Medicinal Uses
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 the Baiga, Sahariya, Agariya, Gond, Korku, and other tribal communities of Mandla, Balaghat, Chhindwara, Anooppur, and Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh state for the treatment of pneumonia, cough, and cold in children, and for fever and asthma in adults. In northeast India, the powder of rhizomes is used by tribal women as a face-pack during their engagement and marriage period. Fresh rhizomes are crushed and applied as a paste on forehead for relief from migraine or applied on the body for sprains and bruises. In Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, Kanti tribes apply fresh rhizome paste on snake and scorpion bites . The rhizomes are claimed to have a property of acting against leukoderma, epilepsy, cancer and HIV/AIDS. Gondi people of Bastar apply rhizome paste on the hydrocele using betel leaves. Intake of small amount of rhizome paste is claimed to expel gases from stomach and cure menstrual disorders.
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