MAMUJU – PT Bintang Toedjoe, through its Komix Herbal brand, once again held the Goes To School Talkshow in Mamuju, West Sulawesi. This time, the event took place at SMKN 1 Rangas, attended by student representatives from various school organizations (25/02/2025).

With the theme “Generasi Sehat, Generasi Herbal: Saatnya Gen-Z Mengenal Herbal!”(Healthy Generation, Herbal Generation: It's Time for Gen-Z to Get to Know Herbal Medicine)”, the obejctive of the talk show  was to educate students about medications, especially  herbal medicine, featuring expert speakers, including the Head of Balai POM in Mamuju, the Head of BNN of West Sulawesi Province, the Chairman of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) of Mamuju Branch, and the Editor-in-Chief of Tribun Sulbar Media.

The Importance of Proper Medication and Drug Abuse Prevention

The Head of BNN of West Sulawesi Province, Brigadier General Pol. Rudy Mulyanto, S.I.K., M.H., emphasized that all medications, including herbal medicine, must be consumed according to the recommended dosage. "It becomes a problem if you take medicine beyond the prescribed dosage," he warned.

BNN of West Sulawesi also stressed the importance of building resilience against drug abuse, particularly among Gen-Z. This resilience includes three key dimensions:

1. Self-regulation – the ability to control oneself.

2. Assertiveness – the ability to say no to negative influences.

3. Reaching out – the ability to achieve positive goals.

BNN encouraged students to stay focused on their dreams, resist negative temptations, and foster positive friendships.

Choosing Safe and Natural Medicines

Suliyanto, SH., MH., Head of BPOM in Mamuju, highlighted the importance of being smart in selecting and using safe natural medicine.

"Herbal medicine has been used in Indonesia for centuries, from Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, to Papua. These herbal remedies come from plants, animals, and natural mixtures passed down through generations," he explained.

He also emphasized that natural medicines must not contain synthetic chemical drugs (BKO), as these can be harmful to health. He introduced the "Cek KLIK" method to verify herbal medicine safety:
✅ Check Packaging – Ensure it is in good condition, not torn, leaking, or swollen.
✅ Check Label – Read the dosage, usage instructions, and contraindications.
✅ Check Registration Number (Marketing Authorization) – Ensure it has BPOM certification.
✅ Check Expiry Date – Make sure it has not expired.

The Benefits of Herbal Self-Medication

Hasmiaty, S.Si., Apt., M.M. Kes., Chairman of IAI of Mamuju Branch, discussed the advantages of herbal medicine for self-medication, where individuals use natural remedies to maintain health without direct supervision from medical professionals.

"Ginger, especially red ginger, is a prime example of a herbal remedy. It helps with nausea, digestive issues, pain relief, cough treatment, and immunity boosting," she stated.

Red ginger is a key ingredient in Komix Herbal, along with lagundi leaves, known for their cough-relieving properties. Cough is one of the most common ailments treated through self-medication.

She also introduced "Gema Cermat IAI" (Smart Community Movement for Medication Awareness), which aims to educate the public on proper medication use, including herbal medicine.

She emphasized:
✔ Right Indication – Understanding the correct medicine for the illness.
✔ Right Dosage – Taking medicine at the right time (e.g., if instructed "3x1 daily," it means taking the medicine every 8 hours).

She explained that if medicine is not taken systematically, its effectiveness decreases. For instance, if a medication lasts for 6.5 hours, it should be taken before it fully wears off.

Combating Health Misinformation and Hoaxes

As an information-savvy generation, Gen-Z must also be educated to think critically about health-related content on social media and avoid falling for hoaxes.

The talk show ended with an insightful session from Ilham Mulyawan Indra, Editor-in-Chief of Tribun Sulbar, who provided tips on distinguishing real from fake news and explained the legal consequences of irresponsible media use.

The Importance of Herbal Medicine in a Digital Era

Evanie Noer Putri, Public Relations & Community Development Manager of PT Bintang Toedjoe, explained why herbal medicine is making a comeback.

"The trend of going back to nature is rising, as more people turn to natural ingredients for health benefits. Awareness of herbal medicine as a natural alternative must be fostered from an early age, especially among Gen-Z."

She further emphasized Indonesia’s potential in the global herbal market: "If Korea has world-renowned ginseng, Indonesia has red ginger with great global potential. Just as Korea promotes ginseng, Indonesia should champion red ginger."

She also highlighted the risks of digital misinformation and legal consequences if social media is used irresponsibly.

Komix Herbal: A Natural Cough Remedy

Komix Herbal is a herbal cough medicine made from red ginger and lagundi leaves (Vitex negundo). Lagundi contains flavonoids, alkaloids, and triterpenoids, which have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and expectorant properties. Due to these benefits, lagundi has been widely used in traditional medicine for cough relief.