Botany
Luya-luyahan has tuberous rhizomes, like that of dilaw (Curcuma longa), fleshy, aromatic (having an odor like that of ginger) and of a pale yellow color. Leaves are usually in pairs, erect, petioled, green, often with a purplish blotch in the center, elliptic-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, slenderly acuminate, 25 to 70 cm long, 8 to 15 cm wide. Scape arises from the rootstock and not from the leaf-tuft, often appearing before the leaves. Peduncle is 10 to 20 cm long and covered with few loose bracts. Spikes are cylindric, 10 to 15 cm long, 5 to 8 cm in diameter, composed of numerous ovate to obovate, somewhat spreading rounded bracts, the lower ones green, more or less tipped with pink, the upper ones usually longer and purple, each containing several flowers, the lower flowers opening first. Calyx is small and 2-fid. Corolla tube is about 2 cm long, yellowish-white, and sometimes tinged with purple, the lip is usually yellow and 2-lobed. Fruits are capsules, membranaceous, globose, 3-valved.

Distribution
Grows abundantly throughout the Philippines in open waste places.

Constituents
• Volatile oil (zedoary oil), 0.25-0.665%-cineol, camphene, zingiberene, borneol, camphor, curcumin, zedoarin; gum; starch; resin.
• Phytochemial evaluation of the rhizome yielded: moisture, 83.22%; total ash, 6.64%; acid insoluble ash, 0.64%; alchohol soluble extractives, 15.53%, water soluble extractives, 18.96%; sugar, 12.51% and starch 15.70%.

Parts used and preparation
· Part utilized: rhizome.
· Collect rhizome during August to October.
· Rinse, remove roots, cut into sections and sun-dry.

Properties
- Pungent tasting, warming and slightly aromatic.
- Improves Ch'i and blood circulation, anticontusion, and improves menstrual flow.
- Rhizomes are considered cooling, diuretic, stomachic, emmenagogue, digestive, improves appetite.
- Volatile oil is a viscid liquid of a greenish color, with a smell of ginger oil mixed with camphor. The presence of cineol suggests camphor and sesquiterpene.

Uses
Folkloric
· In the Philippines the juice of the fresh rhizome is used as remedy for certain kinds of dermatitis (paño blanco).
· The rhizome is used as topical and applied to the stomach as stomachic.
· In Bulacan Province the fresh rhizomes are burned and the ash applied externally to wounds, ulcers and sprains.
· For abdominal cramps, amenorrhea-abdominal pain, rheumatic pain: 4 to 9 gms of dried materials in decoction.
· In India, used for flatulent colic and debility. Used as ingredient in bitter tincture of zedoary and anti-periodic pills. The rhizome is used for poulticing. In Punjab and Cashmere, used for liver pains.
· In Ceylon the rhizome is used as tonic and carminative; the Arabs used it as tonic and aphrodisiac.
· Rhizome paste used externally for cuts, wounds, itching and sprains.
· Pain and swelling associated with sprains: Use pounded and fried rhizome with alcohol and apply as poultice. Or, warm fresh rhizome over fire, crush and apply on abdomen or affected part.
· In Ayurveda, used for diarrhea, cancer, flatulence and dyspepsis.
· According to the USA Dispensatory zedoary is a gastrointestinal stimulant in flatulent colic and other afflictions of the gastrointestinal system.
· In Java and India the rhizome is chewed, or as decoction, as strengthening tonic after childbirth.
· In the Malay Peninsula decoction is given as tonic and for indigestion.
· Fresh rhizome considered cooling and diuretic, used for leucorrheal and gonorrheal discharges, and as a blood purifier. Rhizome also used as emmenagogue in amenorrhea. Also, rhizome used as an ingredient of stomachic elixirs and bitter drops preparations.

Studies
• Antimicrobial: (1) Antimicrobial activity of Curcuma zedoaria and Curcuma malabarica tubers: Study supports the traditional use of CZ for baterial and fungal infections. (2) Study showed the hydroalcoholic extract to have potent antimicrobial activity against B cereus and moderate activity against K pneumonia and C albicans.
• Phytochemical / Analgesic: Phytochemical Analysis and Analgesic Properties of Curcuma zedoaria Rhizomes Grown in Brazil: Phytochemical studies yielded dichloromethane and curcumenol which exhibited analgesic activity and justifies its folkloric use for painful conditions.
• Anti-inflammatory: A Curcuminoid and Two Sesquiterpenoids from Curcuma zedoaria as Inhibitors of Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Activated Macrophages: Study suggests the use of CZ rhizome as an antiinflammatory may be explained partly by inhibition of NO production.
• Antitumor / Genotoxicity / Anticlastogenic: Antitumor, genotoxicity and anticlastogenic activities of polysaccharide from Curcuma zedoaria: Study suggests the CZ-I-III, the polysaccharide fraction from CZ, decreases tumor size of mouse and prevents chromosomal mutation.
• Decreased Melanin Synthesis / Anti-Tyrosinase: Study showed the combination of extracts of C zedoaria and Aloe vera is effective in decreasing melanin synthesis when tested in murine melanoma cells. The mechanism was through tyrosinase blockage. Tyrosinase is the primary enzyme involved in the oxidation of tyrosine to melanin, and its inactivation is essential in achieving the skin lightening effects of various cosmetic preparations. Furthermore, the approach is reversible, safe, without permanent damage.
• Antimicrobial / Mouthrinse Activity: Study comparing the antimicrobial activity of CZ against S mutans, E faecalis, S aureus and C albicans with five commercial mouthrinses showed it to be comparable to that of commercial products. Its incorporation into a mouthrinse could be an alternative for improving the antimicrobial efficacy of the oral product.
• Sedative Effect / Phytochemicals / Toxicity Study: Phytochemicals yielded alkaloid groups and triterpenoids, curcuminoids - curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin (most common). Results showed the chloroform soluble fractgion might contain active sedative compounds, and effect achieved through the GABA pathway, muscarinic receptor pathway and the opioid receptor pathway. Toxicity study also classifies it as practically non-toxic.
• Antitumor Effect / Immunomodulation: Study of crude extract of CZ on peripheral blood cells and tumor progression in mice injected with murine melanoma cells showed intraperitoneal therapy caused a significant increase in white and RBC count, decrease in peritoneal cell number, tumor volume reduction. The results suggest a phytotherapic potential to compounds against tumor progression and possible immunomodulation.
• Reduction of Meat Cholesterol in Broiler: Study showed that although the addition of CZ meal in the broiler ration did not significantly affect the percentage of abdominal fat, it significantly reduced the level of cholesterol broiler meat.
• Cytotoxicity / Curcumins: Study isolated an active curcuminoid, demethoxycurcumin, together with curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. The curcuminoids demonstrated cytotoxicity against human ovarian cancer OVCAR-3 cells.
• Uterine Myoelectric Effect: Study showed C. zedoaria has an exciting effect on the smooth muscle of uterus in rats, with a mechanism that may be associated with M- and alpha-receptors.
• Pharmacognostic Evaluation: Phytochemial evaluation of the rhizome yielded: moisture, 83.22%; total ash, 6.64%; acid insoluble ash, 0.64%; alchohol soluble extractives, 15.53%, water soluble extractives, 18.96%; sugar, 12.51% and starch 15.70%.
• Antitumore / Isocurcumenol: Study characterized isocurcumenol which was found to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells without inducing significant toxicity to normal cells. In vivo tumor reduction studies showed significant reduction of ascitic tumor in DLA-challenged mice and increased lifespan.

Availability
Wildcrafted.