The Substance of Cold: Indonesians’ Use of Cold Weather Theory to Explain Everyday Illnesses

Abstract

Many people across the world use cold conditions, such as cold air and wet clothes, to explain everyday illness, such as colds and flu. In Indonesia, the concept masuk angin, or “trapped wind,” appears to reflect this line of folknatural thinking. Interestingly, Indonesians distinguish masuk angin from the common cold, which is a frequent target for “cold weather” explanations in other cultures. We interviewed Indonesian 8- and 10-year-old children, lay adults, and medical expert adults, about the cause, contagiousness, and treatment of everyday illnesses: the common cold, the flu, and masuk angin. Most Indonesian children, and especially adults, believed that cold and flu are caused by germs and are contagious. In contrast, most children and lay adults (but not experts) attributed masuk angin to cold conditions and viewed it as non-contagious. These findings reveal how folknatural and scientific theories of illness coexist in the minds of Indonesian children and lay adults.

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“…Amongst several traditional theories surrounding the common cold is the ‘cold weather theory’, which regards cold, in the context of the absence of heat, to be responsible for the illness. 25 In Indonesia, this belief takes the form of the concept known as Masuk Angin, or literally, trapped wind. 25 The symptoms of Masuk Angin include headache, nausea, fever, mild fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea.…”

“… 25 In Indonesia, this belief takes the form of the concept known as Masuk Angin, or literally, trapped wind. 25 The symptoms of Masuk Angin include headache, nausea, fever, mild fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea. 25 …”

“… 25 The symptoms of Masuk Angin include headache, nausea, fever, mild fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea. 25 …”

“…The concept of Masuk Angin in Indonesia may be related to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) belief that natural forces, including the wind, can disrupt bodily balance, leading to illness. 25 , 26 In TCM, the wind is considered to manifest in the highest and the outer parts of the body such as the face, skin, sweat glands and lungs. 27 When classifying different types of infectious diseases, wind is the medium for transmission and can be ‘passed from one to another’.…”

“…There are several traditional Indonesian treatments for Masuk Angin. 25 Jamu herbal remedies are commonly used to treat Masuk Angin and are readily available in most pharmacies and convenience stores across Indonesia – one remedy even carries the slogan, ‘reject the wind’. 25 Jamu shares many aspects with TCM such as treating ‘hot’ illnesses with ‘cold’ remedies.…”