MyGlob Editorial
In Bali, when illness strikes, many people do not head first to a clinic. They visit a balian, the island's traditional healer, a figure who treats not only the physical body but the spiritual and emotional self, and who mediates between the living and the unseen forces the Balinese believe shape daily life. Part herbalist, part medium, part counsellor, the balian remains a deeply respected pillar of village life, even in an era of modern hospitals.
Who Is a Balian?
A balian is a healer who works within the framework of Balinese Hindu belief, where health is understood as balance. Sickness is often seen not merely as a malfunction of the body but as a sign that something is out of harmony, whether in a person's relationship with the gods, their ancestors, their community or the spirit world. The balian's role is to diagnose where that balance has been lost and to help restore it.
Balian come to their calling in different ways. Many inherit knowledge through family lineage, learning over years from a parent or grandparent. Others are believed to receive their gift suddenly, often after a serious illness, a vivid dream or a spiritual experience interpreted as a summons from the divine.
The Different Kinds of Healer
There is no single type of balian. The tradition recognises several specialisations, and a healer may combine more than one.
- Balian usada, who heal using knowledge from the lontar, ancient palm-leaf manuscripts that record herbal remedies, anatomy and treatments.
- Balian taksu, who serve as mediums, entering a trance to channel messages from gods or ancestors during a consultation.
- Balian tulang or bone setters, who treat fractures, sprains and physical injuries with massage and manipulation.
- Balian apun, specialists in massage and bodywork who relieve pain and restore physical balance.
How a Healing Session Works
A visit to a balian usually begins with offerings, typically a canang sari or other small ritual gift, presented before the healing starts. The balian may then diagnose through prayer, by reading the body, by entering a trance, or through massage and pressure on specific points. Treatments can include herbal preparations made from local plants, spoken mantras, the application of holy water, and physical bodywork.
Sessions are often emotional and intense. A balian taksu in trance might deliver messages believed to come from a client's ancestors, addressing grief, family conflict or unresolved spiritual debts. Because of this, the balian functions as much as a counsellor and spiritual guide as a physical healer.
Herbs, Holy Water and the Unseen
Balinese herbal medicine, sometimes called usada, draws on a rich pharmacopeia of roots, leaves, bark and spices, many of which overlap with the ingredients of jamu, the traditional tonics found across Indonesia. Holy water, tirta, plays a central role too, used for purification and blessing. Underlying it all is the conviction that wellness depends on harmony between the seen world, the niskala or unseen realm, and the divine.
The Balian and Modern Medicine
It would be a mistake to imagine the balian as a relic. Many Balinese move fluidly between traditional and modern care, visiting a hospital for a broken bone or a serious infection while also consulting a balian to address the spiritual cause they believe lies behind it. Far from competing, the two systems often coexist, each answering questions the other cannot. The balian endures precisely because they treat meaning and emotion, not just symptoms.
Visiting a Balian Respectfully
Interest in the balian surged after popular books and films portrayed Bali as a place of healing, and some travellers now seek out a session. If you do, approach it with genuine respect rather than as a tourist novelty. Dress modestly with a sarong and sash, behave as you would in a temple, and remember that you are entering a sacred and often private space, frequently a family compound.
- Go with a trusted local guide or contact who can introduce you appropriately and translate.
- Dress respectfully, covering shoulders and knees, and wear a sarong and sash.
- Bring the expected offering and a respectful donation, and ask in advance what is appropriate.
- Be patient, as a balian may see many people and there is rarely a fixed schedule.
- Treat any messages or treatments seriously and never photograph without clear permission.
For a serious or urgent medical condition, always seek qualified medical care; the balian is best understood as part of Bali's spiritual and cultural fabric rather than a replacement for professional healthcare.
