The medicinal history of turmeric is at least 2500 years old. Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Chinese medicine recommend turmeric for a large number of disorders and diseases. Susruta's Ayurvedic. Compendium, dating to 250 BC, recommends an ointment containing turmeric to relieve the effects of poisoned food.

Traditional Indian medicine uses the powder against billary disorders, anorexia, coryza, cough, diabetic wounds, hepatic disorders, rheumatic disorders, sprains and swellings caused by injury, and sinusitis. Externally, the dried rhizome has been applied to fresh wounds and to insect stings and to help the healing process in chickenpox and smallpox. Traditional Chinese medicine uses curcuma in diseases associated with abdominal pain, amenorrhea, dysmenorrheal, distending or pricking pain in the chest and abdomen; impairment of consciousness in febrile diseases, epilepsy, and mania; jaundice with dark urine.

It is also applied topically for ulcers, wounds, eczema, and inflammations. In both the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of medicine, a turmeric paste is used topically to treat ulcers and scabies. The Himalayan system of medicine recommends turmeric for contraception, swelling, insect stings, wounds, whooping cough, inflammation, internal injuries, pimples, injuries, and as a skin tonic.

Chinese medicine recommends turmeric for promoting flow of Qi and removing blood stasis, clearing away heat from the heart to relieve depression, and cooling blood to arrest bleeding. The herb is credited with powers to stop hemorrhage and dissolve clots. In Unani medicine, turmeric has been used for conditions such as liver obstruction and jaundice and has been applied externally for ulcers and inflammation. Roasted turmeric has been used as an ingredient of a preparation used for dysentery. Turmeric has also been used in tooth powder or paste.