KRISHNA HARIDRA

Botanical Name : Curcuma caesia

Family : Zingiberaceae

Introduction

Curcuma caesia, commonly known as black turmeric, is a perennial herb featuring a bluish-black rhizome.

Names in different languages

Hindi    :   Kali Haldi

Marathi    :   Kala-haldi

Telugu    :   Nalla Pasupu

Bengali      :   Kala haldi

Assamese  :   Kalahaladhi

Morphology

Curcuma caesia, or black turmeric, is a perennial, rhizomatous herb with simple, distichous leaves and terminal or lateral inflorescences. The plant stands 0.5 to 1.0 m tall, with a large, ovoid, camphor-scented rhizome and an erect aerial shoot. Leaves are broad, oblong-lanceolate, and may show deep purple markings. The rhizome is dark brown to bluish-black, covered with roots and scars, and exhibits longitudinal wrinkles. The inflorescence appears as a dense spike with green bracts and crimson-tinted bracts at maturity.

Distribution and habitat

India and South east Asia

Chemical constituents 

Curcuma caesia contains various bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, phenols, phytosterols, terpenoids, carbohydrates, tannins, glycosides, saponins, quinones, amino acids, oils, and flavonoids.

Properties

Twachya

Indications

Kushtha nashan, Kandu nashan, Raktaja viakaras.

Part used

Rhizome

Dose

Uses

Fresh rhizomes are crushed and used as a paste on the forehead to relieve migraines.

They are also applied to the body to treat sprains and bruises.

Hindi »