Turmeric an ancient Hindu custom

Turmeric an ancient Hindu custom

The ancient mystics has contributed many customs and cultures to the Indians in India and thus brought many richness in Indians customs and culture. Indian traditions are not meaningless. There is no home in India which does not use Turmeric.Here we begin to explore some basic Hindu practices that have a scientific, logical reason behind them and are beneficial to us.

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.

Applying turmeric on the front door is an ancient Hindu custom, steeped in Hindu culture. It is extremely important to follow it.Ayurveda firmly establishes that turmeric is an extraordinary spice that has more than 20 benefits. One of the most important is that it contains anti-septic properties and it is also anti-bacterial. As many of us know, it is important to hang a green festoon on the main door to prevent small and visible insects from getting into the house. Turmeric is so powerful that it repels every such organism if applied on the front door and all other possible entrance routes into the home (large windows, French windows, etc.).

The custom of sprinkling turmeric mixed water around the house before prayers and after. Its known that turmeric has antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities.

This turmeric is the reason Why Alzhimer's disease is so rare in India. Turmeric is frequently consumed in India and some other Asian countries as a dietary supplement, which allegedly cures stomach problems and other ailments. Earlier research has shown that curcumin, an antioxidant found in turmeric, can help prevent the formation of tumours.

Uses in Himalayan Medicine System

For contraception, swelling, insect stings, wounds, whooping cough, inflammation, internal injuries, pimples, injuries, as a skin tonic.

Uses in Ayurveda and Siddha Medicine System

For Katu tikta rasam, veeryam, ruksham, varnyam, and in prameham, pandu, rakta-dosham, krimi, vranam, pinasam.For Inflammatory conditions including asthma, dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation), psoriasis (an inflammatory skin disease), eczema and arthritis. For Hepatic and digestive disorders. For Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Uses in Unani Medicine System

Removes liver obstruction, dropsy, jaundice; externally used for ulcers and inflammation.

Internal Uses of Haldi:

Sweetened milk boiled with turmeric is a popular remedy for cold.

Turmeric is given in liver ailments and in jaundice.

Juice of fresh rhizome is used as an anthelmintic (eliminating parasitic worms).

Root is usefully administered in intermittent fevers.

In doses of 15 to 20 grains twice a day it is given for flatulence, dyspepsia and weak stomach; it is used both externally and internally in skin diseases due to impurity of the blood.

Turmeric is also given internally with cow's urine in prurigo (itching papules) and eczema. Its powder is sprinkled on ulcers to stimulate them to healthy action.

Ghee mixed with powdered turmeric is given to relieve cough.

A paste of turmeric alone or combined with the pulp of Neem leaves is used in ringworm, obstinate itching, eczema and other parasitic skin diseases.

Turmeric helps increase bile flow making it a liver cleanser that could rejuvenate the liver cells and recharges their capability to break down toxins.

Turmeric (Curcumin) blocks Brain tumour activity

Turmeric as a cosmetic:

Turmeric has also been used in India as a cosmetic. People, especially the women-folk are advised to use it to get a glowing and radiant skin.It is also a common ritual to apply turmeric paste on the to-be bride and groom before marriage in the traditional Hindu ceremony.

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

So our traditional medicine system has strong and safe treatments for many incurable diseases. Use of turmeric is very old in Ayurveda for medicine.Use of turmeric as spices shows that our ancient people knew that daily use of turmeric is very effective against diseases for human body. Today India is facing a great problem, particularly relating to intellectual property rights. The grant of a patent to two nonresident Indian doctors in USA who claimed that they were the first to use turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its extract in powder form for healing wounds is a example of blatant plagiarism.Our ancestors had identified it's beneficial properties and made sure that it is both consumed on a daily basis and used for the specific ailment when required.

Om Namah Shivay