Bali has a long tradition of Bali Usada, also known as Balinese traditional
healing. This practice uses natural herbs and spices, holistic therapies and
ancient wisdom to cure physical and mental illness. The Balinese live equally
in two worlds: the seen or conscious world called
sekala, and the unseen or psychic world, called
niskala. In traditional Balinese healing, both of these elements are
addressed in order to truly heal an ill patient. The rich Balinese culture
includes a wealth of information on herbal remedies, massage and energy
healing, customs that continue to thrive today. The lush Indonesian landscape
produces a wide range of herbal medicines known as 'jamu', and the Balinese
still consult Balians – traditional Balinese healers who work with divine
energy. This respect for alternative healing modalities attracts and impressive
number of leading international holistic healers, many of whom have settled in
Bali to run their own practices.
