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INA
Unlocking Ancient Balinese Wellness Secrets, Faculty of Humanities Udayana University Encourages In-Depth Research on Lontar Usada
Denpasar, May 13, 2026 – The wealth of traditional Balinese medical knowledge preserved in ancient manuscripts is now receiving full attention for development into the realm of modern wellness. This was the main highlight of the working meeting between the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University and the Udayana University Lontar Unit Team held at the Lontar Unit Room, Prof. Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Bagus Building, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University.
The Dean of Faculty of Humanities Udayana University, Prof. I Nyoman Aryawibawa, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., stated that the university leadership is ready to provide tangible support to facilitate research on lontar manuscripts that intersect with the concept of wellness. This strategic step is deemed essential to enhance the visibility and concrete contributions of the Lontar Unit and Faculty of Humanities Udayana University to the public.
The research potential is immense, considering that the Lontar Unit currently houses a collection of more than 60 lontar usada (traditional medical manuscripts). These manuscripts contain various ancestral healing practices that remain highly relevant for scientific investigation. The collection includes usada tiwang (convulsive ailments), usada manak (maternity care), usada rare (childhood diseases), usada buduh (mental disorders), usada mala (skin diseases), and usada upas (poisons/toxicology).
This in-depth research plan received a warm welcome from the Head of the Lontar Unit, Prof. Dr. Putu Sutama, M.S., who attended along with the secretary and team members. Prof. Sutama emphasized that his party will immediately follow up on this support by drafting a comprehensive research proposal. The outcomes of this scientific exploration are expected not only to preserve ancestral heritage but also to make a significant impact on the development of modern science.
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY