Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia)
The roots of Tongkat Ali, a small woody plant when mixed with the oil of Buah Keras and raw rice, serve as an ointment to ease abdominal pain and fever. Often the roots are boiled and administered as a tonic to women after childbirth. The leaves are used to treat cuts and head wounds and when pounded into a paste, can relieve headaches. The bark of the Tongkat Ali root can be brewed and consumed like tea to bring down a high fever. However, Tongkat Ali is probably best known as an aphrodisiac. Wood from the Tongkat Ali is extracted from the deep interior of the montane jungles, processed into capsules and sold on a commercial basis at 100 capsules to a bottle. Orang Asli suppliers claim that the effectiveness of these capsules equals or is superior to that of Viagra, and have the added advantage of being cheaper.
Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila)
It is a herbaceous plant that can be found quite widely in the forest. A decoction made from Kacip Fatimah is given to women in labour to hasten childbirth. After childbirth, it may still be consumed by mothers to help regain strength. The plant is also used to treat gonorrhoea, dysentery and eliminate excessive gas in the body.
