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Kali Haldi

Curcuma caesia, black turmeric or black zedoary is a perennial herb with bluish-black rhizome, native to North-East and Central India.

The rhizome of black turmeric has a high economic importance owing to its putative medicinal properties. In west Bengal, the rhizome of the plant is used in Kali Puja, and hence the plant is called Kali haldi. By etymology, Kali is the feminine form of Kala, which means black color and hence the plant is termed as black turmeric in English. This species has been regarded as endangered by the central forest department of India due to bio piracy.
Common names: काली हल्दी Kali Haldi, कृष्ण केदार Krishna kedar.
The rhizomes are used as a rubeficient to rub the body after taking a Turkish bath. In Bengal, it is used in the fresh state-turmeric. The rhizomes of the herb are often used by tribal communities for the treatment of pneumonia, cough, and cold in children, and for fever and asthma in adults.

Fresh rhizomes are crushed and applied as a paste on forehead for relief from migraine or applied on the body for sprains and bruises. The rhizomes are claimed to have a property of acting against leukoderma, epilepsy, and cancer. Intake of small amount of rhizome paste is claimed to expel gases from the stomach and cure menstrual disorders.

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