Curcuma zedoaria, zedoary, white turmeric is the name for a perennial herb and member of the genus Curcuma family Zingiberaceae. The plant is native to India and Indonesia. It was introduced to Europe by Arabs around the sixth century, but its use as a Spice in the West today is extremely rare, having been replaced by ginger.
Zedoaria is a rhizome that grows in tropical and subtropical wet forest regions. The fragrant plant bears yellow flowers with red and green bracts and the underground stem section is large and tuberous with numerous branches. The leaf shoots of the zedoary are long and can reach 1 meter (3 feet) in height.
The world of Ayurveda acclaims this herb and its oil as an excellent digestive aid and in particular it has been used in this holistic medicinal system as a gastrointestinal stimulant. Nar Kachur essential oil is also used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of numerous chronic disorders including cancer.
Zedoaria or Nar Kachur is still used in the Indian folklore medicine as anti-venom for poisonous snake bites like the Indian Cobra bites. The fresh paste of this herb has been in use for treating wounds, pain, inflammation and certain other skin problems. Zedoaria Essential Oil has had a long history as a part of the folk medicine system.
Benefits & Uses: The edible root of zedoaria has a white interior and a fragrance reminiscent of mango; however, its flavor is more similar to ginger, except with a very bitter aftertaste. In Indonesia, it is ground to a powder and added to curry pastes, whereas in India, it tends to be used fresh or in pickling. In Thai cuisine it is used raw and cut in thin strips in certain Thai salads.
The essential oil produced from the dried roots of Curcuma zedoaria is used in perfumery and soap fabrication, as well as an ingredient in bitter tonics.
Zedoaria Essential Oil is widely used in the perfumery and flavor industry because of its rich aroma, Used in fragrance and flavor industry. It is also known by other common names as Curcuma zedoaria, Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe. With the oil blending well with cedar wood, ionones, bay, pine needle and Tonka, the oil is also preferred because of its rich aroma.
It has improves blood circulation, ant contusion, and improves menstrual flow and helps in abdominal cramps, amenorrhea-abdominal pain and rheumatic pain. It also helps in pain and swelling associated with sprains.
Zedoaria Oil main active ingredient are novel plant-derived anticancer agents with long-term clinical application history and low toxicity, which have been approved by the Chinese SFDA to treat different tumors including cancers of the brain, ovary, prostate, breast, lungs, liver, colon and other tissues. Unfortunately, their hydrophobic properties, poor stabilities and low bioavailability seriously hamper their applications in clinic.
Useful in flatulent colic and debility of the digestive organs, though it is rarely employed, as ginger give the same or better results. It is used as an ingredient in bitter tincture of Zedoaria, anti-periodic pills (with and without aloes) bitter tincture, anti-periodic tincture.
The diuretic properties of this oil supports in eliminating the excess fluids and toxic substances in the body especially in the joints causing pain and inflammation in case of rheumatism and arthritis. It is also used in reducing the body temperature during fever by promoting sweat and purging infectious microbes through urine.
Never use essential oils internally. Always remember to use essential oils in a diluted form as pure essential oils are highly concentrated liquids. Consult your practitioner before using the right essential oil for your unique constitution and health conditions.