Turmeric (Curcuma domestica) is one kind of medicinal plant that has many benefits, such as spices (especially curry), food coloring, beverages, textiles and cosmetics. This plant has been known since a long time in Indonesia and its use quite a lot in everyday life. Given today's lifestyle that inclined modern with symptoms almost instantaneous, making the disease that develops in the community is also diverse. In the last ten years, many diseases that stuck out in the community including AIDS, cancer, avian flu and even symptoms of early senility. This condition makes people start thinking to look for alternative treatments alongside conventional modern medicine. One of the best prospects of medicinal plants as a substitute for chemical treatment that can slow the arrival of senile diseases is turmeric. Use of this crop is usually in the form of powder or turmeric powder that blended into the cooking spices.
Turmeric rhizome extremely useful as antikoagul's, lowering blood pressure, de-worming, Abat asthma, blood booster, upset stomach, diarrhea, appendicitis and arthritis. In addition to air-efficacy in the treatment, turmeric is also widely used for dye, cosmetics ingredient, bactericide, fungicide and stimulants.
Turmeric to prevent Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease is a common type of senile diseases occur in humans who began entering old age (the elderly). Naturally, dementia is common in every person since the brain's physical condition declined. But the arrival of pikunpun can be slowed by using turmeric in curry spice. Curry spice turmeric as an ingredient that is widely used in various recipes is felt to maintain the quality of the brain until advanced age. One proof is the elderly who are in Asian countries still have a good memory in old age because they are diligent eating curry spices.
Results of research Dr. Tze-Pin Ng from National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1010 elderly people aged 60 to 93 in 2003, showed that seniors who diligently consume curry seasoning has a higher retention than those who rarely or never at all. This might make us curious and want to know. Apparently the secret lies in the yellow pigments (curcumin) contained in the rhizome of turmeric which used it in making the curry spice. Curcumin in turmeric has a very important function in treating various types of diseases because these compounds can act as anti-tumor promoter, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammation and anti virus. In addition, curcumin in turmeric was also instrumental in improving the immune system.
Turmeric which will be made concoction of curry spice turmeric can be made from the tuber that has been dried. In terms of simplicity, bulbs that have been sliced and dried, it's easier to be milled flour. In consumer countries like the United States and Britain, turmeric powder is used directly as a spice in food coloring, and raw material of oleoresin. In India, turmeric powder is one of the basic material for the manufacture of curry spices (curry powder) which is a homogeneous mixture of different types of turmeric powder.
By routinely consuming curry spices, will be able to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease that can cause senile total because of physical condition of the brain that continues to decline. But make no mistake, the use of excessive even for the elderly can give rise to the effects of abdominal pain, liver disorders or ginjal.Dari the conclusion of the pe-researchers reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology Issue 1 November 2006, stating that seasoning curry is very potential to prevent Alzheimer's because the views of its efficacy and not poisonous. The results of this study is the first evidence showing the link between curry consumption with cognitive abilities of the brain.
The figure of plants
Turmeric (Curcuma domestica Vahl.) Is a medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia and has developed extensively in South Asia, South China, Taiwan, Fili-pina and grow well in Indonesia. Plants grow upright to reach a high 1.0 to 1.5 m. Having ridden pseudo stem by stem-leaf midrib. Spiky plant leaves and slippery with about 30 cm long and 8 cm wide. Flowers emerge from the pseudo stem with a length of about 10-15 cm. Color white or white flowers striped green and sometimes pink flower tip. The main part of the plant is rimpangnya residing in the soil. It usually grows creeping rhizome and rhizome parent usually ellipse.
Growing environment
Turmeric can be grown successfully on ketingggian 0-1200 m above sea level. Adaptation of the plants very well in the heat to moderate climate with high humidity. Land that is suitable for growing saffron is a fertile soil, loose, contains humus and well drained. To obtain optimal growth, turmeric should get wet months of about 4-6 months before the death of the leaves. For the formation of rhizome much needed sunlight is sufficient.
Phytochemicals turmeric
The main chemical compounds contained in the rhizome of turmeric is a volatile oil and curcuminoids. Essential oils containing sesquiterpene alcohol, tour-Meron and zingiberen, whereas compounds containing curcuminoids curcumin and its derivatives (yellow) that includes desmetoksi-curcumin and bidesmetoksikurku-min. In addition it also contains compounds gom rhizome, fat, protein, kalsiun, phosphorus and iron.
Cultivation of plants
Turmeric cultivation is easy. Rhizomes of plants that will be used as seed should have enough at around 10 months old and weighs 20-30 g. Seeds to be planted should have a long shoots 2-3 cm. Prior to planting, the soil first processed in a way to fork and hoe in place that will be planted. Tillage should be done at the beginning of the rainy season. Manure can be given as much as 0.5 kg / planting hole and the optimal spacing is 50 cm x 50 cm and planting of seedlings should be at a depth of 7.5 cm - 10 cm, with the buds facing upwards. Each planting hole should be filled with one seed and the seed is inserted, the planting hole again covered with soil. To get the growth and production of rhizomes that op-timal, preferably in fertilizer plants with artificial fertilizers which SP36 and KCl at the beginning of each planting as much as 200 kg / ha and urea of 200 kg / ha are given as much three times, namely 1 / 3 dose at age 1 month, 2 months and 3 months fter planting. In addition, efforts are also important plant maintenance, which can be done by way of weeding out weeds once every two months and smoothing guludan.
Harvest
Turmeric is usually harvested at the age of about 90-10 months. How to harvest that is easy enough to dig up the roots with a fork. Try to keep the rhizome are not broken left behind when excavated so that the weight gained higher. After forking, the soil around the roots were cleaned and rim-pang dikumpukan in sacks. Usually the yield can reach 20-30 tons / ha of fresh ginger.
