On Sunday, 3 August 2025, SUNTROPiS 2025 international participants took part in a meaningful cultural and educational visit to the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mulawarman University. The activity introduced students to Indonesia’s rich traditions in herbal medicine and natural body care through hands-on learning experiences.
The visit began with a warm welcome from faculty members and student facilitators. Participants then joined an engaging session on jamu, Indonesia’s traditional herbal remedy. In this session, they learned to prepare a type of jamu known as jamu infusa, which is made by boiling natural ingredients in water to extract their beneficial properties. The ingredients used included Curcuma longa (turmeric), Phyllanthus niruri (meniran), honey, and mineral water. The turmeric and meniran were boiled in hot water until their essence was fully released, then sweetened with honey to create a warm, soothing herbal drink with health-boosting effects.
After the jamu activity, students participated in a natural skincare workshop. They made their own cream body scrub using coffee grounds and freshly grated coconut as exfoliators. These were carefully mixed into a cream base, resulting in a nourishing scrub that is both gentle on the skin and environmentally friendly. This hands-on experience introduced students to traditional beauty treatments using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients.
Throughout the session, international participants showed great enthusiasm, asked thoughtful questions, and shared similar practices from their home countries. The event fostered a dynamic exchange of culture and knowledge while encouraging appreciation for Indonesia’s natural health traditions.
At the end of the visit, each student brought home a bottle of their own jamu infusa and a jar of their handmade cream body scrub. These personalized items served as meaningful souvenirs from a day filled with learning, cultural discovery, and community. The visit to the Faculty of Pharmacy was one of the highlights of the SUNTROPiS 2025 program and left participants with lasting impressions of Indonesia’s rich herbal heritage.
Reporter: Intan Wulandari Eulies Setyawati
