Banyu enjet (Larutan Calcium Hydroxide)

Calcium hydroxide solution is a dominant alkaline compound formed by dissolving limestone or betel lime in water. At high concentrations, it is caustic, capable of eroding or burning surfaces. The presence of hydroxyl ions gives the solution a very high pH (around 12), which is responsible for its antimicrobial properties. Additionally, calcium carbonate often forms as a thin layer on the surface due to its reaction with carbon dioxide from the air.

The combination of lime and slaked lime is renowned as a legendary cough remedy with a wide range of medicinal benefits. The chemical reaction between citric acid from lime and the base in slaked lime produces calcium citrate, which soothes throat muscles, loosens phlegm, and reduces irritation in dry coughs. Its strong alkaline properties also make it a natural antiseptic, effective in killing bacteria on the skin; it is often applied thinly to rashes, tinea, or wet wounds to help them dry quickly. In herbal processing, soaking ingredients in slaked lime reacts with pectin in plant cell walls, firming the texture of rhizomes or chips so they remain crisp and not mushy when cooked. In microscopic amounts, slaked lime is also used to neutralize certain acidic toxins in the preparation of wild tubers, such as gadung.