हरिद्रा

• Botanical Name: Curcuma longa Linn.
• Family: Zingiberaceae
• Synonyms: Kanchani, Peeta, Nishakhya, Varavarini, Yoshitpriya
• Vernacular Name: Commonly known as “Haldi” in Hindi, “Turmeric” in English, and “Manjal” in Tamil.
• Classification: A perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family.
• Habitat: Native to tropical South Asia, including India. It thrives in warm, humid climates and well-drained soils.
• Morphology: A rhizomatous herb that grows up to 1 meter in height. It has long, lance-shaped leaves and yellowish-orange rhizomes, which are the primary usable part. The flowers are pale yellow and borne on spikes.
• Useful Parts: Rhizomes (primarily), leaves.
• Chemical Composition: Contains curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin), volatile oils, and polysaccharides. It is rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds.
• Pharmacological Action: Known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and wound-healing properties. It is widely used in treating skin disorders, digestive issues, and inflammatory conditions.
• Formulation: Used in Ayurvedic preparations like Haridrakhand, Haridradi Churna, and herbal ointments for skin and joint health.

Rasa: Katu , Tikta

Guna: Laghu , Ruksha

Virya: Ushna

Vipaka: Katu