Turmeric

HABITAT

Haldi is a tropical plant, and it grows in a humid warm weather with a lot of rainfall. Fondly touted as the ‘King of All Spices’, Haldi is an herbaceous plant of perennial origin and grows to a height of 1 mt. It has smooth, green, tapering leaves arranged alternately in pairs on the stems. Further, the leaf is divided into the leaf sheath, leaf blade and petiole where the leaf sheath gives rise to a false stem. But the main component of the Haldi plant is its powerful underground rhizomes which are highly branched, orangish-yellow, cylindrical, and aromatic in nature. The Haldi plant thrives well in temperatures between 20-30°C and in a well-drained soil. Although, it is native to India, it is also found growing in the temperate regions of Africa and extensively cultivated Indonesia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Madagascar.

INTRODUCTION

Deemed as ’Sarva Roga Parashamani’, Haldi is the ultimate immunity booster and a rejuvenate ingredient that has been used by people since centuries. It is being used daily in India for at least 6000 years as a medicine, beauty aid, cooking spice, a dye, and a lot more. In Southeast Asia, turmeric is used not only as a principal spice but also as a component in religious ceremonies. Because of its brilliant yellow colour, turmeric is also known as “Indian saffron.” Turmeric has been shown to have a wide spectrum of biological actions. These include its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, ant-mutagenic, anticoagulant, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-protozoal, antiviral, anti-fibrotic, antivenin, antiulcer, hypotensive, and hypercholesteraemic activities.

BENEFITS

Boosts Immunity: Research has shown turmeric as haemostatic, able to stop the bleeding of wound and a vulnerary, a great healer of wounds due to being both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. Due to its antioxidants and the bioactive component Curcumin, turmeric confers several folk remedies for improving the immune system, fighting microbes, and shielding the body against various infections. It also portrays the presence of strong anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and antifungal properties, which is quintessential in preventing infections like fever, common cold, sore throat, and other respiratory anomalies.

Anti-atherosclerotic Properties: Haldi removes blocks in the blood vessels making the circulation of blood and nutrients easy. Absorption of free glucose by cells is also facilitated due Haldi’s action of breaking down circulating glucose.
Ayurvedic View: Haldi due to its tikta-katu rasa, ushna veerya, katu vipaka and laghu, ruksha guna’s removes blocks in blood vessels.

Digestive & Antioxidant Properties: The anti-flatulent and astringent properties of the powder reduce the formation of gas in the alimentary canal, thus reducing bloating, flatulence, and abdominal distension. The abundance of laxative properties in the golden yellow powder offers a one-stop remedy for constipation and other digestive issues. The antacid quality of the plant also prevents the formation of excessive acids in the stomach thereby treating indigestion, ulcer, gastritis, heart burn and helps in promoting better absorption of nutrients in the body.
Ayurvedic View: Since haldi rectifies Agni (metabolic fire) by virtue of its its tikta-katu rasa, ushna veerya, katu vipaka and laghu, ruksha guna’s, it cleanses and detoxifies Rasa (Digestive hiuce & circulatory nutrition).

Skin Health: Turmeric purifies and nourishes the blood and results in healthy and glowing skin. Due to its anti-bacterial, antioxidant and anti-septic properties it is excellent for skin diseases like eczema, acne, skin cancers etc. and helps in preventing premature ageing.

Pain and Inflammation: Inflammation is generally regarded as a source of many health challenges. Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory herb; easing conditions such as bursitis, arthritis, back pain etc and plays an important role in inflammation.

Heart Health: Haldi is extremely effective in treating various heart ailments due to its strong antioxidative nature. It strengthens the heart muscles and prevents lipid build up in the blood vessels. It also plays a pivotal role in lowering the levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Other Benefits of Haldi include improving cognitive functioning, regulating diabetes, promoting weight loss, and regulating liver function, among others.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

The anti-inflammatory action of turmeric includes lowering histamine levels and increasing the production of natural cortisone by adrenal glands. It inhibits release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and the gene that makes inflammatory COX-2 enzymes. It vitalizes the body's own natural healing energy through its action of strengthening digestion and circulation and aiding in the regulation of all bodily systems. Turmeric with its potent anti-microbial and antioxidant activities interferes with the ability of microbes and viruses to replicate them and it increases body’s Immune system’s ability to fight the infection and ultimately helps in enhancing the immunity of body.

CLINICAL STUDIES & REFERENCES

Phan TT, See P, Lee ST, and Chan SY: Protective effects of curcumin against oxidative damage on skin cells in vitro: its implication for wound healing. J Trauma; 2001; 51:927–931.
Bhavani Shankar TN and Sreenivasa MV: Effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa) fractions on the growth of some intestinal and pathogenic bacteria in vitro. Indian J. Exp. Biol.; 1979; 17: 1363– 1366.
Sidhu GS, Mani H, Gaddipati JP, Singh AK, Seth P, Banaudha KK, Patnaik GK and Maheshwari SK: Curcumin enhances wound healing in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and genetically diabetic mice. Wound Repair Regen; 1999; 7: 362–374.