Temulawak and Treatment of Liver Disease

Temulawak is a natural Indonesian herb, but it only grows in Java, Maluku and Kalimantan. Temulawak is considered as bush vegetation and its leaves grow from the root and the height is about 2 – 2.5 m. Its round shaped leaves (similar to Banana Leaves) covered one another and shaped like a stem.

Temulawak grows in low level ground up to 750 m above the sea. It can be harvested after 8-12 months, when the leaves turn yellowish. The tuber grows from stem and has dark-yellowish (brownish) color, 15 cm of length and 6 cm of diameters. This tuber smells balmy and tastes bitter.

It has a yellowish color because it contains curcuma substance that works to degenerate bacteria and as a hepatoprotector. Temulawak also contains atsiri essential oil, which is good to improve digestion system, increase appetite and the production of breast-milk.

Prof.Dr.dr. Sujono Hadi, a chancellor of Padjajaran University (UNPAD) Bandung, in the 12th herbal conference in ITB, said that a research has shown that temulawak extract has a good potential to cure liver disease. Temulawak extract is also proven to be good to decrease cholesterol level in the blood and liver.