Description

Kasthuri Manjal | Kasturi Turmeric | Kasturi Haldi commonly called Wild Turmeric in English has amazing health 
and skin benefits and has been used extensively for skin care in India. Kasturi turmeric is popularly used for 
treating acne, pimple scars, unwanted hair removal and fairness. It is used extensively even for babies too.
What Is Kasthuri Turmeric?
Kasthuri Manjal  is a fragrant variety of turmeric that has amazing beauty benefits. It’s botanical name is 
Curcuma Aromatica and it belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and genus Curcuma. It is the second most popular 
curcuma species next to common turmeric and is widely found all over India.
Kasthuri Turmeric Plant:
Curcuma aromatica is a plant that grows up to 16 inches in height. The perennial part of the plant dies during 
late autumn and the rhizome remains dormant during winter. During monsoon, the inflorescence appears and the 
plant grows rapidly. Kasturi turmeric grows in abundance in western ghats and whenever we go trekking into the 
forest, I just love to admire the beautiful pink wild turmeric flowers.

The rhizomes are cream in color with a strong distinctive fragrance. If you have even a small piece of curcuma 
aromatica | kasthuri manjal | wild turmeric in the room, the whole room will smell very nice. In India, kasturi 
turmeric is mainly cultivated in West Bengal and Kerala. Kasthuri Manjal/ Wild turmeric is very very fragrant 
and you could have easily guessed that it is a favorite among all the turmeric varieties.
Kasthuri Manjal Common Names:

Curcuma Aromatica is commonly called Wild Turmeric | Aromatic Turmeric in English, Kasturi Pasupu in Telugu,  
Kasthuri Manjal | கஸ்தூரி மஞ்சள் in Tamil, Kasturi Haldi | Jangli Haldi in Hindi, Kasthoori Manjal in 
Malayalam, Ran Halad in Marathi, Kasthuri Arishina in Kannada, Shati in Bengali and Zedoari in Gujarati.

Kasthuri Manjal Chemical Constituents: 
Kasturi turmeric rhizome contains curcumin, zederone, curdione, neocurdione, curcumol, tetramethyl pyrazine, 
1,2 hexadecanediol, noeprocurcumenol and 9-oxo-neoprocurcumenol. Kasturi turmeric volatile oil contains 
ar-curcumene, xanthorrhizal, germacrone, camphor, curzerenone, 7-methanoazulene, 1,8-cineole and linalool.

Kasthuri Manjal Medicinal Uses:
Though kasthuri turmeric is mainly used for external application as it is very fragrant, does not stain the skin
easily and also because of it’s wonderful skin healing properties, it does have wonderful medicinal uses if
taken internally too.

1. Antitussive Properties (relieves cough): 
A small pinch of kasthuri turmeric powder mixed in hot water can be taken for treating cough very very effectively
You can read the study that proves it here.

2. Antioxidant Properties: 
Kasthuri manjal has wonderful antioxidant properties and it helps fight off free radical damage which is one of
the major reasons for premature ageing of the skin and body.

 3. Mosquito Repellent Properties:
Kasturi turmeric when applied externally have amazing mosquito repellent properties and greatly reduces mosquito
bites. The volatile oil extracted from kasturi turmeric also have mosquito repellent properties and you can
read the study that proves it here. 

4. Anti-Cancer & Anti-Tumor Properties:
Kasturi turmeric water extract reduces the growth of tumor and cancer cells just like normal turmeric when taken
internally. You can read the study that proves it here.

5. Kidney Protective Properties:
Not only the kasturi turmeric rhizomes but the leaf also has medicinal properties. The water extract of the
leaves have nephroprotective properties.

6. Wound Healing Properties: 

Kasthuri turmeric has wonderful wound healing properties and has been traditionally used for it. Here in our
village, we apply turmeric poultice for small scrapes and wounds and usually they heal very quickly.

7. Anti Inflammatory Properties: 
Kasthuri manjal has amazing anti inflammatory properties and when you apply kasturi turmeric on the affected area
it reduces the inflammation very effectively and quickly.

8. Antimelanogenic Properties:
Another marvelous medicinal use of kasturi turmeric is it protects our skin against UV radiation thus preventing
melanin production which is the leading cause of skin pigmentation and tanning.

Kasturi Manjal Skin & Face Benefits: 
Due it’s amazing anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and antimelanogenic properties kasturi manjal
has wide uses for skin and face care. Each variety of turmeric have their own uses and health benefits but when
it comes to external applications, wild turmeric is the king.
Wild turmeric treats a wide variety of skin diseases and traditionally has been used for treating acne and acne
scars, for unwanted hair removal, eczema, hyper pigmentation, dark circles, pimples, skin whitening (lightens
spots and scars) and for glowing skin.
How To Use Kasturic Turmeric for Skin Care?
The best way to use kasturi tumeric for skin care is in the form of face packs and bath powders. It can be used
for both oily and dry skin. If you have dry skin, use it along with conditioning ingredients like curd or milk.
If you have oily skin, use it along with rose water.

Kasturi Turmeric Side Effects:
The only side effect of using kasturi manjal on the skin is the burning sensation sensation. Instead of using 
kasturi turmeric mixed with water alone using it along with other conditioning ingredients like rose water or 
curd will greatly reduce the burning sensation.

If you have very sensitive skin, use kasturi turmeric in the form of bath powder. Even babies and pregnant women
can use kasthuri manjal on their skin at least weekly once or twice mixed with yogurt and little bit of coconut
oil before bath to prevent all skin infections…..

5 Top Ways To Use Kasturi Turmeric (Kasthuri Turmeric) For Skin Care:

1. Kasthuri Manjal & Rose Water Face Pack For Skin Brightening & Dark Circles:
We haven’t come across any ingredient that changes our skin color dramatically. Whenever I see an advertisement 
promising fair skin, I only think how misleading these advertisements are, spending billions of dollars to make 
us believe something that is not true. But there are natural ingredients that brighten our skin and kasthuri 
manjal tops that list.

A simple homemade face pack made with kasthuri manjal powder and rose water will brighten our skin considerably.
If you have dry skin mix it with curd. Use this face pack weekly twice for best results. This face pack will 
lighten dark circles too….

2. Kasthuri Manjal For Unwanted Facial Hair Removal:
Regular use of kasthuri manjal on the face as a face pack helps to retard facial hair growth. In our  village, 
many homes have a small stone along with a small piece of turmeric in the bathroom. When women have their bath, 
they rub the turmeric on the stone and apply the paste on their face, this keeps the face blemish free and also 
removes facial hair.

Traditionally for unwanted hair removal, we mix korai kizhangu powder, kuppaimeni powder and kasturi turmeric 
powder in equal quantities along with water to form a paste. We apply this paste and wait for it to almost dry
and then gently rub in circular motions to remove it from our skin. This pack weakens facial hair and will help
remove it naturally.

3. Kasthuri Manjal For Glowing Skin (Babies):
In villages, if a women gets pregnant we start preparing for the babies arrival months before delivery. One 
of the main things we do is make bath powder. We start preparing nalangu powder | nalangu maavu | bath powder 
during the last trimester.

It is a powder made with kasthuri manjal and other herbs that keep the babies skin blemish free. We don’t use
kasthuri manjal for boy babies, we only use it for girl babies as it reduces the hair growth on their skin 
along with keeping the skin blemish free and glowing. You can find the recipe for it here.

4. Kasthuri Manjal for Acne & Acne Scars:
Kasthuri manjal is amazing for treating acne and acne scars. Unlike chemical filled acne creams sold in the 
market, kasthuri manjal acne treatment is very effective for treating acne and acne scars as it does not have 
any side effects.

A homemade face pack made with holy basil leaves and kasthuri manjal is very effective for acne and acne scars.
You can find the link for the recipe here. Regular fat variety of turmeric for the pack can be used, but using 
kasthuri manjal is even more effective.

5. Kasthuri Manjal Bath Powder for Hperpigmentation & Eczema:
We make a wonderful bath powder at home with kasthuri manjal. It is made with white turmeric, kasthuri manjal/
wild turmeric, rose petals and green gram dhal. This bath powder is very fragrant, prevent skin diseases and 
does not strip of skin’s natural oils.

You can find the recipe for it here. But make sure to sun dry the bath powder ingredients well before powdering
else the bath powder will spoil easily. This bath powder will treat hyper pigmentation and is also a good 
remedy for mild forms of eczema.