Turmeric is an integral part of an Indian household, so it’s no surprise I’m writing about it. Not only does it look like an ingredient, but it also has a few more facets. Hindus often associate turmeric with auspicious and joyful occasions. For example, during weddings, turmeric is applied to the hands and legs of the bride. It is so common to the point that some people use the phrase ‘when are your hands going to turn yellow’ to ask a girl when she is getting married. Well, you may be wondering why it is so important. It has been in use in India for a few thousand years, as I understand it. He was always known for a number of different properties that he owned, some better 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 passed 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 nothing new. The patent was eventually voided. I hope to describe some of the ways I have seen turmeric used by many in India and also add some more recent findings that substantiate the place turmeric has 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 to ensure that there is no further infection. So if someone scratched their hand, a little turmeric powder would be applied. I remember it was used to treat even fungal nail infection.
2. Again, its antibacterial properties make it a good cough medicine. It is usually added to warm milk and consumed. Turmeric reduces throat infection 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 ‘insecticide-like’ properties, for lack of a better word. For this reason, it is often liberally applied to the thresholds of the front and back doors of the house. 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 household pests so this was very helpful. You just want to make sure you don’t stain the light-colored floor.
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 pimple so that the infection goes down and it heals without leaving a mark. A word of warning is that turmeric can dry out the skin, so it is best used with oily substances. You can mix it with coconut oil, let it act for a while and wash. Another popular solution for glowing skin was to mix this with skin forming warm milk and apply it to the face. Washing with a natural exfoliant 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 ‘kumkum’. This adorns the forehead of most Indian women and some men and idols in temples. Another use of ‘kumkum’ is to mix it with water to make a paste, warm it up a bit, and apply it to the neck and nose to relieve congestion. It can be used on babies and adults and has been done to me and my son several times with excellent results. In fact, every time I had a bad headache growing up, they would apply it to my forehead.
7. It is a seasoning 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 of turmeric was as a dye.
In recent days, turmeric has been found to help treat some cancers and even prevent some cancers. I remember reading that a particular turmeric extract, when injected directly into tumor cells in the brain, actually destroyed 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 fine, 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 boiling, adding to any marinade you may be making for the vegetables 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 flavor of cooked and raw turmeric in a dish. What I mean is that it makes a difference if you add the turmeric and bring it to a boil or add it last and don’t boil it. I prefer adding and boiling, but I wouldn’t mind raw in milk or warm water. Prevention is better than cure and that is why I wanted to share some knowledge that I acquired from my ancestors so that it benefits all of you.