Common Name:

General Information

Curcuma heyneana is a perennial, herbaceous plant producing pseudostems from a much branched and elongated rhizome. The speudostems are made up of several leaves whose blades can be 17 - 42cm long and 7 - 13cm wide[].
The plant is commonly used in skin treatments in Indonesia and also has other medicinal uses as well as sometimes being used for food. It can be harvested from the wild, but is also sometimes cultivated for its rhizome in Indonesia[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia (Java).

Habitat

Secondary forest, teak forest and abandoned places, at elevations up to 750 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants in this genus generaly prefer a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade[].

Edible Uses

The rhizomes yield starch that can be made into a porridge[].

Medicinal

The rhizomes are the principal ingredient of a body lotion or powder that is used in traditional Javanese skin treatment. It is often administered to the bride-to-be, and is also often applied in modern beauty parlours[].
The rhizomes are considered to be anthelmintic, cooling and detergent. As an anthelmintic they are said to be especially useful in the treatment of pinworms[]. The bitter rhizomes are given, together with other medicinal herbs, to treat fatty degeneration, also as a folk medicine for brides to combat fatigue[].
Applied externally, the rhizomes are useful for treating skin diseases, abrasions and injuries and, in combination with other plants, as a treatment for lipomatosis[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[]. Germinates best at temperatures around 20°c[].
Division of the rhizome when the plant is dormant.

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