The traditional way in preventing and overcoming health problems among sulfur miners in the craters of Ijen

Abstract

Abstract-Banyuwangi is known as a sulphur producer in Indonesia. Sulphur mining activities in the crater of Ijen is a traditional activity passed from the older age groups to the younger ones, in the community around Ijen crater that has existed since 1968. Work as a sulphur miner is risky because the sulphur gas will later make breathing become congested. Risks that occur due to sulphur mining affect the onset of several diseases. This research is a qualitative research study. The research location was in Ijen crater in the village of Tamansari District of Licin, a Sub-district of Banyuwangi. The data obtained was from observations and interviews. The informants in this study were men aged 20-40 years. The working period was 10-20 years as a sulphur miner. The results of this research show that traditional herbal concoctions are used because the sulphur miners in Ijen crater live side by side with nature and still utilise nature as a means of prevention and treatment of diseases. The sulphur miners use traditional herbal medicine because it is still considered to be effective and practical compared to having to use modern medicine. Traditional herbal concoctions are also considered to be effective and practical because of the limited access to medical facilities due to the long distance that they have to travel to reach a hospital. This reinforces their use of traditional medications for curing and preventing diseases that they usually have from the cold weather and mining activities.