Turmeric-medicinal uses

Turmeric (Haldi) is a spice widely used in Indian cuisine. It gives a distinct flavor and yellow color when added to curries. It has been used by traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha for healing and also in cosmetic preparations.

It is a blood purifier and antiseptic. It is loaded with antioxidants and thus its regular intake protects against free radical damage.Studies have shown that it strengthens the immune system and prevents jaundice, cancers, tumors, Alzheimer’s disease etc. It also relieves arthritis pain and stiffness.

Medicinal uses and home remedies with turmeric(Haldi)
Intestinal disorders:
The juice of the raw root or the powder of the dried root mixed and taken with milk or water is very effective for intestinal problems.

Post partum recovery
The same juice is good for new mothers soon after delivery. It not only helps in faster contraction of ovaries and inner parts after delivery, but also improves the overall health and promotes breast milk secretion.

Anemia:
Turmeric is a rich and ample source of iron. Have a teaspoon of raw turmeric juice with a bit of honey, if suffering from anemia.

Asthma:
A teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of warm milk helps in fighting bronchial asthma and cough. It not only gives relief but also acts as a preventive from further attacks. Addition of black pepper powder further enhances its potency. Please refer the post on how to prepare this turmeric milk.

Sprains and wounds:
Apply a medicinal paste of turmeric (turmeric powder mixed with sweet lime juice and salt) on sprain swellings. This paste gives quick and long lasting relief. Powder of turmeric should be sprinkled on wounds/ulcers for speedy healing.

Cuts and burns:
It should be immediately applied on cuts, bleeding or burns. It is an antiseptic and stops bleeding and heals the cut or burn.

Throat pain and cough:
Add little turmeric, black pepper powder, sugar and ghee(clarified butter) to arm water and drink it, to get relief.

Turmeric for sore throat:
Take 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/4 tsp of ginger powder, add 1/2 teaspoon of pure honey in a glass of warm water. Drink it 2-3 times. A real soother for sore throat.
 
For skin diseases and itching:
Mix a spoon of turmeric with butter or coconut oil and massage on your skin.
1 tsp of turmeric powder mixed with one cup of neem leaves juice does miracles for skin problems such as utcheia, eczema, pimples etc.

Burning sensation in the eyes:
Boil water and add turmeric and cool it, wash your eyes in that water.

For sinus problems:
Fry turmeric, jaggery and ghee in equal proportion, store it in a bottle and take a pinch of it everyday.

Flatulence
½ tsp powdered turmeric taken thrice a day relieves flatulence and loss of appetite.

Diabetes and other diseases
10-20 ml of expressed juice may be taken daily in skin diseases, diabetes and jaundice.
½ tsp each of turmeric along with amla (gooseberry) powder should be taken daily early in the morning. In small pox & chicken pox, a coating should be applied to facilitate scabbing.

Common colds and scorpion bites
Sprinkle turmeric powder over burnt charcoal and inhale the fumes. This is highly beneficial in asthma and common colds. In cases of scorpion bites, the bitten area should be exposed to the same fumes for a few minutes to minimize toxicity.

Turmeric for joint pains
Equal parts of turmeric powder mixed with equal parts of of rock salt and mustard each does wonders for joint pains. Apply directly on the joints and massage smoothly on affected area. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Then apply a warm compress or do a hot water bag massage over the area.

 However try and buy pure and unadulterated turmeric. When tuurmeric was observed under the microscope, it was found that only pure turmeric is yellow, big and has an angular structure, while foreign added starches are colorless and small compared to pure turmeic.. Some common adulterants ued in turmeric powder are sawdust, starch of maize, wheat and taioca.

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34 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:52 AM

    Nice write up on turmeric..I too have heard that turmeric has lots of medicinal value..

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  2. Anonymous11:59 AM

    Very informative post. I have the habit of adding a pinch of turmeric to everything I cook. Latest studies have shown that turmeric is effective in preventing/delaying Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Three cheers to the magical powder.

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  3. Anonymous9:31 PM

    Curcumin is a useful curry spice.It has also many good features like antitumor,antioxidant, antiarthritic,anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory.

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  4. Anonymous12:03 PM

    Studies suggest the most recognized health benefits of turmeric to be:
    •Treating digestive disorders
    •As an anti-inflammatory agent (e.g. treatment of osteoarthritis)
    •Treatment of arteriosclerosis – may cause a reduction in bad cholesterol that can lead to blockage of the arteries.
    •Preliminary studies suggest a potential treatment for certain cancers – breast, colon, prostate and skin (only low-quality studies in humans have been conducted)
    •Reducing activity of roundworms and intestinal worms
    •Protection from liver disease
    •Preventing bacterial infection in wounds
    •Healing wounds
    •Eye disorder – possible (natural) treatment for uveitis

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  5. Anonymous10:16 AM

    Turmeric has powerful antioxidant properties, protects against environmental toxins, and has antibacterial properties.

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  6. Anonymous11:01 AM

    Turmeric, an essential spice of Indian cooking, is well known for its anti-inflammatory and blood purifying tendencies. It has been used for the natural treatment of boils, carbuncles, blisters, wounds and eczema for thousands of years. Turmeric can be applied topically either alone or with other natural ingredients to cause a boil to heal speedily. But the most popular remedy is to take turmeric orally about one teaspoon two to three times a day with warm water. For topical applications directly apply turmeric powder over the lesion about three times a day.
    However, a better choice is to make a poultice with oil of oregano and honey. Apply this to the boil and cover it with a bandage or cotton cloth. Results may appear as early as few hours to two days depending upon the stage of the boil

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  7. Anonymous11:02 AM

    A fresh paste of turmeric in water can be applied to prevent any blister formations.

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  8. Great post Aparna . Turmeric has so many uses apart from being used in Indian cookery

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  9. Harish9:54 AM

    I started taking Turmeric as a capsule this past week. Mostly for inflammation which i can say i honestly feel has helped a good bit.

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  10. Anonymous10:03 AM

    Curcuminoids are potent phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients) that contain powerful antioxidant properties Counteract the damaging effects of free radicals in your body Relieve arthritis pain and stiffness, anti-inflammatory agent Anti-carcinogenic: “Curcumin has been shown to prevent a large of number of cancers in animal studies. Laboratory data indicate that curcumin can inhibit tumor initiation, promotion, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis.” Supports treatment of Alzheimer’s disease:

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  11. Dr Aravind9:02 AM

    It has been shown to stimulate the production of bile and to promote the emptying of the gallbladder. But, a word of caution for those diagnosed with gall stones or obstruction of bile passages or an extremely toxic liver condition; consult your physician before you embark on curcumin therapy.

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  12. Madhu8:55 AM

    Turmeric has worked wonders for me. It actually relaxes my muscles and gives somewhat a sense of well being.

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  13. Ramesh9:03 AM

    Good article, turmeric in particular has been the subject of much research lately, i have had great success in applying it topically to an inflamed ankle from an old sprain which acts up every now and then

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  14. Samata10:10 AM

    Thanks for providing guidance about how to use turmeric. I have read about it that it is not only suitable choice for the sun tanned skin, gives brightness to skin but a very useful item to stop further increase of pigmentation loss problems of skin.

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  15. Soumya5:53 PM

    Turmeric being rich in iron is valuable in anemia. A teaspoon of raw turmeric juice mixed with honey is taken everyday in the treatment of this condition.

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  16. Chitra5:58 PM

    Turmeric is an effective household remedy for bronchial asthma. A teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of milk twice or thrice daily is very effective.

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  17. Girija8:45 AM

    . It gives yellow mustard its color and is often used in curry, but most importantly, it’s an anti-inflammatory spice. Turmeric tea, cold or hot, is a good place to start.

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  18. Rudra3:08 PM

    Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
    Is a natural liver detoxifier.

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  19. Narasimha3:13 PM

    Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
    Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
    May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

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  20. Gouri3:45 PM

    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.

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  21. Leena8:23 AM

    I think im going to try it out…i usually put honey on my face before i go out somewhere special but i never mixed it with turmeric powder. I will let you know if its worth it or just a waste

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  22. Kumud8:24 AM

    Wao! this is lovely and interesting. Beauty is originated from the natural source.

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  23. I use a product called turmeric force. i have found that pain and swelling, intestenal, weight, color of skin have improved. my horses are on 1/2 cup of dried turmeric mixed with tespoon of black pepper in grain with some water to bind.

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  24. turmeric 3 x a day for 3 months cured my sister of cancer. there are no equal to it

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  25. Debra1:46 PM

    turmeric ! its really wonder herb . i would say . i daily take a teaspoon of this golden herb with hot milk , it really works like a wanner medicine especially for woman ! its one of best antioxidant mother nature had given us ! so dont forget to take daily !

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  26. Subhodh11:31 AM

    I used it as a paste on an infected insect bite and it cleared it up in three days.

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  27. Sudheer11:33 AM

    I was diagnosed with a pretty severe inflammatory disease of the joints a year ago and was heavily medicated on various high-priced drugs that didn't help at all. By a stroke of luck I found turmeric root in my local supermarket and started chewing the root in one-inch pieces every day. Every single symptom I had simply VANISHED within two days. I keep eating it every day and haven't had any problems since, except for when I stop taking it. Then the symptoms come back within a few days. I try to make everyone I know aware of the health benefits of this amazing root.

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  28. Anonymous11:35 AM

    I'm 78--still work as a nurse which is a lot of walking.I have been taking Turmeric for 3 years---have NO PAIN- sleep like a baby--before that my arthritis made me stiff-I put a little in my pepper shaker besides the capsules-add it to most of my recipes. I have had people ask me --how do you do it? They guess my age as 60--

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  29. Ribert11:35 AM

    How long should I put tumeric paste on my scalp for help of my vertigo?

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  30. When I don't use my my daily two teaspoons of Turmeric, my pain and inflammation in my shoulders comes back due to bursitis. I am using it for 10 years already and don't want to live without it.
    Besides that it boosts my immune system.

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  31. Basanti4:56 PM

    Drinking milk with turmeric cures numerous ailments. Women, especially can drink a quarter glass of turmeric juice and milk three times a week at night to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.

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  32. Anonymous4:56 PM

    Turmeric Milk Recipe -Boil a ½ inch piece of turmeric root with half a glass of milk. Once the milk has turned yellow, remove from heat, let it cool slightly, and sip this. You can add 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder in place of the turmeric piece.

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  33. Satvik11:39 AM

    It enhances immune functions, improves digestion and it also reduces the risk of heart attack.
    People use turmeric as a lotion to their faces as it keeps your face shinning and prevents from pimples.

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  34. Taking 10 gms of fresh Amla juice with 1 gm. of powdered haldi (turmeric) and honey every morning and evening cures involuntary nocturnal emission

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