Javanese Turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza), also known as "temulawak," has a longstanding traditional use in Indonesian and Southeast Asian medicine for liver health, including conditions like fatty liver disease. Recent scientific studies have begun to investigate its efficacy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The primary active compounds, particularly xanthorrhizol and curcuminoids, have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in preclinical studies, which are relevant to the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease.

Several animal studies have shown that extracts of Javanese Turmeric can reduce hepatic lipid accumulation, improve liver enzyme profiles, and decrease markers of oxidative stress in models of induced fatty liver. For example, research published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2020) and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2018) reported amelioration of fatty liver and improved histopathological liver changes in rats given C. xanthorrhiza extracts. However, robust human clinical trials are lacking, and most available studies are small, preliminary, or not well-controlled.

Thus, while there is promising preclinical evidence supporting the use of Javanese Turmeric for fatty liver disease, clinical validation in humans remains limited. Its use for this condition is justified more by emerging scientific data than by tradition alone, but the evidence is still moderate and not definitive.