Common Name:

General Information

Curcuma aeruginosa is a perennial plant producing unbranched leafy stems up to 200cm tall from a large underground rhizome that can be 16cm long and 3cm wide[, , ]. The inflorescence develops from the rhizome, usually before the leaves are produced.
The plant is gathered from the wild for use in traditional medicine and as a food. It is often grown in Malaysia as a medicinal plant and is also sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Rainforests, where it is often found on riverbanks or forest margins; grassy places and teak forest at elevations of 400 - 750 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are adapted to growing in tropical areas with a seasonal drought[].
Plants in this genus generaly prefer a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade[].

Edible Uses

A starch is obtained from the root[]. Mainly used as a famine food as a substitute for cassava or maize[].

Medicinal

The rhizomes are considered to be anthelmintic and depurative[]. They are used to treat a range of conditions including colic, menstrual disorders, asthma and cough, obesity and rheumatism[, ].
They are used externally to treat skin conditions such as scurvy and itchy skins[].
They have been suggested as an application for treating mental derangement[].
In Indonesia and Thailand, rhizomes are the chief ingredient of a decoction given to women after childbirth to accelerate the lochia[].

An ethyl alcohol extract of the rhizome has shown interesting oestrogenic properties. In addition, it has shown a growth-promoting effect on skin cells and also reduces cell death from oxidation. The plant has potential as an active ingredient in preparations for the treatment of skin-ageing in post-menopausal women[].

Other Uses

A dye can be obtained from the rhizome[].

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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