Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/500
Chem, Comp.—A proximate analysis of this curcuma afforded—
| Essential oil, resin, curcumin, &c | 4.47 |
| Resins, sugar &c. | 1.21 |
| Gum and organic acids, &c. | 10.10 |
| Starch | 18.75 |
| Crude fibre | 25.20 |
| Ash | 7.57 |
| Moisture | 9.76 |
| Albuminoids, &c | 22.94 |
| Total | 100.00 |
(Pharmacogr. Ind. IV. 405).
1236. C. longa, Linn, h.f.b.i., vi. 214 ; Roxb. 11.
Sans. : — Haridra, nisá.
Vern. :— Haldi (H.) ; Halud (B.) ; Haldar, halja (Pb.) ; Manjal (Tam.); Pasupu (Tel.); Mannal, marinalu (Mal.); Arishina (Kan.) ; Halede (Mar.); Halada (Guz.).
Habitat :— Widely cultivated throughout India.
An annual. Rootstock large, ovoid ; sessile tubers bright-yellow inside, thick, cylindric. Leafy tuft 4-5ft., petiole as long as the plain green blade, which is 1-1½ft. by 4-8in. broad, oblong, narrowed to the base. Peduncle ½ft. or more, hidden by the sheathing petioles. Spikes autumnal 4-6in. by 2in. diam. Flower-bracts pale-green, ovate l½in. Coma-bracts tinged with pink. Flowers pale-yellow, as long as the bracts ; like those of C. aromatica, Salis, in structure.
Uses :— Used as a stimulant in native medicine ; externally applied in pains and bruises, and internally administered in disorders of the blood. Its use as an external applicant in bruises, leech bites, &c., is perhaps its most frequent medicinal application. The fresh juice is said to be an anthelmintic. A decoction of the rhizomes is applied to relieve catarrh and purulent ophthalmia.
A paste made of the flowers is used in ringworm and other parasitic skin diseases. Dymock says the Muhammadans use turmeric medicinally in the same manner as the Hindus ; they also prescribe it in affections of the liver and jaundice on account