nice and bright turmeric

Turmeric is an integral part of an Indian household, so it’s not a surprise that I’m writing about it. It is not only seen as an ingredient, but also has a few more facets. Hindus often associate turmeric with auspicious and joyful occasions. For example, during weddings, turmeric is applied to the bride’s hands and legs. It is so common to such an extent that some people use the phrase ‘when are your hands going to turn yellow’ to ask a girl when she is going to get married. Well, you may wonder why it is so important. It’s been in use in India for a few thousand years, I understand. He was always known for a number of different properties that he owned, some more well known than others. I think it’s funny in a sad way how a university in America got a patent for the use of turmeric in healing and even got exclusive rights to sell and distribute turmeric. It’s something that my grandmother and her grandmother (they didn’t even finish their school education, let alone be a scientist) have always known and have passed it on to us. A number of home remedies that I use are based on what has been passed down from generation to generation. Very well, India fought against this and proved that the Sanskrit scriptures have already documented the benefits of turmeric and how it is common knowledge and there is no news. The patent was eventually voided. I hope to describe some ways in which I have seen turmeric used by many in India and also add some more recent findings that substantiate turmeric’s place in our home.

1. It is said to have antibacterial and antiviral properties. For this reason it is applied to wounds to allow healing and ensure that there is no further infection. So if someone scraped their hand, they would apply some turmeric powder. I remember that it was used to treat even nail fungus infection.

2. Again, its antibacterial properties make it a good cough medicine. It is usually added to warm milk and consumed. Turmeric reduces strep throat and fights infection while milk induces good sleep. In my experience this has been much more effective than most cough syrups.

3. It has some properties similar to ‘insecticides’, for lack of a better word. For this reason, it is often applied liberally to the front and back door sills of the home. This is said to keep some insects away. It is also mixed with water and sprayed around the edges of a room to keep ants out. Ants are popular pests around the house, so this was very helpful. You just have to make sure that you do not stain the floor with light colors.

4. Regular application of turmeric on the skin helps to remove body hair. Whether you want to get rid of it or not is different, but you don’t need a laser treatment, just turmeric. Of course, this is not immediate like waxing, but it does happen with regular use. Some are concerned that it will leave yellow stains on clothes and my grandfather told me that there is a variety called ‘kastoori manjal’ which does not leave stains but provides the same benefits.

5. It is an important part of skin treatment. The days that one gets pimples, the best advice was to apply it on the pimples so that the infection goes down and heals without leaving a mark. One word of caution is that turmeric can dry out the skin, so it is best used with oily substances. You can mix it with coconut oil, leave it on for a while and wash. Another popular solution for glowing skin was to mix this with skin forming in warm milk and apply to face. Washing with a natural scrub like besan (chickpea flour) would give better results.

6. Turmeric is mixed with lime juice, dried in the sun and ground to make a red colored ‘kumkum’. This adorns the forehead of most Indian women and some men and the idols in the temples. Another use of ‘kumkum’ is to mix it with water to make a paste, warm it slightly and apply it to the neck and nose to relieve congestion. It can be used on babies and adults and has been done on me and my son several times with great results. In fact, whenever I had a bad headache growing up, they would apply it to my forehead.

7. It is a condiment and is added to almost all the dishes we make. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties make it great for your digestive system. Recent studies have shown that even colitis improves with the consumption of turmeric.

8. It is a natural food coloring that is obviously very safe. We eat with our eyes first, so it is very nice to add colors to food.

9. Of course, another ancient use for turmeric was as a dye.

In recent days, turmeric has been found to help treat some types of cancer and even prevent some types of cancer. I remember reading that a particular turmeric extract, when injected directly into tumor cells in the brain, actually killed the cells while keeping the good cells intact. However, this required injecting directly into the tumor. It is said to have antioxidant properties, which means it neutralizes free radicals that can cause cancer and even arthritis. Curcumin, the key ingredient in turmeric, is said to be able to reverse the most common form of cystic fibrosis. When combined with cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, it is said to be able to prevent prostate cancer. A study of elderly Indians who frequently ingested turmeric is said to have shown low levels of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It is also capable of lowering cholesterol and offering some cardiovascular protection.

This is all good, but do you have to eat more curry to get more turmeric? As much as I would like to promote Indian food because I love it, I would like to promote ways one can eat turmeric every day. My suggestions would include adding about a quarter teaspoon to say your pasta sauce as it cooks, any sauce you may be cooking and it doesn’t have to be yellow, soup while it’s simmering, adding to any marinade you might make for the vegetable or meat , add it to scrambled eggs or even your omelet mix and enjoy that bright hue, add it to warm water or milk and drink. Do not exceed the amount, as it can be bitter. I think there is a noticeable difference in the taste of cooked and raw turmeric in a dish. What I mean is that it makes a difference if you add the turmeric and let it boil or add it last and don’t boil it. I prefer to add and boil, but I wouldn’t mind raw in milk or warm water. Prevention is better than cure and so I wanted to share some knowledge that I acquired from my ancestors for the benefit of all of you.