Botanical name : Curcuma aromatica Salisb.
Family : Zingiberaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Aranyaharidra, Vanaharidra, Kastooriharidra
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Madhura
Guna : Lakhu, Snigdha
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Wild turmeric, Cochin turmeric, Yellow zedoary
Hindi : Jungali haldi, Ban haldi
Malayalam : Kastoorimanjal, Kattumanjal
Distribution
Throughout India, growing wild, also cultivated.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A rhizomatous perennial herb grows up to 1 meter. Leaves elliptic or oblong- lanceolate, about 50 cm long with long petiole; flowers pinkish yellow, seen in inflorescence with pinkish showy bracts. Fruits globose, dehiscent trilobate capsules.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, kapha, indigestion, skin diseases, cough, bronchitis, allergy, leucoderma, and as general tonic.
Useful part : Rhizome. Leaves.