Le Curcuma (Turmeric) ou Safran des Indes

 

Sanskrit haridrâ et kunkuma
Tamoul et Malayalam manjal, plus exactement transcrit maññaḷ

Dans son Livre des merveilles, Marco Polo rapporte que le curcuma, rhizome de la famille du gingembre, «ressemble au safran». C'est la plus ancienne comparaison connue. Mais dans Curcuma longa on utilise le rhizome (frais ou en poudre), tandis que pour obtenir le safran on doit éplucher (émonder) la fleur de Crocus sativus pour en prélever les trois stigmates. Ce sont donc deux produits biologiquement et techniquement différents.

V.V. Sivarajan and Indira Balachandran, Ayurvedic Drugs and Their Plant Sources, New Delhi, Oxford & IBH, 1994 (Un travail préparé à Calicut et Kottakal), entrée HARIDRÂ, pp. 169-171, d'où est empruntée la gravure ci-dessous:

“Ethnologically haridrâ, commonly called turmeric, occupies an important position in the life of Indian people in as much as that it forms an integral part of the rituals, ceremonies and cuisine. Due to the strong antiseptic properties, haridrâ has been used as a reputed remedy for all kinds of poisonous affections, ulcers and wounds. It is aromatic, alterative, antiperiodic, germicidal, carminative, stimulant, tonic and vermifuge. It gives good complexion to the skin and so applied to face as a depilatory and facial tonic. The drug cures diseases due to morbid vâta, pitta and kapha [autrement dit, c'est l'une des “panacées” qui guérissent les trois humeurs], diabetes, eye diseases, ulcers, oedema, anaemia, anorexia, leprosy and scrofula. It purifies blood by destroying the pathogenic organisms. A paste of turmeric alone, or combined with a paste of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves, is used to cure ringworm, obstinate itching, eczema and other parasitic skin diseases and also in chicken pox and smallpox. The drug is also useful in cold, cough, bronchitis, conjunctivitis and liver affections. The rhizome is the officinal part and is an important ingredient of formulations like Nâlpâmarâdi tailam, Jâtyâdi tailam, Nârâyanagulam, etc.

Most of the synonyms attributed to this drug refer to its golden yellow colour (pîtâ, pîtikâ, suvarnâ, kâncanî) and its ability to impart this colour to other stuffs (dîrgharâgâ). The names varnadâtrî, varavarninî, sobhanâ, varnavatî, etc. indicate its ability to improve the complexion while krmighnâ refers to its anthelmintic and antiseptic properties.”

 

“Oral administration of the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa had been found to produce significant relief in cases of tamaksvâsa (asthma) and kâsa (cough). The antirheumatic activity of curcumin, isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, has been clinically demonstrated in cases of rheumatoid arthritis…”