Monday, July 1, 2013

Turmeric, Haldi or Haridra

by
Akshit kapoor-

Turmeric, also known as Haridra in Sanskrit and Haldi in Hindi, is a powerful healing herb that has been used in Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine since ancient times. Used both for treating several ailments as well beauty care treatment, turmeric is an integral part of Indian cooking and culture.

Traces of cultivation of turmeric have been found in Harappan civilization, dating back to around 3,000 BC. India currently produces about 90% of the world’s turmeric powder.

Almost identical to ginger in appearance and hailing from the same family, “curcuma longa” (botanical name of turmeric) can be identified by its bright golden orange colour. Peppery, warm and bitter in flavour with a mild fragrance, it is either used fresh or as dried powder.

In ancient times, turmeric was used in Ayurveda either as paste to apply on the body externally or as juice to be ingested orally, attending to both internal and external physical health. Taken as juice, it is considered to be a blood purifier and said to be beneficial in stomach ailments and other chronic illnesses. As a paste, it is used for treatment of various skin ailments like eczema, cuts and burns due to its antiseptic effect.

Research conducted on turmeric has scientists now realizing the importance of turmeric in treating modern diseases, especially for its effects on cancer. In countries such as India and Pakistan, where turmeric is incorporated in the staple diet, cancer is much less rampant than other countries where it is rarely consumed. Turmeric is considered to destroy cancer in three ways:
- Neutralizing substances and conditions that cause cancer
- Helps a cell retain its integrity if threatened by carcinogens
- If a tumour does grow, the curcumin in turmeric destroy it

To view some Ayurvedic remedies for anemia, asthma, burns, dental problems, complexion, etc.:
http://turmeric.co.in/turmeric_ayurvedic_use.htm

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for posting this informative things to people. This is really helpful for readers.Haridra

    ReplyDelete