Turmeric-Special Herb

Turmeric is a spice commonly used as an important ingredient in most commercial curry powders. Turmeric is an ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring. turmeric is one spice which will always be found in every Indian kitchen and is used to add flavor to curries and stir fries. But its skin benefits are more notable as turmeric is renowned for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Cultural Importance:

For thousands of years it has been used in the Hindu religious ceremonies. It is the common belief among the Hindus that Turmeric improves fertility. The dry turmeric root is considered as the symbol of purity and prosperity. It is used in Indian rites and rituals. Turmeric mixed in water is poured on the God and Goddesses. The dried turmeric roots in betel leaves are given to the women during the ceremonies as they are considered as fertile and bring good luck. Turmeric power is applied on the main entrance of the Indian Houses. The priests in the temples put tilak on the forehead with the turmeric power. Married women in India have to put Sindur a vermilion paste (mixture of turmeric with camphor).

Benefits:

Beauty:

Beauticians the world over are waking up to the amazing benefits of turmeric and it’s also being incorporated in beauty products.

•         Turmeric helps you reduce pigmentation on your face and even out your skin tone. Mix a little turmeric with cucumber or lemon juice and apply to your face. Leave it for some time and wash off. A one-time application will be of little help and only regular use will give a soft glow to your face.
•          Turmeric mixed with sandalwood powder and a little water, and applied to the face can greatly reduce the appearance of acne.
•   Mix some turmeric with gram flour and water and use it to scrub all over your body before your shower. Doing this regularly will indeed help you get a glowing skin.
•  Mixture of turmeric with yogurt to the abdomen and then it wipe off after five minutes. This can avoid stretch marks for pregnant women also it will help in maintaining the elasticity of the skin and prevent stretch marks.
•  Regular face wash with turmeric reduces facial hair growth significantly.
•   Natural cleansers like milk with turmeric powder are effective natural cosmetics in themselves; it brings a healthy glow to the skin and makes them beautiful. They also help to restore or maintain youth by controlling wrinkle and crease formation on the surface of the skin.

 Health:

• It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
• When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
• Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
• Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
• Is a natural liver detoxifier.
• May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloid plaque buildup in the brain.
• May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
• It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
• Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
• Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
• May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
• Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
• Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
• Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
• Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
• Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
• Speeds up wound healing and assist in remodeling of damaged skin.
• May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
• Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

Medicinal Use:

• A fresh Juice from rhizome or (the aboveground and underground roots) a paste prepared from turmeric or decoction is often used as a local application as well as internally in the treatment of leprosy skin disease.
• In case of smallpox and chickenpox, turmeric is applied as a powder or as a paste to facilitate the process of scabbing.
• The main organs that turmeric treats are the skin, heart, liver and lungs.
• Turmeric is used for epilepsy and bleeding disorders, skin diseases, to purify the body-mind, and to help the lungs expel Kapha.
• Activities of Turmeric include: Alterative, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-allergic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, appetizer, and astringent, cardiovascular, carminative, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, stimulant, and vulnerary.
• Therapeutic uses of Turmeric: Anemia, cancer, diabetes, digestion, food poisoning, gallstones, indigestion, IBS, parasites, poor circulation, staph infections, and wounds.
• Turmeric helps to regulate the female reproductive system and purifies the uterus and breast milk, and in men it purifies and builds semen, which is counterintuitive for a pungent bitter.
• Turmeric reduces fevers, diarrhea, urinary disorders, and insanity, poisoning, cough, and lactation problems in general.
• Turmeric is used to treat external ulcers that respond to nothing else. Turmeric decreases Kapha and so is used to remove mucus in the throat, watery discharges like leucorrhea, and any pus in the eyes, ears, or in wounds, etc.
• It is also an antioxidant Ayurveda recognizes turmeric as a heating spice, contributing bitter, pungent and astringent tastes.

In Ayurveda cooking, turmeric is everywhere, this multifaceted wonder spice helps

• Detoxify the liver
• Balance cholesterol levels
• Fight allergies
• Stimulate digestion
• Boost immunity
• Enhance the complexion

Other uses

Cooking: 

Turmeric acts as a yellow coloring agent. It is an important herb in Hindu rituals. It is also an ingredient in cosmetics as it is beneficial for the skin. Burning turmeric can repel insects. Inhaling the smoke can assist in coughs, asthma and congested nasal passages.

Ears, Eyes, Nose and Mouth:

Turmeric dust, with alum 1:20, is blown into the ear to treat chronic logorrhea.

Mix a pinch of Turmeric with organic ghee and apply it to the mucus lining of nose to stop the sniffles. It also stops nosebleeds, helps to clear the sinuses, restore a more acute sense of smell, and helps to purify the mind and brain.

Turmeric helps to maintain the shape and integrity of our eyes.

A Turmeric/water decoction, 1:20, is used to treat conjunctivitis and eye disease in general. Soak a cloth in the decoction and then cover the eye with it. This helps to relieve the pain as well.

Turmeric for Stomach and Intestines

Turmeric treats the whole Gastro - Intestinal system.

In general turmeric is used for

• Weak stomachs
• Poor digestion
• Dyspepsia
• To normalize metabolism
• To help digest protein
• To increase the bio-availability of food and the ability of the stomach to withstand digestive acids.

Turmeric is a great carminative, able to calm an upset digestive system by getting rid of gas and distention. Carminatives also tend to increase absorption and nurture the intestinal flora.

Taking Turmeric will work fine to balance an upset digestion. Just take a small spoonful of Turmeric and stir it in a cup of yogurt right after lunch.

Remedy for ‘piles’ is to directly apply a mixture of mustard oil, turmeric, and onion juice. To stop rectal bleeding take a 2 or 3 tablespoons of Turmeric every half hour until the bleeding stops, usually in an hour.

Remedies

Anemia: Everyday takes a dose of 1 tsp. of turmeric juice mixed with honey.

Asthma: Boil 1 cup of milk with 1 tsp. of turmeric powder. Drink warm.

Burns: Mix 1 tsp. of turmeric with 1 tsp. of aloe gel and apply to burnt area.

Conjunctivitis: Mix 1 tbsp. of crushed, raw turmeric in 1/3 cup of water. Boil and sieve. 2–3 drops of this mixture may be used in each eye up to 3 times per day.

Complexion: Apply a paste of turmeric on the skin before bed, and wash off after a few minutes. In the morning, remove any remaining yellow tinged with a paste of chickpea flour (besan) and oil.

Dental problems: Mix 1 tsp. of turmeric with ½ tsp. of salt. Add mustard oil to make a paste. Rub the teeth and gums with this paste twice daily.

Diabetes: ½–1 tsp. of turmeric should be taken 3 times a day.

Diarrhea: Take ½ tsp. of turmeric powder or juice in water, 3 times per day.

Pain: Mix 1 tsp. of turmeric and 2 tsp. of ginger with water to make a paste. Spread over a cloth, place on the affected area and bandage.

Add 1 tsp. of turmeric to 1 cup of warm milk and drink before bed.

Scientific Reason:

Women traditionally applied turmeric paste to their foot and legs. This is because they used to perform many household duties which involved bringing water from the river, cleaning the house with water, washing clothes, and cooking. Most of the houses were made of mud and clay which were soaked in water at regular intervals for cleaning purposes. All these activities required women step into/on water. In order to prevent their feet and legs from the bacterial and fungus infections; they were advised to apply turmeric paste to their legs.

Interesting Facts- Kunkuma:

Kunkuma, a red powder is made of turmeric and lime.Kunkuma is worn by Hindu woman as the on the forehead at the point of the third eye; small dot of kunkuma worn on the forehead between the eyebrows, or in the middle of the forehead. While applying Kunkuma, the points on the mid-brow region and Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles. By a woman applying Kunkuma, the soul-energy is awakened in her.