Curcuma Rhizome

Latin name: Rhizoma Curcumae Longae

Chinese Name: Jiang-Huang (Curcuma Rhizome)

Traditional Uses

Actions: Invigorates blood circulation, smooths menses, controls pain, disperses stagnant blood, improves bile secretion

Applications: General pain, shoulder arthritis

Pharmacology

(1) Effect on the liver and gallbladder: The diethyl ether or ethanol extract stimulates bile secretion and increases the detoxifying abilities of liver. The elixir of the her or p-totylmethylcarbinol stimulates bile secretion and increases bilirubin.

(2) Uterine-stimulating effect: It stimulates the uterus causing it to contract paroxysmally, lasting for five to seven hours.

(3) Hypotensive effect: The ethanol extract has been shown to lower blood pressure in anesthetized dogs.

Reference: Hung-yen Hsu, Ph.D. and Associates: Oriental Materia Medica A Concise Guide 1986, Keats Publishing