The Healer: Legendary Traditional Massage in Jakarta

Jamal Ramadhan (kumparan.com, Jakarta)

That day, a house in South Jakarta seemed crowded. People queue to receive treatment on fractured bone and dislocation. Haji Naim practice started in 1960, people from different social class come seeking treatment. “I came from Tangerang. I know this place from a friend and have couple times taken people to this place” said Faris (29) after receiving massage on his fractured left finger.

Haji Naim is the first massage therapist and continued doing so until he passed away. His children started to learn the massage treatment in Cimande area, Bogor in order to continue the treatment practice at the house. There are many patients healed after receiving massage, making the name of Haji Naim Practice become a legend in Jakarta.

The practice opened everyday, from 5.30 AM until 11 PM. Except every Thursday at 6-9 PM when the therapists conduct Quran citing, therefore the practice is temporarily closed. The treatment here use a specific oil from Cimande area and fracture support made from bamboo.

According to one of the successor, Kosasih (50), many patients coming after having diagnose from hospital and continue their treatment here, because of its hassle-free procedure in administration and people can pay what they can afford . “Each day, a hundred to two hundred patients come to get treatment. In Saturday and Sunday, it could reach three hundred,” said Kosasih.

The practice provide modest in-patient room with several beds and pillows for patients with severe fractures condition. The practice never change much, in term of place and the treatment process. Although there more modern innovations in medical treatment, this practice remains popular and most preferred.

Many patients come bringing the Rontgen photo from hospital or orthopedic clinic. “I bring the rontgen photo, to enable the therapist to see the bones condition. Would be terrifying if he misplaced the treatment” said Heri (34), a patient from Bekasi. Patients scream in agony blend with smiling of healed patients, jokes and solidarity among patients and therapist, is part of the journey of Haji Naim Massage Practice. The humility has become the identity of the treatment practice from the beginning until today.