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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Qi-Moving, Liver-Soothing, Blood-Cooling & Choleretic Sovereign (活血止痛 / 行气解郁清心凉血利胆退黄开窍药)

    郁金 / 姜黄郁金 / 芳香郁金 / 黄丝郁金 — Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (syn. Curcuma wenyujin auct.)

    Pinyin: Yùjīn / Jiānghuáng Yùjīn · Malay: Temu Putih Wangi / Kunyit Wangi / Kasturi Manjal · Family: Zingiberaceae (姜科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Cold (寒 / 微寒)

    Flavor

    Pungent, bitter (辛、苦)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝), Heart (心), Lung (肺), Gallbladder (胆)

    Traditional Edict

    Stagnation-Releasing Gold (Yu Jin / Kasturi Manjal). Spindle-shaped golden root tubers. Dispels emotional depression and Qi stagnation, cools blood, stimulates bile to clear jaundice and gallstones, and clears mental confusion.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Cool and Qi-moving; contraindicated during pregnancy (blood-activating dynamics) and in complete mechanical bile duct obstruction. Contraindicated in cold deficiency without stagnation.

    Clinical Applications

    • Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cholecystitis with gallstone sludge, major depressive disorder with chest tightness, hyperlipidemia, facial melasma (tyrosinase inhibition), and acute acne vulgaris.

    Quality Markers

    Total Curcuminoids >= 2.00%, Curcumol (莪术醇) >= 0.50% & Germacrone (Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Curcumol and germacrone stimulate BSEP/MRP2 transporters, accelerating biliary bilirubin/cholesterol excretion and protecting hepatocytes. 2. Inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO) for antidepressant neurotransmitter elevation. 3. Tyrosinase inhibition.

    Preparation & Dosage

    Steamed and dried root tuber discs (Tuber Curcumae) in decoction: 6-12 g daily. Facial Bridal Melasma Mask (Kasturi Manjal Paste): 5 g wild turmeric powder mixed with yogurt/rose water applied for 15 min (non-staining golden skin glow).

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. Classical Stagnation-Releasing & Antidepressant Decoction with Bupleurum (Chai Hu) and Cyperus (Xiang Fu). 2. Royal Kasturi Bridal Skin-Whitening & Melasma Mask with Santalum album (Sandalwood).

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only