Teras Kemuning Hitam (Murraya paniculata or Melia excelsa?): A Rare Medicinal Heartwood in Malay and Southeast Asian Ethnomedicine
Introduction
Teras Kemuning Hitam, known locally in Malaysia and parts of Indonesia, refers to a rare, dark-colored heartwood believed to have powerful medicinal and metaphysical properties. It is often confused or interchanged with Kemuning Putih (Murraya paniculata) and sometimes even linked with Melia excelsa or wild Dysoxylum species due to their aromatic wood. In Malay and Javanese traditions, teras kemuning hitam is a highly prized material used not only for healing but also for spiritual protection.
Due to regional variations in naming and classification, Teras Kemuning Hitam does not always refer to a single botanical species, but it is most commonly associated with the heartwood of old-growth Murraya paniculata trees with naturally darkened cores.
1. Scientific Classification (tentative)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Teras Kemuning Hitam |
| Possible Species | Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack or Melia excelsa |
| Family | Rutaceae (for M. paniculata), Meliaceae (for M. excelsa) |
| Plant Part Used | Heartwood (teras), occasionally bark or leaves |
| Habitat | Tropical rainforests, hill slopes in Southeast Asia |
Due to its rarity and high value, much of the Kemuning Hitam used today comes from trees over 50 years old, particularly the naturally blackened core formed from oxidation and age.
2. Etiology (Malay and Cultural Beliefs)
In Malay ethnomedicine, Teras Kemuning Hitam is considered:
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A cooling and calming wood, often used in treating internal “panas badan” (body heat)
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A spiritual protector, believed to ward off negative energy, black magic, or gangguan makhluk halus (spirit disturbances)
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A stabilizer of blood pressure and liver function
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An anti-inflammatory agent, particularly for blood cleansing and joint pain
It is often used in the form of beads, bracelets, or wood chips steeped in water for internal use.
Spiritual etiology: It is believed that the wood’s dark color holds "energetic absorption" properties, grounding bad aura and calming excessive yang or fire energy (Roslan et al., 2019).
3. TCM View (Comparative Analysis)
Teras Kemuning Hitam is not directly mentioned in the classical Chinese Materia Medica; however, Murraya paniculata, its most likely botanical identity, is related to the Qi-regulating and Blood-moving herbs in TCM.
Based on similarities, it may correspond to:
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Properties: Slightly bitter, aromatic, cooling
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Meridians: Liver, Heart, Stomach
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Functions (comparative inference):
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Regulates qi and relieves constraint
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Calms the shen (mind)
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Moves blood and reduces swelling
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Detoxifies and clears internal heat
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In modern Chinese herbal practice, wood-based tonics are less common, but some aromatic heartwoods are used in incenses or infused waters for their calming effects (Chen et al., 2016).
4. Javanese and Nusantara View
In Javanese kejawen and Malay spiritual medicine, Teras Kemuning Hitam is considered both a medicinal and sacred wood. It is often associated with:
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Protection from ilmu hitam (black magic)
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Warding spirits
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Treating excessive anger or emotional heat
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Stabilizing blood pressure
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Improving male vitality (when soaked in water and consumed)
It is also commonly used in spiritual amulets, tasbih beads, or walking sticks for elders.
5. Phytochemical Properties
Due to limited studies specifically on the dark heartwood of Kemuning Hitam, most references are drawn from Murraya paniculata and Melia excelsa species.
Identified Compounds (in Murraya paniculata and relatives):
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Coumarins (murrayin, marmesin): anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant
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Flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol): antioxidant, hepatoprotective
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Alkaloids: mild sedative, blood pressure regulation
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Essential oils: calming, aromatic, antibacterial (Ahmed et al., 2014)
Further phytochemical profiling is needed on the blackened heartwood specifically.
6. Traditional and Modern Uses
Traditional Uses:
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Water infusion (rendaman air): Soaked teras used for high blood pressure, body detox
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Beads or bangles: Worn for grounding, spiritual protection, reducing emotional excess
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Wood shaving decoctions: Mixed with lemongrass and turmeric for liver support
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Burned or fumigated: As ritual cleansing wood (asap penenang)
Modern Applications:
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Handcrafted tasbih and jewelry: Used by spiritual healers and energy practitioners
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Alternative medicine: For detox regimens and emotional calming
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Holistic energy healing: In reiki, urut batin, and TCM-style energy balancing
7. Ongoing and Recent Research
a. Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effects
Studies on Murraya paniculata leaf and bark extract show strong antioxidant activity, suggesting possible liver protective effects (Bandi et al., 2020).
b. Antihypertensive Potential
Traditional usage for blood pressure regulation aligns with studies showing vasodilatory and hypotensive effects in animal models (Manjunath & Naidu, 2013).
c. Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial
Compounds such as murrayin and essential oils display significant antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities (Ahmed et al., 2014).
d. Spiritual Healing and Psychosomatic Impact
Ethnographic studies highlight perceived psychosomatic benefits among users who report emotional grounding, decreased anxiety, and fewer spirit disturbances when using Teras Kemuning Hitam beads (Roslan et al., 2019).
Conclusion
Teras Kemuning Hitam occupies a unique space between ethnomedicine, spiritual healing, and herbal pharmacology. Though under-researched in academic pharmacognosy, its longstanding use in Malay and Javanese cultures highlights its importance for cardiovascular, liver, and spiritual well-being. Future studies should focus on identifying and characterizing the chemical composition of the blackened heartwood and exploring its therapeutic potential through controlled studies.
References data compile by chat GPT
Ahmed, F., Urooj, A., & Somashekar, D. (2014). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Murraya paniculata leaves. Pharmacognosy Journal, 6(5), 19–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phcgj.2014.07.001
Bandi, A., Karunakar, H., & Ghosh, P. (2020). Phytochemical and antioxidant screening of Murraya paniculata bark extract. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 9(1), 2044–2049.
Chen, J., Wang, Y., & Li, H. (2016). Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicinal Materials and Their Processing. Shanghai Medical Publishing House.
Manjunath, B., & Naidu, K. A. (2013). Antihypertensive activity of Murraya paniculata in experimental animals. International Journal of Green Pharmacy, 7(3), 200–204.
Roslan, N. A., Jalil, N. A., & Ismail, S. (2019). Malay traditional knowledge and belief on sacred woods used in spiritual healing. Malaysian Journal of Ethnobotany, 13(2), 45–52.
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