In traditional Chinese medicine, turmeric was extensively used to treat digestive issues, relieve pain, and speed up the healing of wounds.
Natural products made from plants have been used by humans for different reasons throughout history. There are many plants that are the source of these natural ingredients and have been there for billions of years. Both ancient and modern people have relied on plant-based medicines to treat many diseases in humans. One of them is turmeric, whose botanical name is Curcuma longa.
Botanical Name: Curcuma longa
Origin: Ancient India and Southeast Asia
Centre of Excellence: India and the Subcontinent
Ancient Roots: Experimentally known as India Longa. It has been used for more than 3,000 years. It also has good relations with Asian countries.
Traditional medicine has been practiced for hundreds of years and is recognized for its safety and effectiveness. Now, many people use modern medicines, which are less than 100 years old. The methods and foundations of traditional medicine are, nevertheless, less effectively recognized scientifically than those of modern medicine.
Ancient Medicinal Use of Turmeric:
Ancient India:
Turmeric plays an important role in ancient Indian medicine.
Revered for its healing properties and effectiveness in preventing aggravation, it helps absorb and promote respiratory ailments. The most important use of turmeric is its ability to heal wounds and prevent skin infections. Turmeric has been an important ingredient in Indian cooking for centuries, providing flavour and a dynamic yellow color in dishes such as onion, rice, and salt.
Ancient China:
In traditional Chinese medicine, turmeric was extensively used to treat digestive issues, relieve pain, and speed up the healing of wounds.
Enhancing Circulation: It was once thought that turmeric would stimulate blood flow and remove stagnation.
Golden Textile Beauty: Turmeric’s alluring yellow color was used as a natural dye to give fabrics a warm, glowing appearance. In order to make the skin glow, it was frequently used in beauty routines.
Ancient Greece and Rome:
Healing Power: Hippocrates and Dioscorides, two ancient Greek physicians, identified turmeric as a treatment for arthritis, respiratory conditions, and digestive problems.
Versatile Remedy: Turmeric was prized in ancient Rome as a poison antidote and a general health enhancer. Natural Preservation: To increase the shelf life of perishable delicacies, the Romans utilized turmeric as a food preservative.
Earlier Egypt:
Ritual Importance: Turmeric held enormous significance in Egyptian religious ceremonies as a symbol of purity and receiving divine benefits.
Culinary Marvels: Fusion of Flavour and Beauty: Turmeric was popular in Egyptian cooking, not only for its flavor-enhancing properties but also for its ability to give dishes a beautiful golden hue.
Ancient Persia: Modern-day Iran
Flavor Booster: Turmeric had a significant impact on Persian cuisine, adding a unique flavour and bright colour to dishes.
Traditional Healing: Persian doctors incorporate turmeric into medicinal remedies to treat digestive issues, liver problems, and joint discomfort.
Textile Coloring: Turmeric was utilized as a natural dye to produce beautiful yellow shades in Persian carpets, enhancing their visual allure.
Modern Medicinal Use of Turmeric
Managing Obesity:
Incorporating turmeric powder into your regimen may be advantageous for people trying to lose a few pounds or combat obesity and other diseases. The components in turmeric help to stimulate bile flow, which is essential for the digestion of dietary lipids.
Managing Diabetes:
Studies have suggested that turmeric may improve glucose regulation and enhance the effectiveness of diabetes treatments. Additionally, it may be used to lower insulin resistance, thereby delaying the onset of type-2 diabetes.
Relief from Arthritis: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics that can help fight the harm that free radicals do to the body’s cells. Therefore, those who use turmeric may feel benefits and obtain relief from their arthritis.
Antifungal Properties: The ether and chloroform extracts of turmeric, as well as its oil, exhibit antifungal properties. Further, the raw ethanol extraction of turmeric has significant antifungal action. A surprising number of fungi, particularly Penicillium digitatum and the fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus parasiticus, are successfully eradicated by turmeric oil.
Skincare properties:
There are numerous advantages to turmeric for the skin. It speeds up wound healing and reduces acne by soothing the pores on the face. It also helps wounds heal more quickly. Due to its exceptional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it is a natural treatment for various types of skin problems.
Intestinal disorders:
It can be added to foods like rice and bean dishes to improve digestion, reduce gas, and reduce bloating. It facilitates digestion because of the flavouring properties of turmeric.
In curry powder, it is frequently used. The scent of turmeric can have a significant impact on how well food is absorbed. Because of this herb’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics, healthy digestion can benefit.
Turmeric is a digestive aid used in Ayurvedic medicine. This improves the body’s ability to metabolise lipids. Constipation and/or chronic digestive dysfunction are recommended uses for turmeric.
As painkiller:
In terms of pain relief, turmeric is used. Additionally, spices may ease arthritic pain. A study demonstrates turmeric’s capacity to reduce pain. Both participants who used ibuprofen and turmeric tablets daily experienced relief from their knee arthritis symptoms.
Virus Protection: (Antiviral) Ginger tea may be suggested by your doctor if you are sick. Turmeric functions in a similar manner. Vinegar is thought to have antiviral properties. Additionally, curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties have been connected to its ability to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms.
Protection from Alzheimer’s:
It halts the spread of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease can be stopped, or at least slowed down, using Zerde. Turmeric is most frequently used in India. Alzheimer’s disease also has an extremely low incidence rate.
Improver for hair:
There are about 20 skin benefits of turmeric (Curcuma longa). But it’s crucial to highlight turmeric’s advantageous benefits for hair. In hair shampoos, turmeric supplements are frequently used. It is thought to heal dandruff, reduce hair loss, and exfoliate dead skin cells. You may either purchase a shampoo containing turmeric or use it to create a unique culinary mask to enhance the look and feel of your hair.
Weight loss stimulant:
We can single out turmeric tea’s help with weight loss among its many advantages. In adults with metabolic syndrome, curcumin helped lower weight, leptin levels, and body mass index. You may prepare turmeric tea at home as well.
Heart Disease:
Cholesterol levels can be lowered by flavouring food with turmeric. Early research suggests that turmeric may prevent artery plaque from forming.
It has been demonstrated that turmeric extract lowers cholesterol and stops LDL cholesterol from blocking blood vessels. Additionally, turmeric may prevent blood clots from developing in artery walls. High-cholesterol sufferers who take curcumin have seen improvements in their cholesterol levels.
Cancer Prevention:
Animal studies have looked into the potential effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on cancer development. Studies show that the turmeric compound curcumin may help stop cancer at various stages, including those that produce the growth of tumours and the development of new blood vessels.
Turmeric and curcumin can also stop the action of substances that can change cells and lead to cancer. It is considered that the anticancer properties of turmeric and curcumin are due to their direct antioxidant properties, which remove harmful free radicals.
Additionally, they indirectly increase glutathione levels, helping the liver remove substances that can cause cancer and mutations while halting the production of some dangerous molecules.