Some treatments spell the specific name with an 'X' rather than a 'Z', as Curcuma xanthorrhiza. However, we have followed the spelling as given in Kew's 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families' and the 'Flora of China'[].

Common Name: Amboina

General Information

Curcuma zanthorrhiza is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing a cluster of erect pseudostems up to 2 metres tall from an underground rhizome. Each pseudostem is made up of up to 8 leaves with blades that can be 40 - 90cm long and 15 - 21cm wide[, ].
An important herb in traditional Indonesian medicine, it is harvested from the wild and is also commonly cultivated, mainly on a garden scale, in Java, Peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, occasionally also in India[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southwest India, southern China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia.

Habitat

Riversides at elevations around 800 metres in southern Yunnan[]. Thickets and teak forest, mainly on moist, fertile, humus-rich soils, at elevations up to 750 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are adapted to growing in areas of seasonal drought in monsoonal forests[].
Prefers slightly shady conditions and demands a moist, fertile soil rich in humus[].

Edible Uses

A starch obtained from the roots is used for porridge and as a pudding[, ].
The starch is extracted by grating the rhizomes and kneading the gratings in water above a sieve. This process is repeated for several days and the water above the slurry is repeatedly renewed until it remains colourless when the deposit is pressed. Then the slurry is washed out until the bitterness has gone and most of the pungent smell has disappeared. The resulting starch is used for making various delicacies like pudding and porridge[]. The starch is said to be of good quality and is easily digestible for infants as well[].

The young growing stems and rhizome parts are eaten as a vegetable either raw or cooked[].

Flowers - cooked[]. Eaten with rice[].

A sweet-flavoured soft drink, called 'bir temu lawak', is prepared by cooking dried pieces of rhizomes in water and adding sugar[, ].

Medicinal

The rhizomes are an important ingredient into many 'jamus' (traditional Indonesian medicinal preparations)[].
They are said to be antiinflammatory, cholagogue, febrifuge, galactagogue and laxative[]. They are used to treat various abdominal complaints and liver disorders, including jaundice and gallstones[]. A decoction of the rhizome is also used as a remedy for fever and constipation, and taken by women to lessen uterine inflammation after giving birth. Other applications are against bloody diarrhoea, dysentery, inflammation of the rectum, haemorrhoids, stomach disorders caused by cold, infected wounds, skin eruptions, acne vulgaris, eczema, smallpox and anorexia[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the rhizomes[].

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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