Throughout history there have been many natural substances that were thought to help heal the human body through various mechanisms of action but until recently these mechanisms were unknown. With the advancement of modern science, it has become possible to isolate the various mechanisms of naturally occurring herbs to understand how they can be used to heal the body and promote health in individuals. Curcuma longa is one of these herbs that has been used for thousands of years, both to heal the body and to perform other functions. Curcuma longa has historical use in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for a number of inflammatory conditions including osteoarthritis. The common name of curcuma longa is curcuma. The rhizome of the plant is typically used for both medicinal and non-medicinal uses. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family. It is possible to use the leaves, however, this is typically done in areas where it is grown locally, including India and China. It can also be found in other tropical areas. Traditional Indian medicine uses turmeric as a medicinal herb that helps protect the body from inflammatory diseases, biliary disorders, anorexia and liver disorders. It is also possible to use curcuma longa as a topical agent in the treatment of sprains and strains where it is necessary to reduce swelling at the acute injury. This topical effect is believed to be due in part to the anti-inflammatory properties of curcuma longa. Curcuma longa is also used in non-medicinal functions in many textile mills as a coloring agent. Curcuma longa contains a number of curcuminoids that include atlantone, bisdemethoxycurcumin, turmerone, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin. The main conclusion of the article was that turmeric helps reduce β-amyloid plaques and Tau protein load in mice with Alzheimer's disease. This discovery was very important because it could provide a botanical-based treatment for a neurological disorder. Overall, the Curcuma longa study area is very diverse, and recent studies suggest a wide range of efficacy. Curcuma longa is believed to be a relatively safe plant as it is already consumed on a large scale by a variety of cultures in foods and topical preparations. People who have sensitivities to curcumin or other constituents found in Curcuma longa should avoid using it, but otherwise a toxic dose has not been discovered in healthy individuals. The field of study of Curcuma longa is broad, and as science continues to advance, more knowledge can be gained about this botanical plant. Work cited