Continuing with my series on Kitchen herbs, in this article I am going to tell you about the health benefits of Turmeric, a very important and beneficial herb. Turmeric, with its brilliant yellow color, has been used as a dye, medicine, and flavoring since 600 BC. It is a shrub related to ginger, and is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and Africa. Like ginger, turmeric is a perennial herb.

It is extremely difficult to make fresh turmeric powder or paste as Turmeric rhizomes are extremely hard to grind. Therefore, Turmeric is generally procured in powder form from the market (easily available in Indian Grocery stores). To make the powder, the rhizomes are first washed thoroughly to remove any impurities. After washing, they are pulped (some people boil it before pulping). Pulping is followed by sun drying to reduce its moisture content. The product obtained is then grinded and sieved. The dry Turmeric powder thus obtained is packed up for storage and transportation.

Turmeric's major constituents are 'curcumin', various 'curcuminoids' and 'curcuma oil’, which exhibit a wide range of medicinal activities. It also has Vitamin A, protein, iron minerals and carbohydrate.

Turmeric has amazing medicinal properties. It is bitter, pungent in taste and hot in potency. I will list some of the major uses of turmeric powder as found in ancient Ayurvedic texts:

•    At the very onset of cold, if fumigation of Turmeric is done around the patient and the patient is made to inhale the fumes, it really weakens the disease. It is better to use the dry rhizome for this. Patient should not be given water for at least an hour after this.
•    It is a very good first aid herb for cuts and burns. Sprinkle turmeric powder on a cut, and on a superficial burn, mix turmeric powder with melted ghee and apply on the burn. It soothes and heals, and has antiseptic property.
•    It can be applied as a paste on cuts and wounds due to its antibacterial and healing property. Young girls use it to suppurate and heal their pimples.
•    In diseases like conjunctivitis, productive cough, cold, white discharge in women, and others where ‘kapha’ dosha is vitiated, boiling (1/2 tsp) turmeric in (1cup) milk and then consuming the milk with jaggery is very beneficial.
•    In productive cough, roast it lightly, then mix it with honey or ghee, and give to the patient. In dry cough, melt a teaspoon of ghee in a small pan, remove from heat, add half teaspoon of turmeric and a cup of milk and give to the patient. This is an excellent remedy.
•    For a number of skin diseases like urticaria, pruritus, eczema, ringworm, etc. internal use of turmeric powder with gomutra has been advocated in our texts. However, as direct administration of gomutra is not very prevalent these days, turmeric powder can be taken with a blood purifier like khadirarisht, sarivadyasav or in a preparation form like ‘haridra khand”.
•    It’s paste when applied on a painful, swollen area as in an injury or sprain, has excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Turmeric powder mixed with equal or ½ quantity of ‘purified choona’ (food grade lime) and applied on the affected part is a common household remedy for the above conditions. Alongside, turmeric can be given internally too for better results. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have been proven by modern research.
•    Raw turmeric juice is effective in fighting anemia because of its high iron content. It should be taken daily with honey.
•    Turmeric also has antihistaminic property. Therefore it can be used (1/4tsp mixed with 1tsp of honey, twice or thrice daily OR boiled in milk) in most allergies, whether skin or respiratory.
•    Turmeric is used as a carminative and stomachic in the treatment of digestive disorders such as flatulence, bloating and appetite loss.
•    Turmeric is considered to have anti-oxidant properties, which means it is very helpful in preventing cancer. Aren’t we lucky? We use it everyday.
•    Turmeric is one of the common dietary sources of phytoestrogen, which makes it very useful in treating postmenopausal syndrome and the associated calcium loss. In the post menopausal stage, use of turmeric (heat a spoon of ghee, remove from fire, add 1 non-heaped tsp of turmeric powder and a cup of milk) twice in a day, can be one of the good alternatives to HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or its use can be commenced in the pre menopausal stage to prevent the onset of the signs and symptoms of the post menopausal syndrome.   
•    Last, but not the least, who does not know about the use of turmeric in improving one’s complexion. The Friday oil bath routine with the application of Haldi is almost sacrosanct with the South Indian women, resulting in beautiful skin. Turmeric is also mixed with gram flour and applied on the body in the form of ‘ubtan’ (more prevalent in North India).

To summarize, Turmeric can be used in an array of internal and external disorders. It is used internally as boiled powder, fresh juice and confection, and externally as paste, oil, ointment, and lotion. It is also applied topically for ulcers, wound, eczema and inflammations. Interestingly, it is considered by the Hindus as auspicious and as a symbol of prosperity. That is why it is commonly used in various wedding ceremonies and poojas (prayer ceremonies) for sanctification and to ward off the evil eye.

Presently, there is great interest in the West in this golden herb. There are multiple studies going on in US alone, on the anti-cancer properties of Turmeric, it’s beneficial effects on disorders like Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Myeloma.

In the late nineties, lots of Indians were shocked when the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted the turmeric patent to the University of Mississippi. The Indian government appealed to the Patent and Trademark Office to re-examine the turmeric patent. Fortunately for us, the US patent was rejected.

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