1250 INDIAN MEDICINAL fLANTS. 



Chem, Comp.—A proximate analysis of this curcuma afforded— 



Essential oil, resin, &c. ... ... ... ... 4*47 



Resins, sugar, &c. ... ... ... ... 1*21 



Gum, organic acids, &c. ... ... ... ... 1010 



Starch ... ... ... ... ... 18*75 



Crude fibre ... ... ... ... ... 25*20 



Ash ... ... ... ... ... 757 



Moisture ... ... ... ... ... 976 



Albuminoids, &c. ... ... ... ... 22*94 



100 00 

 (Pharmacogr. Ind. IV. 405). 



1236. G. longa, Linn, h.f.b.i., vi. 214 ; 

 Roxb. 11. 



Sans. : — Haridra, nisa. 



Vern. :— Haldi (H.) ; Halud (B.) ; Haldar, halja (Pb.) ; Manjal 

 (Tam.); Pasupu (Tel.); Mannal, marinalu (Mai.); Arishina 

 (Kan.) ; Halede (Mar.); Halada (Guz.). 



Habitat :— Widely cultivated throughout India. 



Ad annual. Rootstock large, ovoid ; sessile tubers bright- 

 yellow inside, thick, cylindric. Leafy tuft 4-5ft., petiole as 

 long as the plain green blade, which is 1-1 Jft. by 4-8in. broad, 

 oblong, narrowed to the base. Peduncle Jft. or more, hidden 

 by the sheathing petioles. Spikes autumnal 4-6in. by 2in. 

 diam. Flower-bracts pale-green, ovate l§in. Coma-bracts 

 tinged with pink. Flowers pale-yellow, as long as the bracts ; 

 like those of C. aromatica, Salis, in structure. 



Uses :— Used as a stimulant in native medicine ; externally 

 applied in pains and bruises, and internally administered in 

 disorders of the blood. Its use as an external applicant in 

 bruises, leech bites, &c., is perhaps its most frequent medicinal 

 application. The fresh juice is said to be an anthelmintic. A 

 decoction of the rhizomes is applied to relieve catarrh and pu- 

 rulent ophthalmia. 



A paste made of the flowers is used in ringworm and other 

 parasitic skin diseases. Dymock says the Muhammadans use 

 turmeric medicinally in the same manner as the Hindus ; they 

 also prescribe it in affections of the liver and jaundice on account 



