Turmeric: Home Remedies, Research, and its Health Benefits

From ancient times, turmeric occupies a significant place in Hindu culture. It finds usage in Hindu rituals, culinary purposes, and medicines. It provides color, taste, and aroma to foods. In the olden days, women applied turmeric to their faces and bodies for purification and prosperity. It has also gained importance as a cosmetic. Ayurveda texts have described turmeric as having various medicinal properties. Turmeric is used to treat diseases including various skin problems, diabetes, colds, wounds, parasitic infestation, and anorexia. It also helps in blood purification and improves the radiance of the skin.

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 Turmeric Home Remedies

Turmeric for improving skin radiance

Turmeric mixed with castor oil or coconut oil can be applied to the body daily before a bath to improve skin radiance.

Turmeric for throat irritation

Locally apply a paste of little turmeric and jaggery, mixed with milk to the throat to reduce throat irritation.

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Turmeric for Itching, ringworm, scabies

• Mix turmeric and Bermuda grass ( Garike hullu) in Gomutra (cow urine) and apply it over the affected part to get a soothing effect. 
• Mix turmeric, Arka plant leaf juice, and neem oil in equal proportions apply it over the affected part, and have a bath 2-3 hours later.

Turmeric for Diabetes

Powder turmeric root and dry gooseberry (deseeded), both in equal quantities, and sieve it. Mix 1 tablespoon of this powder with water and consume it twice a day, in the morning and evening. This helps in controlling diabetes.

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Turmeric for acne/pimples

Add the paste of turmeric and sandalwood to milk cream and apply it over the pimples for clear skin.

Turmeric for Bedwetting in Children

Rub the turmeric root in honey and administer it to the children. This will reduce bedwetting.

Turmeric for Skin Dryness in winter 

Make a paste of turmeric and milk cream and apply it over chapped lips, hands, and legs. This improves skin moisture.

Turmeric for Breast pain 

Mix turmeric powder and aloe vera gel and apply them over the breast to get relief from pain.

Turmeric for Cracked heels 

Heat the mixture of turmeric powder and castor oil and apply it over cracked heels for a few days to have smoother heels.

Turmeric for High cholesterol

Consume half a tablespoon of turmeric powder and one tablespoon of sugar once a day. No water should be consumed for at least half an hour. Continue this for a month and this will help in bringing cholesterol under control.

Turmeric for Whitlow

Apply a paste of turmeric powder and lime mixed in equal quantities over the affected area and wrap a cloth around it. This must be followed for 7-8 days to get rid of the problem.

Turmeric for Cold and cough 

Consume warm milk with half a tablespoon of turmeric powder and ¼ tablespoon of pepper powder as an effective remedy for cold and cough.

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Turmeric for Asthma

Burn turmeric powder, split black gram flour, tea leaves, split Bengal gram flour, and inhale the smoke. This helps the patients breathe easily.

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Turmeric for Jaundice 

Add 10 gm turmeric powder to a glass of well-churned curds and consume it in the early morning every day for a week. This helps in treating jaundice.

Turmeric for Swelling

Swelling in any part of the body will reduce when we apply the paste of turmeric root rubbed on the stone.

Turmeric for Thorn in the foot

Grind turmeric root and garlic. Apply it over the part where the thorn has pricked and roll a cloth over it. This will get the thorn out and reduce septic conditions.

Turmeric for Burning tongue due to slaked lime while consuming ‘paan’

Rub fresh turmeric in water and apply it over the tongue for 4-5 days to reduce the burning sensation.

Turmeric for Wounds 

Apply turmeric powder over wounds for faster healing.

Turmeric for Body odour

Apply powder of turmeric, sesame seeds, and fenugreek seeds mixed in equal quantities for bath, to control body odor.

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Research on turmeric

• One Australian study says, consuming one gram of turmeric twice a day for six months with food, helped in reducing triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Though it worked like any medicine which reduces fat, it did not have any side effects.
• Turmeric is an excellent antioxidant.
•  In a study published in the periodical Cancer Letters, turmeric oil and turmeric oleoresins prevent cytogenetic damage in the case of Sub-mucus Fibrosis disease.
•  In the research conducted by Dr. K.C.Shrivastav at Odense University in Denmark, Curcumin present in turmeric is effective in treating conditions of Aamvata, which causes pain in joints. It helps in treating stiffness of muscles experienced in the morning, pain during movement of legs, joint swelling, and pain. 1200mg of Curcumin is as effective as 300mg of Phenylbutazone (a Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
• The report published in the Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha states that turmeric oil can be used in treating asthma. It has been observed that oral consumption of turmeric is more effective than administering it through injection.
• A report in Vagbhata Patrike (1987) states that turmeric can be used in place of antacids in treating peptic ulcers and indigestion.
• Turmeric is an effective antiseptic and is useful in treating Conjunctivitis.
• The research was conducted at K.G. Medical College, Lucknow where patients suffering from Chronic Anterior Uveitis were given 375 mg of turmeric powder twice a day for 12 weeks. The results proved that Curcumin present in turmeric helped in treating Chronic Anterior Uveitis.

The immunity of the body can be improved by regular consumption of foods with turmeric.

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