Updated 17 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Liliopsida
- Order: Zingiberales
- Family: Zingiberaceae
- Genus: Curcuma
- Part used: Rhizome
- Country of origin: Madagascar, Nepal, South Asia
Precautions for use
Caution! Turmeric essential oil is reserved for adults.
It is contraindicated in pregnant women and young children because of its high content of curcumin, a compound suspected of being abortifacient and neurotoxic in high doses.
People with asthma should seek medical advice before using it.
Finally, the oral route is reserved for the therapist.
Other precautions
Warning:
- For people with asthma, seek medical advice before use.
- It is recommended not to use this essential oil for long periods of time.
Ingestion:
- The use of turmeric essential oil by ingestion requires a therapeutic prescription.
- This essential oil can be used in cooking if it is first diluted in a fat (oil, cream, yoghurt, milk) or sweetened (syrup, honey). It should not be used pure.
Endocrine effects:
- Turmeric essential oil contains abortifacient molecules and is therefore contraindicated in pregnant women.
Allergenic components:
Turmeric essential oil contains an allergenic biochemical component:
- Limonene (≤ 1%)
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
How to use
Risks of use
Properties
- Choleretic, hepatobiliary stimulant
- Digestive tonic, carminative
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Cicatrization
- Analgesic
- Antiseptic
- Aphrodisiac
- Vermifuge
- Antiparasitic and antifungal
- Emmenagogue
- Palatable
Indications
- Aerophagia
- Abdominal swelling
- Flatulence
- Scarring
- Dyspepsia
- Difficult digestion
- Intestinal worms
- Colitis
- Biliary insufficiency
- Inflammatory dermatitis
- Fungal skin infections
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Irregular menstrual cycles
Directions for use/usual dosage
External use
- Stimulates digestion, relieves acid reflux by stimulating mucus, soothes inflammation, facilitates bile secretion. Soothes skin and rheumatic inflammations.
- Massage the affected areas and dilute with a vegetable oil.
Internal use
- Stimulates digestion, relieves acid reflux by stimulating mucus, soothes inflammation, facilitates bile secretion.
- 1 to 2 drops in a teaspoon of vegetable oil, honey or on a neutral tablet at the beginning of a meal.
Aromatic bath
- For relaxation, about fifteen drops mixed with bath oil or coarse sea salt.
Cosmetic
- Turmeric essential oil can be added to cosmetic preparations in the form of anti-wrinkle and regenerating day creams for mature and acne-prone skin, as well as anti-dandruff and scalp cleansing hair lotions. For hair care, combine with Cedrus atlantica (cedar), Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) and Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender) essential oils.
Cooking
- 1 to 2 drops of turmeric essential oil can be used in a wide range of dishes, including fish and meat sauces, vegetable stir-fries, soups, as a seasoning for raw vegetables and in certain desserts to enhance flavour.
Interior use
- When diffused internally, it calms emotional upset and promotes general relaxation.
Find out more
The rhizome of the turmeric plant is used as both a spice and a medicinal plant, and produces an attractive yellow colour that makes it suitable for use in food dyeing and fabric dyeing.
Scientific researchers are still exploring the extent of its therapeutic qualities, particularly in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and depression.