Turmeric (Haldi)
Also known as
Latin : Curcuma longa
Marathi : Halada
Tamil : Mancal
Telugu : Pasupu
Malayalam : Mannal
Kannada : Arisina
English : Turmeric
Sanskrit : Haridra
Hindi : Haldi
How it looks— It is a small perennial herb, with a short stem and a tuft of erect,
pointing leaves. The rhizome is orange cylindrical and branched.
What we use- Rhizome both fresh
and dry.
What it does— It is thermo genic, anti-inflammatory antiseptic, anthelmintic, appetizer,
Diuretic, laxative, expectorant and carminative.
How we use it :- In diabetes- One teaspoon of turmeric
powder along with some gooseberry juice taken every day is quite effective
in keeping blood glucose levels under control.
In fevers- A decoction of a
teaspoon of turmeric powder, some ginger pieces and half a teaspoon of black
pepper in about 8 ounces of water should be taken thrice a day to bring down
fever.
In colds- Add turmeric powder with some pepper and jaggery to a glass of hot milk and
take thrice a day to relieve congestion and cure colds. Alternately you
could add a teaspoon of turmeric and a quarter teaspoon of ajwoin to a cup
of boiling water and take it after cooling with some honey.
In cough and throat irritation- Half a teaspoon of pure
turmeric powder in an ounce of warm milk is a common household drink for
coughs. Make a concentrated solution of turmeric with a pinch of rock salt
and coat this on the inside of the inflamed throat for quick healing.
In diarrhoea and dysentery- A pinch of turmeric and rock
salt is to be added to dilute buttermilk and consumed to set right an upset
stomach. Turmeric, being a gastric stimulant, as well as, a blood enricher
is ideally suited for this condition.
In wounds- A most popular remedy to arrest bleeding in fresh wounds is to play the
site with some turmeric powder Quick lime can also be added to turmeric to
hasten the effect.
In fungal infections/scabies- A paste of turmeric is applied especially in infections affecting the
crevices of the fingers and toes. The known antibacterial, antifungal and
antiviral properties of turmeric make it the first and best choice in such
conditions. In urticaria, taking a fresh piece of turmeric rhizome on empty
stomach every morning goes a long way in curing the eruptions.
As a depilatory- Turmeric is best known for its cosmetic value and when applied as an ubtan
regularly, not only keeps skin free of acne and infections, but is also a
safe and natural hair – remover.
In blackheads- Turmeric
and mustard seeds are pasted and touched on the blackheads and left on
overnight. The face is washed clear with gram flour in the morning.
In worm infestations- A paste of turmeric and curry leaves is rolled into a ball and swallowed
twice a day to get rid of intestinal worms.
In urinary calculi— Turmeric
powder with a little jaggery should be consumed with “kanji” (rice gruel)
twice a day.
In mumps- A paste of neem leaves and turmeric is a popular external application on
the swollen glands.
In bronchitis- Take one teaspoon turmeric powder with warm water 3 times a day.
In piles— Take one teaspoonful turmeric powder with water in the morning and evening.
In cosmetic cream- Mix equal amount of turmeric powder and gram flour in curd. Make a paste.
Apply over the face to get relief from acne and black spots.
Modern Studies:-
- The ethereal extract of turmeric inhibited platelet aggression in an experimental study thereby proving its anti-inflammatory property.
- Turmeric was established as an effective dietary supplement in clinical trials on non-insulin dependent diabetics.
- It has been shown in the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad that curcumin extracted from turmeric exhibited anti-cancer activities.