided to build a platform for their relative, Mrs Emang.

“Banana leaves were laid on the platform and she was put on top of the leaves. Soon, the heat and the smoke from the fire burning medicinal leaves, started to rise from the fire.

“She laid there throughout the night while her relatives took turn to surround her, literally making a spiritual circle around her. Luckily, there was no rain and the stars were shining above.”

It was a miracle she got well and lived for many more years.

Today, there is still room for indigenous knowledge to be examined. And in fact, there are many different products based on this knowledge, now available in the market for home, and even commercial spas.

Bertangas and “smoking” treatments are already acceptable by urban people, especially if some of their friends have already benefited from them.

Usually these kinds of treatment are made popular by word of mouth. In some cases, they have even saved lives.