Description

White turmeric or Curcuma zedoaria (zedoary or temu putih) is a perennial herb and member of the genus Curcuma, family Zingiberaceae. The plant is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia but is now naturalized in other places including the US state of Florida. Zedoary was one of the ancient food plants of the Austronesian peoples. They were spread during prehistoric times to the Pacific Islands and Madagascar during the Austronesian expansion . Its use as a Spice in the West today is extremely rare, having been replaced by ginger, and to a lesser extent, yellow turmeric.

Characteristics:

This white turmeric is basically a rhizome (an underground stem) with a delicate brownish skin and a vividly orange-hued, firm, interior. An aromatic spice whose scent is like that of turmeric - warm, zesty and woody. In India, zedoary white turmeric rhizome is widely used in local perfumes, and, the flowers are used in rituals performed during festivals. The flowers of zedoary white turmeric are bright pink and rather attractive to look at, and, are used both for culinary as well as therapeutic purposes. A large rhizomatous herb. Leaves with a large, persistant cloud down the centre of the blade. Pseudo stem and leaf-stalks green. Tubers yellow within. Flowers not longer than the bracts. A shade lover herb, favours its growth in high humid and rich in humus soil.

Medicinal Uses:

It is used traditionally for the treatment of menstrual disorders, dyspepsia, vomiting³ and for cancer. Rural people use the rhizome for its rubefacient, carminative, expectorant, demulcent, diuretic and stimulant properties while the root is used in the treatment of flatulence, dyspepsia, cold, cough and fever. The plant is used traditionally to treat inflammation, pain, and a variety of skin ailments including wounds, as well as menstrual irregularities and ulcers.