Wichah Bai Bolai / Bonglai / Mai Phlai

Composing begins on 8 May 2015.

***信不信由你***

Bolai, Bonglai or Bola (Cassumunar inger )  known / called as  ‘Phlai’, 'Mai Phlai' or ‘Wanj-Fai’ by Southern Thai and local Kelantan Siamese. For Kelantan local folks, Bonglai or Mai Phlai is a part of natural healing herbs and has been used effectively for centuries to treat everyday aches and pains such as; arthritic conditions, reduce swelling on affected tissues, to reduce pain and tension, to stiff joints and ligaments and a very powerful anti-inflammatory agents. Cassumunar Ginger also has been traditionally used for a variety of health benefits that include treatment of digestive problems and stomach ache.

Bonglai @ Bolai @ Mai Phlai mistakenly claimed as HALIA BARA @ HALIA MERAH by certain people. Halia Bara ( Zingiber Officinale Var. Rubrum ) has almost similiar characteristics with the Bonglai. There are two types of Halia Bara, one with small leaf ( 90% similar characteristics as Bonglai leaf ) and big leaf. To differentiate the Bonglai and Halia Bara one should examine the seed ( Ginger ). Halia Bara is easy to determine as the seed  is REDDISH compare to Bonglai - YELLOWISH. There are many types of Bonglai @ Bolai that can be found in our country such as;

Bonglai Kampung,

Bonglai Hutan / Bukit

Bonglai Hitam

Bonglai Kuning and etc

                                     

                        Bonglai                           Halia Bara

    Bonglai                    Halia Bara
                                         ( big leaves )

                                          Bonglai             Halia Bara

                                                      ( small leaves )
 

Back to the discussion...............

According to Phor Mor Keaw and Phor Mor Cau Nan, late Phor Than Kong used PHLAI or BOLAI for various usages and applications;

1st    leaf and stem were used as namboon sprinkler.

2nd  leaf and seed were used to cure "Mariam"
3rd  seed was crushed & mixed with the      
          rice to Khan Phee Marn.

4th   seed was crushed and mixed as wanj to make

          Pidta Bhagawan

5th   seed was used to cure / weaken the black magic

6th   planted tree believed to secure the house from

          black magic

 

A = Wichah Kam Rak Mariam 

This rare wichah was once used by Than Kong to cure  Mariam, Meriam  @ Gila Meroyan (GM)or  POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION (PPD), which also known as Postnatal Depression.

PPD / GM is a type of clinical depression  which  can affect women after childbirth. Symptoms of PPD may vary from one to another. The symptoms include; sadness, affects the way you eat and sleep, increases the chance of risky behaviours,  anxiety  and  irritability that may lead to another serious problems such as  hallucination,  recurrent thoughts of death, and even committing suicide.

Without proper treatment, PPD can last for weeks, months, or perhaps for years. Appropriate treatment including the using of antidepressants or psychotherapy. These treatment however can ONLY HELP - ( not to cure but only to control and lesser the PPD ) those who suffered   with PPD.

Decades before antidepressants  or psychotherapy   is used to treat  PPD/GM, those who suffered with GM will be treated traditionally by using various methods including Main Puteri, Ulik Mayang, Tutung, Pelepas, Buang / Hanyutkan Ancak so on and so forth. They believed that GM was once caused by the evil spirit and they needed to be treated / cleansed / cured  according to the traditional customs and believes - to discard the evil spirits.

 

Phor Phor Keaw used to share some great stories on how our late Phor Than Kong treated and cured GM.  Neither antidepressants nor psychotherapy was used. Than Kong used only Wichah Mai Phlai / Bai Bolai to help those who suffered with GM. According to late Than Kong, GM was neither caused by the evil spirits nor black magic. GM caused by the depression which can affect women after childbirth. During and after the child birth, woman - mother needed to PANTANG  by following the strict confinement periods and practices.

Confinement practices are traditional postnatal practices which merely  aimed at helping a new mom to RECOVER from the RIGOURS of PREGNANCY, LABOUR and BIRTH. Mom and baby are said to be in confinement because they are effectively "QUARANTINED" at home. Traditionally, they do not receive any visitors apart from close family members until the confinement periods is over.

In Malaysia, our ethnics; Chinese, Malay and Indian communities  have their respective confinement practices. The common thread amongst the practices of the different communities is to support the new mom and help her to recover from childbirth as well as to regain her physical and emotional strength. Some moms consider confinement to be an old-fashioned and opt not to follow the more restrictive practices. Yet, many do still observe confinement as they welcome the enforced rest built into this tradition.  For a Malaysian-Chinese mom, the confinement period lasts for a whole month from the very first day of the baby's birth ( 30-day ). Malay women usually observe a pantang period of 40 to 44 days. 

In every community, the confinement periods is a time for the new mom to rest and avoid any physical work. During this time, sexual intercourse is not allowed as the mom is not considered fully healed. According to some communities confinement restrictions include;

 

->      Not to wash their hair for the entire confinement periods.

->          To avoid (over exposure ) "cool elements" such as cold water. Low temperatures from an air-conditioner or fan must be avoided too.

->         Bathe only ( after 21 days ) with specially

prepared traditional herbs.

->       Hire a traditional masseuse (bidan) to massage the abdomen and bind the tummy with a special postnatal corset ( Bengkung ).

->        Use a "hot stone" ( tungku ) over the abdomen ( bertungku untuk mengecut dan menaikkan Rahim ).

 ->         A special diet during the confinement periods. The aim of the diet is to boost immune system and strength. These include ginger and a traditional tonic brewed with herbs. They are believed to promote better blood circulation and strengthen the immunity, eat only fresh fish, such as snakehead fish (ikan Haruan) to promote healing internally.

These prohibitions are said to help and ensure that mom body retain as much heat as possible. It is believed this will help mum to avoid health problems such as rheumatism, arthritis, headaches, body pains and Mariam @ Gila Meroyan (GM) or  Postnatal Depression. (PPD)

Phor Than Kong will only use MAI PHLAI, WELL WATER and RAW RICE as a medium to cure GM. The stems and leaves were used to KAM RAK -  Discard (Sweep away) the AKAR UMBI  PENYAKIT( punca ) also known as a traditional way of neutralising / discarding  the negative elements / roots of the spiritual illnesses  from the body.

Before proceeding with the ritual, Bolai tree and its seeds will be blessed with the mons. The leaves must be in odd numbers. 3 of the leaves will be written with the special yants. The GM patient will be seated facing out on the BENDUL ( traditional main door threshold or saddle ). The stem and Bolai leaves will be used to Kam Rak - the act of sweeping out ( from head to toes ). The mons / khatas will be recited 7 or 21 times.

 

The seeds  from the blessed Bolai tree were then crushed and mixed with the well water - 1 pot / jar as AIR BILASAN AKHIR ( final pot / jar of water to rinse the body ) right after taking the flower bath and  PELEPAS ritual ( Sadok Krok Kae Bon Kae Kam lek Kae Jar ). 

 

The specific mons to be used to discard / drive away the negative elements and  bless / make the namboon and rice are as such;

 (i)

Om

Kam Tret,

Kru Ku Ram Nerd,

....................................

....................................

....................................

....................................

Mariam.......................

Mariam.......................

Mariam.......................

....................................

....................................

(ii)

Om

.....................................

.....................................

.....................................

Ku Cak Kam Rak Mariam.....................

...........................Nam Kin.

...........................Khao Kin.

....................................

....................................

Om Kam Rak ..............
....................................

After completing the Wichah Mai Phlai. Than Kong will then proceed with another  related ritual;   WITHI KAE  KROK   KAE BON KAE KAM lek KAE JAR.  To perform this ritual, Than Kong will use DaiDip ( Benang Mentah ) and Yakha ( Imperata Cylindrical / Rumput lalang ) that spun together from 27 pieces and to be tied together by using 7 colours of threads. Specific Mons / Khatas that used to complete this wichah are as below;

Nak Kae,
Mor Klai,
Phut .........
Thak ........
Yak ...........
  
Om
...............
Kae Lek,
Kae .........,
Kae .......,
Kae Jar,
Kae ...................
Kae ...................
..........................
..........................
..........................

( incomplete khatas, please do not recite  ! )  

AIR BILASAN AKHIR ( final pot / jar of crushed Bolai seed water ) will be used to rinse herself after showering.

信不信由你 !

B = Wichah Khesarn Sak Phee Marn

This rare wichah was once used as a TOOL to discard / expel the evil forces ( ghosts and spirits ).  This wichah is used to bless the KheSarn ( raw rice ) to be SAK ( means SHOOT from projectile object -  arrow ) to the haunted area. The rice is used to purify the premises from the negative elements and to discard / expel the evil forces that HARMED the residents.

We usually hear about kids / teens that crying  during dawn or wee hours perhaps some of us had the experience when our kids suddenly wake up in the middle of night and crying non-stop without any valid reasons. This wichah is used to bless the raw white rice and then the blessed rice is used to SAK to/at the house / room to drive away the spirits (if) only caused by supernatural elements and not because of stomach ache, tooth ache etc.

The raw white rice is used together with Bai Bolai / Mai Phlai. The ginger from the Bolai will be inscribed with the certain yants and be blessed according to the D.O.B of the kid or patient. The seeds will be crushed and mixed with the rice before be empowered / blessed with the specific mons. The main mons are as such;

 

Om

Ku Chak Saeg Kesarn Sak ..................

Tong Phee Par ......................

Tong Phee Mai ..................Kher Fai

Tong Phee .......................................

Tong Phee .......................................

Tong Phee .......................................

Tong Phee........................................

..........................................................

Om ........................

.......Pai Thang Hu Phee

.....................................

.....................................

.....................................

Tha Thuk........,  .........Kor Taeg,

Tha Thuk........,  ........................

Tha Thuk........,  ........................

Tha Thuk........,  ........................
.......................................

Om Phee Sadt Thang Lai

Om Marn Thang Ha

......................................

......................................

( incomplete khatas, please do not recite  ! )

According to Phor Mor Keaw the blessed rice will turn into ARROW and SPEAR when the blessed rice was  SAK - CHUCKED  ( to toss, throw with a quick motion ) to the surrounding area. Phor Mor Keaw added that, the evils forces / ghost / spirit will see  these blessed rice as an ARROW and SPREAR with huge FIRE BALL that will hurt and burn them into ashes.

The remaining of the blessed rice will be used to make a namboon. Some of the rice will be added inside the cup ( according to D.O.B ) and mons will be recited. The namboon will be used to rinse the face and to be consumed by kid or patient.

According to Phor Mor Keaw, if confronting the fierce spirits / ghost. Than Kong will add rock salt (GARAM KASAR) and raw black pepper ( LADA HITAM ) with Bonglai ginger before preparing the RECIPE to discard and expell the fierce ghosts / evil forces.

信不信由你 !

Composing ends on 20 October 2015.

As I promised b4, this  Bangsek's Wichah article will be the last article posted here. The rest of the proposed articles ( Wicha Annam Sadok Krok Tor Ayut, Wicha Chau Kang, Wicha Karn Phee Marn & Wicha  Mae Nang Thoranee Mae Nang Khun Kha ) will be deleted. Thank you.

sabbe satta sukhita hontuk !

merely sharing @ perkongsian semata !

wie.sukhihotu15 !