Introduction
Today we will be looking at what has become a buzzword in health related circles, and that is Turmeric [also known as Haridra]. I will explain the properties, values, misconceptions and pitfalls related to this spice and present to you an appropriate way of using it to improve your health and wellness to avoid negative side-effects.
In India, Turmeric is said to be an auspicious spice, possibly because of its antibacterial properties. The actions of turmeric, according to Ayurveda, are that it is (a) Aromatic, (b) a Stimulant, (c) a Tonic and (d) Carminative with a taste that is pungent & bitter.
What You Need to Know About Turmeric
Turmeric has several favorable effects such as the ability to improve your complexion, combat anemia & diabetes, help with blood and skin disorders, address parasitic worms, fight cough & colds and is a natural painkiller. It sounds like a wonder potion, and in researching for this blog, it was no surprise to see that every retailer that sells any kind of health foods is touting the wonderful value and benefits of Turmeric in their pills and supplements.
The reality is that Turmeric CAN be great when used in the right forms [think juice, powder, raw, herbal tea or decoction], dosage & proportions at the right time. One of the pitfalls with the whole world beaming about how wonderful Turmeric is, is that many of us buy into it and have adverse, or at least non-optimal, effects. In Ayurveda, the method of application of the remedy is more important than the remedy itself.
Hostile reactions to turmeric are driven by it’s very high heat potency, and include hives, upset stomach, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and more. If you have these types of reactions, then reduce the dosage or stop taking turmeric if the reaction is extreme. Some rules you can follow to minimize the chances of reactions like the ones listed is to avoid taking turmeric on an empty stomach, take it after breakfast with warmed milk or ghee. Even following this advice, if you are still facing adverse reactions, then it indicates your constitution may not be optimal [for this spice] and you should stop taking it altogether.
Here are 5 Turmeric based remedies:
| What It Can Help With | How To Do It |
|---|---|
| #1 – Bruises, Sprains, Wounds & Inflamed Joints | – Mix 1 tbsp each of turmeric powder, lime juice and salt together and warm the compound up on a stove. – Apply the resulting warm paste to the problem areas where you have pain, up to once per day. |
| #2 – Cough | – Take ½ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp of warm ghee and ¼ tsp honey. – Swallow this mixture 2 times a day, after breakfast and after dinner. |
| #3 – Eczema, Itching, Parasitic Skin Issues, Ringworm | – Make a paste of equal parts (e.g. 1 tbsp of each) Turmeric Powder and Neem Oil. – Apply to irritated areas of the body, repeating up to once per day. |
| #4 – Diabetes | – Mix ½ tsp each of Turmeric & Amla powders with 1 tsp of honey. – Drink the mixture twice a day after meals. |
| #5 – Gum Diseases | – Take 1 tsp warm Mustard Oil, ½ tsp Turmeric powder & ¼ tsp sea salt and mix well together. – Gently rub the resulting paste on gums, leave on for at least 5 minutes and then gargle/swish with warm water. – Repeat once every other day. |
Things to keep in mind:
As mentioned earlier, taking turmeric in the correct form and dose, with the right accompaniment and at the right time is important. When trying the above listed remedies, should you find that you are experiencing side-effects then lowering the dosage (of the total compound proportionately) is something you should do. By the same token, upping the dosage of the compounds can also be considered if you do not feel any or much effect. This is where your constitution [Vata, Pitta or Kapha] comes into the picture, more on that in a future blog.
In Closing:
I wrote this article because, while I know turmeric has incredible healing properties… I am concerned that people think it’s a magic pill on its own for anyone at any time. I wanted to let you know that it has different effects on different people, and not to be shocked if you don’t quite get the experience that you had hoped for. I hope that I have done a reasonable job of conveying this, and welcome further discussion, and you are free to contact me if there are specific issues you would like to discuss.
Lastly, if you have found my articles and/or website to be useful, or if you think others may benefit from the same, then it will be highly appreciated if you “like” and “share” accordingly on our Facebook page or in other ways.
Kind Regards, Archana.