Nature and flavor of Curcuma zedoaria

Curcuma is a plant of the ginger family with a slightly bitter taste. It is cold in nature and is mainly classified as a cold in the liver, heart, and lung meridians. It can remove the gallbladder and jaundice in the body. It can also regulate menstruation and is very helpful for bloating and tingling in the chest and abdomen. It can also promote qi and remove blood stasis. Therefore, it is good for all aspects of the body in normal times. However, it should be noted that people with qi and blood imbalance in the body and those who are pregnant should not take it.

Biological characteristics: suitable for understory or cultivation.

Medicinal value: Traditional Chinese medicine: Radix Curcumae Aromaticae is derived from the tuberous root of the ginger plant. Dig up the tubers in winter or early spring, wash them, cook them and dry them.

Source: This product is the dried tuberous roots of Curcuma wenyujin YH Chen et C. Ling, Curcuma longa L., Curcuma kwangsiensis SG Lee et CF Liang or Curcuma phaeocaulis Val., all of the Zingiberaceae family. The first two are commonly known as "warm turmeric" and "yellow silk turmeric" respectively, and the rest are commonly known as "Gui turmeric" or "green silk turmeric" according to their different properties. Dig up in winter after the stems and leaves wither, remove the mud and fine roots, steam or boil until thoroughly cooked, and dry.

Nature and flavor and meridians: pungent, bitter, and cold. It enters the liver, heart and lung meridians.

Functions and indications: Promotes qi and removes blood stasis, clears the heart and relieves depression, promotes bile secretion and reduces jaundice. It is used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, chest and abdominal distension and stabbing pain, coma due to febrile disease, epilepsy, jaundice and red urine.

Dosage and administration: 3~9g.

Storage: Store in a dry place to prevent moth damage.

Do's and Don'ts: Those with Yin deficiency and blood loss and those without Qi stagnation and blood stasis should not take this medicine. Pregnant women should take it with caution. 【Excerpt】Chinese Pharmacopoeia

Drug name: Curcuma ("Yao Xing Lun")

Synonyms: Ma Gu (Tang Materia Medica), Huang Yu (Shiyao Erya).

Preparation method: Wash, soak, cut into thin slices, and dry; or wash, dry, and crush.

Medicinal properties

Curcuma aromatica: oblong or oval, slightly flat, some slightly curved, with both ends gradually pointed. 3.5~7cm long, 1.2~2.5cm in diameter. The surface is gray-brown or gray-brown with irregular longitudinal wrinkles, and the raised parts of the longitudinal wrinkles are lighter in color. The texture is solid, the cross section is gray-brown and keratinous; the endodermis ring is obvious. It has a slight fragrance and a slightly bitter taste.

Yellow Silk Curcuma: spindle-shaped, one end of which is slender, 2.5~4.5cm long and 1~1.5cm in diameter. The surface is brown-gray or gray-yellow with fine wrinkles, the cross section is orange-yellow, and the periphery is brown-yellow to brown-red. It has a fragrant aroma and a spicy taste.

Curcuma aromatica: oblong or oblong, 2~6.5cm long, 1~1.8cm in diameter. The surface has sparse shallow longitudinal lines or rough reticular wrinkles. Slight smell, slightly bitter taste.

Green Silk Curcuma: oblong, relatively thick, 1.5~3.5cm long, 1~1.2cm in diameter. Slight odor, light taste.

[Preparation] Soak in water, wash, take out to dry in the sun, moisten, slice and dry in the sun.

【Nature and flavor】Acrimonious, cool.