Turmeric is an excellent yellow spice common in many Asian cultures used as a medicine or a spice ingredient in cooking. However, turmeric doesn’t only come in one type. One popular type of turmeric is Javanese Turmeric or Temulawak, which originated from an archipelago country located in the Southeast Asian region, Indonesia. 

Although turmeric and Javanese turmeric (also known as “Temulawak”) contain the chemical substance curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for the human body, both types of turmeric are relatively different in terms of health benefits. Turmeric provides more health benefits for relieving pain and skin health issues. However, Javanese turmeric offers more health benefits for health issues related to the digestive system and liver health. To learn more about the differences, below are the three key health benefits of turmeric and Javanese turmeric to help you distinguish between the two spices!

Turmeric

• Itchy skin: Turmeric is believed to be an effective ingredient to relieve itchy skin due to chronic kidney issues. To use turmeric to reduce itchy skin problems, try combining curcumin and black pepper or long pepper extracts into your meal or drink.
• Osteoarthritis: Other than relieving itchy skin problems, turmeric is also beneficial for reducing pain in osteoarthritis patients, which is a condition that causes joint pain and loss of joint flexibility.
• Skin rashes: Chemical substances in turmeric can provide benefits for overcoming skin irritation problems caused by inflammation of the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membrane.

Javanese Turmeric (“Temulawak”)

• Digestive problems: Javanese turmeric can stimulate the production of bile fluid in the gallbladder, which helps digestion and metabolism of food in the body. Not only that, but this spice can also overcome flatulence, increase appetite, and help digestion issues.
• Maintain liver health: Other than curcumin, Javanese turmeric also contains other chemical substances beneficial for maintaining liver health, such as aetheric oil, glycoside, and p-tolyletycarbinol. 
• Osteoarthritis: Similar to turmeric, Javanese turmeric also has benefits for overcoming osteoarthritis. According to the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Javanese turmeric provides health effects similar to ibufren, a pain-reducing drug usually given to osteoarthritis patients. 

Even though both turmeric and Javanese turmeric contain similar chemical substances, each spice provides better health benefits to relatively different health problems. For instance, if you have digestive issues, you may want to opt for Javanese turmeric rather than turmeric due to its natural chemicals that can benefit your digestive system. Otherwise, ensure that you only pick the best quality of turmeric before putting it into your body. 

References:

1. https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/meskipun-mirip-ini-perbedaan-kunyit-dan-temulawak

2. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-532/javanese-turmeric