[Malini Iyer]

Haldi or Turmeric has been around since time immemorial (At least long before our ancestors landed in town and we don’t really care what went on before that, do we?). It has been part of the ancient scriptures both as an ingredient for holy occasions as well as a tangy spice which adds color and flavor to most Indian dishes. However, turmeric is used not only in India for its healing properties; it is prominently featured in Chinese medicine, in Brazilian jungle medicine and is worshipped in Hawaii.

In this article, I hope to expound on the healing abilities of turmeric and how it can help fight some of the most serious diseases and that too without any side effects. In fact, turmeric has been an important part in ayurvedic sciences as well.

Turmeric is said to have healing powers which work well for the young and old alike. A hot glass of milk with turmeric is supposed to be an excellent antidote for most sorts of trauma and cough. Many of the health uses of turmeric are hearsay and passed down over the years, from one generation to the next. Some ‘modern’ people might consider these methods of healing orthodox and without results. The healing process initiated via food items does take longer, but the impact is long lasting.

Research unveils that turmeric’s single most healing component is curcumin. Curcumin helps in beating as well as controlling one of the most deadly diseases known to human kind: cancer. Turmeric helps not only in suppressing most types of cancers, but also helps protect skin during chemotherapy.
Cleansing of blood is one more healing property of turmeric which makes the herb very precious. Turmeric is very important herb for women giving birth as it helps to replenish the blood lost during child birth. Apart from that, turmeric has anti-oxidants which purifies the blood and helps in maintaining a healthy body. This purification ability helps protect the liver to a large extent as well as remove toxins from your system.

Turmeric works wonders for people who are suffering from arthritis. Regular consumption of turmeric in food or when ingested by combining it with honey, water or milk, helps ease pain which originates from the aging of bones. Turmeric is supposed to help regenerate bone development which subsequently helps in fighting arthritis and other such bone related diseases.

A dash of turmeric is also very helpful in providing post-operative pain relief and helps you recover faster.Obviously, turmeric does not completely do away the need for pain killers but reduces your dependency on them quite a lot and also allows you to avoid the side effects of pain killers.

Turmeric paste is said to help clear the skin of blemishes and remove uneven patches from the face. Indians tend to use turmeric to help a new bride get ready for her wedding! Obviously there are no side effects of using turmeric as may be the case with cosmetics which contain harmful chemicals.

Turmeric has a positive effect with raw garlic especially for bronchitis patients. The healing power of turmeric is also apparent when it is applied as a paste on wounds. It helps in controlling the spread of infection as well as heals the wound faster.

The ancient Indian wise men believed in using turmeric as an amulet to fight away evil spirits for children and adults. Turmeric is believed to create a balance in the human body amongst the three zones of Vata, Kapha and Pitta.

I am sure that even if you did know some of the healing capabilities of turmeric, this article would have managed to highlight the versatility of this herb which has been around for more than six thousand years and is likely to continue healing mankind in its own special way!

[knbg]

Hi Malini,
Nice comprehensive post on Turmeric.
Turmeric for arthritis and regeneration of bones- That's good to know.
Thanks for sharing .