Family: Zingiberacea

Other known names: tumeric, turmeric

Thai names: Khamin Chan, Kheemin, Khamin Hua, Sa yo, Taa yo, etc.

Botanical description:
There are many types of Curcuma (in Thailand alone there are aver 100 subspecies) which are all stemless rhizome producing spice and cure plants. In German it is known as Gelbwurz which in the German language region comes from the yellow colour of the rhizomes (Germ. gelb = Engl. yellow) and the word Würze (Engl.: spice, seasoning). In the respective government departments which are responsible for the licensing of the plants, the root is incorrectly defined as being the part of the plant which is used. In the kitchens of Europe the rhizome from cheaper varieties is often used as a food colouring in place of the much more expensive saffron. It is used as one of the ingredient spices of curry.
Curcuma can be divided into its use in cooking and into its use in herbal medicine. Whilst Curcuma usually produces elongated white flowers, the colours of Thai varieties vary immensely; mauve, whit-yellow and many other hues. It can be said that almost yearly new uncultivated subspecies are discovered.
Cultivated curcuma is used as a spice. In herbal medicine, only the uncultivated species from the Thai rain forest is used for its many active ingredients. Curcuma thrives exclusively in the tropics and needs warmth, a high relative humidity, and high nightly temperatures. Curcuma does not grow in sandy soils.
The rhizome is used after flowering and can be harvested for 9 to 10 months.
Seeds are rare and the plant reproduces by sprouting tubers.

Uses in Ethnic Medicine:
Curcuma is administered for vertigo (dizziness), insect bite, general preventative health care, prevention of gonorrhoea, fortifying dental growth, treatment of stomach ulcers, colds, skin diseases, tapeworm (cestoda: taenia versicolor), duodenal ulcers. It is used as an astringent, a carminative (flatulence) and in gastrointestinal complaints. It is used as a diuretic and as a uricosuric for the reduction of uric acid in cases of gout. It also has an antibacterial action against tuberculosis. Curcuma has an antispasmodic action (reduces cramp) and it inhibits infection.

Traditional Thai prescriptions:

Treatment of ringworm (tinea) and taenia versicolor:
The rhizome is powdered and mixed with water and applied to the infected areas.

Treatment of mosquito bites:
The powdered rhizome is applied to the affected area. Itching and infection are rapidly alleviated.
All other internal conditions:
Pulverised rhizomes can be mixed with honey and taken 3 times daily.

Ingredients of medicinal curcuma:
Arabiose, atlantone, bisdesmethoxycurcumin, ß-bisabolene, borneol, campesterol, camphene, champhor, carryophyllene, cineolone, curcumin, L-ßcurcumens, curdione, curone, curzerenone, cycloisoprenemyrcene, cymene, desmethoxycurcumin, 2,5-dihydroxybisabola-3,10-diene, dihydrocurcumin, dihydroxycurcumin, essentielle Öle, eugenol, non saturated fatty acids, Fructose, germacron-13-al, glucose, glutamic acid, 4-hydorxybisabola-2,10-dien-one, isoborneol, lectin, limonene, linalool, D-gamma-phellanthrene, alpha-pinene, ß-pinene, procurcumadiol, D-sabinene, B-sesquiphellandrene, tocopherol, ptolylmethycarbinol, ar-tumerone, tumerone, terpinene, zingiberene, zingerene

Pharmacognistic action and clinical tests.

Effects on Stomach ulcers:
Clinical trials have been carried out on the successful use of curcuma in this indication since 1953. The rate of cure which began with 23.3% increased to over 25%. After the discovery of the H2 receptor antagonisers (cimentinine and ranitine) further research was left aside. Only now, where the side effects of H2 blocker (hormone disturbance, breast development in men, rebound, etc.) have been recognised, have clinical studies of curcuma been recommenced. Curcuma stimulates and thickens the mucous membrane (mucosa) of the stomach. It has been proved that the H2 receptors - which through neurotransmitters - cause the pituitary gland (hypophysis) to increase the production of stomach acids and are predominantly involved with the active substance of curcumin and reduce the secretion of mucin, thereby protecting the mucosa. During a long-term test in several university clinics with several groups of patients it was proved that curcuma is applicable for curing stomach ulcers with its anti tumour activity, and this without any side affects. Before the tests, the patients underwent a gastroscopic examination and were then treated for twelve weeks with curcuma (2 x 250 mg capsules four times daily). The ingestion took place 1 1/2 hours before each meal and before sleeping. On average 88% of all stomach ulcers were diagnosed as cured. These trials were conducted with placebo control groups under double-blind conditions.

Infection inhibiting effects:
These trials were also conducted with curcuma powder dissolved in water. The following are a few abstracts from the numerous studies of these effects:
“The infection inhibiting effect of curcuma is comparable to that of hydrocortisone in the intestinal tract. Histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine readings dropped by 50%”.

“Curcuma has the same infection inhibiting effect as a comparable quantity (5 mg per kg of body weight) of indomethacine.
“Curcuma shows protection on the administration of reserpine, stress ulcera, and the ligation of pylorus”.
“Curcuma shows an intense effect against Freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis, carrageenin induced pedalaoema and hyaluronidase induced infections (foot edema, also called oedema, pl. edemata, previously known as dropsy).
Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis”.
In cases of definitive rheumatic arthritis a double-blind crossover trial with 180 patients reported excellent results. Patients who were given curcuma showed better results than patients in the group who received phenylbutazone. Patients in the curcuma group showed no changes in blood test results and no changes in erythrocyten.

Antibacterial action:
According to the dose and quality of the raw products, curcuma acts against mycobacterium tuberculosis, staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, Staph. epidermis, Streptococcus feacalis, S. pyogenes, Goffkyo tetragena, Sarcina lutea, Sarcina subflava, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarium, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium botulinum, Escheria coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas salamacearum, Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus, Klebisella aerogenes, Salmonella typhosa, Salmonella paratyphi, Erwinia carotovora, Xanthomonas citri, and Xanthomonas malvocearum.

Curcumin prevents the production of gas by escheria coli in the intestine (ileum / caecum) without hindering the growth of bacteria, acts on the dehydrogenase and on acid accumulation and reduces the use of glucose. All these activities support the action of curcuma when used against dyspepsia (acid indigestion).

Anti fungal and anti yeast action:
According to the dose and quality of the raw material, curcuma acts against dermatophytes (skin fungi). Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton Rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton simii.
Curcuma prevents the growth of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium lilacinum, Penicillium javanicum, Curvularia oryzae, Pestelota lapagericola, Scopulariopsis brevivaulis, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma rubrum, Microsporum gypseum, Trichoderma mentagrophite, and Epidermophyton mentagrophite.

Likewise, Curcuma has also a slight action against fungi which produce aflatoxin, as for example aspergillus parasiticus, which are considered to be so highly carcinogenic (causing cancer) that in the coming years will receive one of the highest danger ratings in the new foodstuffs regulations in the entire European Union.
Curcuma acts well against candida albicans, candida lipolytic, debaryomyces hansenii, hansenula anomala, kloeckera apiculata, oddermyceselongispores, rhodotorula rubra, saccharomyces cerevisiae and torulopsis glabrata.

Antispasmodic action:
Carcuma has shown a good cramp reducing action (muscle relaxation) in clinical trials, particularly inn the digestive tract, especially in the case of stomach cramps. Curcuma also acts upon cramp in the uterus during menstruation.

Action on the metabolism of fats:
Tests of Curcuma, and in this respect its ingredient curcumin, have been carried out on rabbits in two groups. One group received 1 g of pure cholesterol mixed with its food for a period of 21 days, while the other group received an additional 1 g of curcumin.

In the group which received the additional curcuma, the level of cholesterol fell by half, and their liver values were significantly better. Curcuma increases the faekal excretion of cholesterol. An interesting discovery has been made with chickens and birds which have bee fed with added curcuma. Curcuma had no influence on the quantity or the size in the production of eggs and there were no changes in the blood plasma, fat or cholesterol levels. The cholesterol content of the eggs was however extremely low from the beginning of the experiment until it again reached a normal level at the end of the experiment. In humans curcuma has shown that if taken regularly, it can have a lasting effect on the reduction of cholesterol.

Anti hepatitis action:
Curcuma has shown a significant action in liver protection particularly in carbon tetrachloride poisoning and galactosamin induced liver damage.

Anti tumour action:
Curcuma has a significant effect against leukaemia SN-36, and in Ehrlich aszites carcinoma and also acts cytotoxic against Dalton’s lymphoma cells.
In cancer research curcuma, together with murdannia loriformis occupies the number one position. Numerous tests have concluded that curcumin has a cytotoxic effect as well as a highly antioxidant action in conjunction with GSH (glutathion-syntethase).

Immunological action:
Curcuma shows immune suppressive effects which present themselves as corticosteroid activity which has been proved by the cellular and the humoral immunological response. Lymphocytopenia and gammaglobin restrictions have been observed. Curcuma has also been shown to have phagocytotoxic activity.

This does not however indicate that frequent use would damage the liver, and this has been sufficiently demonstrated by long term trials. Furthermore, this explains the high anti allergy effect in acute attacks. In these cases it is recommended that curcuma powder is well dissolved in the saliva and thenswallowed. There is no better remedy (with the exception of anaphylactic shock) in acute cases of allergy.

Effects on the cardiovascular system:
Curcuma has shown that it can reduce blood pressure and has a dilatory effect on the peripheral (micro) circulation and that it also tonifies the heart. It is also an anticoagulant.

Anti oxidant action:
Curcumin ant its derivatives have shown in lipid-peroxidation trials to have significant action. The suppression of lipidperoxidation on the erythrocytes membrane concludes that curcumin triggers a defence mechanism during peroxidation.

How curcuma is metabolised:
Up to 79% of curcuma is excreted in the faeces and in less significant quantities in the urine. Measurements of blood plasma level and gall excretion have shown that curcuma is only very slightly absorbed through the intestine. Toxicity checks have had no results in doses of over 5 g per kg of body weight. Curcuma is metabolised in approximately 30 minutes, and the two metabolites, Tetrahydrocurcumin and hexahydorcurcumin were found in the gall after an intraperitonal injection. No curcumin was found in the urine 24 hours after After high parenteral (intravenous) administration, 38% curcumin was measured in the ileum and caecum (large and small intestines).

In 184 experiments it was proved that the action of curcuma was entirely without danger and damaging effects (with the exception of pregnant women, but not by those who were breast feeding).
Thai curcuma in all its subspecies is an unavoidable folk cure in the Thai traditional medicine and through new knowledge is winning increasingly more recognition in ‘modern’ herbal therapy.