Tumeric
Naming
Jiang Huang (Rhizoma Curcumae Longae)——Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica)
Origin
The root tuber of perennial herbaceous plant Curcuma Longa L. of family Zingiberaceae.
Location
Sichuan and Fujian provinces in China. ;
Harvest
Collected in winter when stem and leaf withered.
The actual smell and taste
Specially fragrant, bitter and pungent taste.
Best quality
Firm, golden cross section, dense fragrance.
Processing
Thickly sliced, unprocessed.
Property
Pungent, bitter; warm; liver and spleen meridians entered.
Actions
Activate blood and move qi, dredge meridians and alleviate pain.
Indications
A. Pain of heart, chest, hypochondria and abdomen due to qi stagnation and blood stasis
This herb has the actions of activating blood, moving qi and alleviating pain. It is indicated for pain of heart, chest, hypochondria and abdomen due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, traumatic injuries, swollen and pain due to stasis, and gynecological diseases such as mass, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, postpartum abdominal pain and so on. In addition, it can activate blood and dissolve stasis, relieve carbuncle and swelling, and alleviate pain, so it is externally indicated for sores, abseess, carbuncle and swelling. For pain of heart and abdomen caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis, it is combined with blood-activating and qi-moving analgesics such as Dang Gui, Mu Xiang and Wu Yao, etc. For dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, it is combined with Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong and Hong Hua in Jiang Huang San from Sheng Ji Zong Lu. For traumatic injuries, swollen and pain due to stasis, it is combined with Su Mu, Ru Xiang and Mo Yao in Jiang Huang Tang from Shang Ke Fang Shu (Book on Traumatologic Prescription).
B. Wind-damp arthralgia
This herb is pungent with actions of dispersing and warming to achieve dredging action. It can dispel wind-cold-damp pathogens externally, move qi and blood internally, dredge meridians and activate collaterals, excelling at dredging arms and limbs to relieve arthralgia. For shoulder and arm pain, and wind-cold-damp arthralgia, it is usually combined with wind-damp-dispelling herbs and blood-activating herbs such as Qiang Huo, Fang Feng and Dang Gui.
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 3~10 g. Proper dose for external application.