Curcuma zedoaria (zedoary /ˈzɛdəʊərɪ/, white turmeric, or temu putih) is a perennial herb and member of the genus Curcuma, family Zingiberaceae. The plant is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia but is now naturalized in other places including the US state of Florida.[2] Zedoary was one of the ancient food plants of the Austronesian peoples. They were spread during prehistoric times to the Pacific Islands and Madagascar during the Austronesian expansion (c. 5,000 BP).[3] Its use as a spice in the West today is extremely rare, having been replaced by ginger, and to a lesser extent, yellow turmeric.
Food
The edible rhizome of zedoary has a white interior and a fragrance reminiscent of mango. However, its flavour is more similar to ginger, except with a very bitter aftertaste. In Indonesia, it is ground to a powder and added to make white 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. It can also be served cut into thin slices together with other herbs and vegetables with certain types of nam phrik (Thai chilli pastes). It is also used in India to flavour dals and chutneys.
Is it possible for kitchen ingredients to be powerful natural skincare ingredients? Yes, you can! White turmeric or also known as curcuma zedoaria is famous for its various benefits. Not only useful as kitchen spice, white turmeric is also often used for traditional medicines! We can use all parts of this ingredient such as roots, oil, and leaves. It’s so powerful that we can consume this ingredient to maintain a healthy body! Aren’t you curious about the benefits of white turmeric for our skin? Stay tuned!
Suitable as an Anti-aging Ingredient
Retinol is indeed one of the most popular anti-aging ingredients in skincare. But if your skin is sensitive, you can use white turmeric as an alternative. Positive benefits such as wrinkle concealment/delay and dark spots can be obtained thanks to the vitamin C and antioxidant content in white turmeric. Plus, natural ingredients have fewer negative side effects than chemicals. Worth a try!
Solution for Stubborn Acne
Got stubborn acne that bothers you? Relax, white turmeric also has great benefits for treating acne problems. This is because this natural ingredient is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic so that it can relieve any inflammation on our skin. This will automatically reduce the growth of acne.
Treating Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is when our skin overproduces melanin and results in a difference in skin colour. This condition can occur due to many things such as UV rays, hormonal changes, inflammation, and trauma to our skin. Worry not, the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of white turmeric can help!
Controls Oil Production in the Skin
Excessive oil/sebum production can certainly cause some complications such as acne and blackheads. Dirt will more easily stick to the skin and get into our pores! Slowly but surely, frequent use of white turmeric as skincare can help reduce excess oil production.
Cleanse Dead Skin Cells
Dead skin cells can accumulate and cause your face to become dull. That’s why we need to exfoliate regularly to remove these dead skin cells. White turmeric has the right texture and content as a safe skin exfoliating ingredient. Moreover, because it is natural, the chances of causing irritation to the skin are minimal!
Natural Glowing and Bright Skin
Want naturally bright skin? This natural ingredient is perfect because it contains antioxidant compounds such as curcuminoids that can fight free radical damage. Not only that, other benefits include maintaining skin moisture too. Remember Sereni-Trees, bright skin starts with healthy and moisturised skin!
Makes Skin Smoother
With the moisturising, exfoliating and anti-inflammatory benefits of white turmeric, skin texture can be improved. Additionally, this natural ingredient can stimulate the regeneration of new skin cells, resulting in a smoother and softer skin texture. No more, dry and rough skin!
Multifunctional, Beneficial for Other Body Parts
Not just for skincare, white turmeric also provides positive benefits for other parts of the body. Here are some examples:
- The function is for the head/hair: Simply apply turmeric, massage, and leave for 15 minutes on a wet head then rinse. Regular use can reduce dandruff, oily hair, and even hair loss!
- Maintain digestive health: The essential oils in white turmeric have benefits for treating flatulence, bowel problems, decreased appetite, and preventing colitis.
- Resolves allergies naturally: White turmeric also works as a natural allergy remedy as it contains curcuminoids that have anti-allergic effects. These compounds can treat allergic skin reactions by inhibiting the activity of proteins that cause inflammation and preventing the release of histamine (a chemical that triggers allergic reactions).
- Reduces the risk of cancer: Ingredients in white turmeric can trigger the production of caspase proteins (substances that cause cancer cell death in the breast area). But remember, Sereni-Trees, natural ingredients can NOT be the only cure for medical illnesses. It may only be preventive, but to be on the safe side, consult your doctor!
- Coping with menstrual pain: This herb has an analgesic effect that can reduce pain during menstruation. It works by blocking pain signals to the brain or interfering with their interpretation. How cool is that?
Sources:
Wikipedia