The Medicinal Values Of Turmeric - 24 Mantra Organic

Anyone who is even vaguely aware of Indian cuisine must be familiar with this warm, yellow spice. Turmeric is used in almost all kinds of dishes, irrespective of which part of India it hails from. Also, organically cultivated turmeric is even better in terms of its medicinal properties due to the lack of harmful chemicals.

The flowering, turmeric plant takes almost a whole year to grow to its full height of three feet. It has light to dark green, oblong leaves about five inches wide. The roots are the most important part of the turmeric plant. They are used for cooking and even for non-cooking purposes.

The turmeric plant can be grown at home – all you need is a sunny area to keep your flower pot. Just remember to water your plant daily and generously.

The fresh roots of the plant are cleaned of all dirt and dried in the sun. You can even use a dehydrator to remove all the water content. Once completely dry these roots are ground into a fine powder which you regularly use in your daily life.

Although turmeric is used mostly in its powdered form, the root can be used fresh as well. In soups, stews, and even baked items, you can use diced or sliced turmeric root. The intensity and taste of the root are milder when it is fresh as compared to the dry powder.

Check out the medicinal values of turmeric here.

Medicinal Values of Turmeric

1. Antioxidant Properties

Turmeric is a good source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are potent antioxidants which help to protect the cells in the body from free radicals by neutralising them. Free radicals are produced during the digestion process of turning food into energy. Not only does turmeric help in blocking the effect of radicals, but it also boosts the antioxidant defences in the body.

2. Antiviral Properties

Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric. It provides most of the medicinal values of turmeric that it is known for. Against dengue and other illnesses caused by mosquito bites, curcumin has shown to have antiviral properties. Add a spoon of turmeric to a pot of water to boil. Drink this first thing in the morning to protect your body against viral infections.

3. Healing Properties

In almost every Indian household, turmeric powder is used as an antiseptic on small cuts and wounds, to prevent any infection from settling in. It is a natural antiseptic and works well in disinfecting wounds. The healing properties work not only on outside wounds but also on heartburns, coughs and colds.

4. Prevents Neurological Problems

Alzheimer’s is an illness that affects the brain and causes memory loss and even the ability to function in daily life. The compounds in turmeric could help in preventing such neurological problems from occurring. The compound curcumin, as well as the other compounds, are the basis for the medicinal values of turmeric. These compounds protect the various organs in the body, including the brain and prevent damage.

5. Provides Relief from Arthritis

In arthritis, one or more joints in the body like ankles, or knees become inflamed. The inflammation causes pain as well as swelling. To treat the condition, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Curcumin in turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can help combat the effects of arthritis. It can help most in the case of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Turmeric is not a replacement for actual medicine, but it can help in offsetting the inflammation problems caused by arthritis.

6. Helps Boost Immunity

You are what you eat – to stay healthy, you need to eat good nutritious food. Other than vegetables and fruits, even spices also can keep you healthy. Turmeric is an excellent immunity booster. The medicinal values of turmeric are mostly due to curcumin. The anti-inflammatory properties of the compound helps in boosting the immune system and helping to fight against infections.

7. Powerful Detoxifier

In general, detoxification means flushing out the toxins from the body. Detox involves a change in the dietary habit by elimination or inclusion of certain items that aim at cleaning the body from the inside. Ideally, fresh fruits and lots of water is the best way to detoxify your body. Turmeric is one such ingredient that is used extensively in detox drinks. One simple detox drink recipe is mixing turmeric powder, lemon juice and honey in a glass of warm water and drinking it on an empty stomach.

8. Aids in Digestion

The process of digestion helps the body convert the food consumed into energy. The gut is one of the most important parts of the body. If the gut, i.e., the digestive system is not in order, the symptoms are felt all over the body. The fresh root of turmeric is of immense help in case of problems with digestion. A natural laxative, turmeric can be used to relieve the symptoms of constipation. The raw turmeric root can also help the body eliminate gas and problems with bloating by encouraging the gallbladder to produce more bile.

9. Helps in Maintaining Healthy Skin

If the gut is unhealthy, it impacts even the skin. Having a constant case of indigestion could lead to acne. The medicinal values of turmeric can help in keeping the digestive tract healthy. However, turmeric can also be applied on the skin to keep it looking soft, clean, fresh and glowing. Turmeric helps in keeping the skin free from excess oils, and this stops the occurrence of bacteria which reside in pimples. The antioxidants in curcumin also help in keeping the face looking young by protecting against signs of ageing.

Conclusion

The medicinal values of turmeric are well-known in India. Ayurveda which has existed in India for thousands of years, and is practised even now, has written records where you can find out the medicinal values of turmeric.

Turmeric and its compound curcumin have many varied cooking as well as non-cooking related uses. However, before you use turmeric as an additional treatment option to maintain optimum health, you should try consulting your doctor to rule out any harmful side-effects.

Try 24 Mantra Organics’s Turmeric powder and enjoy the benefits of Turmeric.