Ginger – Zingiberaceae.
Parts used: rhizome.
Pharmacy name: Javanese turmeric rhizome – Curcumae xanthorrhizae rhizoma (formerly: Rhizoma Curcumae xanthorrhizae), also Temoe lawak. Botanical description and obtaining raw materials. The plant is similar to turmeric long, but slightly taller; grows exclusively in culture. Dried rhizomes are imported mainly from Indonesia, only a small part – from India. Since the rhizomes come only in a cleaned and dried form, they contain a large amount of non-gelatinizing starch, unlike turmeric longa, the rhizome of which is scalded before drying.
active substances. The main ingredients, like those of long turmeric, are a coloring matter (curcumin) and essential oil, also a large number of starch and all kinds of sugars.
Healing action and application. Although the composition of the active ingredients Javanese yellow root is close to turmeric long, however, both their qualitative and quantitative differences determine that turmeric longis used mainly as a spice, and Javanese yellow root is used as a pharmaceutical raw material. Javanese yellow root is used for diseases of the gallbladder, liver and digestive disorders; in the form of tea, it is not used, rather as a powder at a dose of 0.5 g 3 times every day. The German National Health Service officially recognizes the medicinal effect of this plant for these diseases, but in Indonesian traditional medicine it is also used for a variety of inflammatory processes (for example, for arthritis or postoperative inflammation).
Side effects. It is possible to lower cholesterol levels under the action of curcumin. With a strong overdose, irritation of the gastric mucosa may occur, nausea and vomiting may occur. Java yellow root should not be used for gallstones, bile duct blockage, or jaundice.