😳 Buffalo horns stuck to someone’s back in the middle of the street? It’s not a prank—it’s real therapy people pay for in Jakarta. This ancient healing ritual looks shocking but has deep roots in folk medicine, and locals claim it works wonders. More context in the article below 👇
If you’re wandering through the streets of Jakarta and spot someone sitting calmly with buffalo horns sticking out of their back like spines, don’t panic. You haven’t stumbled onto a bizarre art installation or a horror movie set—this is actually a traditional healing practice that’s alive and well in Indonesia.
At first glance, it looks strange—maybe even a little spooky. Dozens of hollowed-out buffalo horns are fixed to a person’s back in public, drawing curious glances and the occasional joke. But for the people receiving the treatment, it’s all perfectly normal—and they’re paying for it.
So what’s really going on?
The practice is a traditional form of therapy rooted in ancient folk medicine, similar to cupping therapy. But instead of using modern glass or silicone cups, practitioners here stick to a time-honored method using polished and hollowed-out buffalo horns. Once attached to the skin, the horns create suction, which is believed to stimulate circulation, relieve pain, and help flush out toxins.
This treatment goes back thousands of years—at least as far as 1500 BC. Long before glass cups were available, communities used natural materials like animal horns to perform the same function.
The therapy may look primitive, but it remains popular, especially among people looking for affordable and fast relief from back pain, fatigue, or inflammation. It’s easy to find street-side healers offering the service right out in the open, where people gather to watch or wait their turn.
However, not everyone is convinced. Medical professionals warn that using unsterilized materials like animal horns can cause skin infections or spread disease. The risk of bruising, scarring, or even more serious complications is real if not performed under safe, sanitary conditions.
Still, many locals swear by it—and return regularly, insisting the results speak for themselves.
Would you be curious enough to try a centuries-old healing method involving buffalo horns—or would you pass? Let us know what you think in the comments!
