What are the Health Benefits of Curcuma longa (Turmeric, Curcumin)?

What is Curcuma Longa?

Curcuma longa is also called as turmeric or haldi. It has a long history in Ayurvedic medicines because of its benefits and the uses. The herb is found in native of Southeast Asia and Indian subcontinent.

Turmeric include the three curcuminoids: curcumin (diferuloylmethane it’s the basic chemical and is responsible for its vibrant yellow color), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, as well as volatile oils (tumerone, atlantone, and zingiberone), sugars, proteins, and resins. Curcuma longa is most commonly used for the immune system, nervous system, respiration, heart, and blood vessels.

Classification of Curcuma Longa

Kingdom – Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom – Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision – Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division – Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class – Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass – Zingiberidae
Order – Zingiberales
Family – Zingiberaceae – Ginger family
Genus – Curcuma L.

Medical Properties of Turmeric

Veerya – Ushna – Hot potency
Rasa (taste) – Tikta (bitter), Katu (pungent)
Vipaka – Katu – undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.
Guna (qualities) – Rooksha (dryness), Laghu (lightness)

Turmeric is hot by potency and it balances Vata and Kapha doshas. As per the property of dryness, pungent and bitter taste, it balances the kapha dosha. Its bitter taste balances Pitta dosha. We can say that all the three doshas are balanced by Turmeric.

What are the Therapeutic uses of Turmeric as Per Ayurveda?

Vishanut – beneficial in toxic condition.
Aruchinashini – useful in anorexia.
Mehanut – useful in diabetes and urinary tract infection.
Kanduhara – gives relief from allergy- itching skin sensitivity.
Vishodhini – its natural detoxifier.
Panduhara – beneficial in anemia and initial stage of liver disorder.
Vatasranut – useful in gout, inflammation, swelling, pain, fractured bones.
Pitta Rehaka – removes the increased pitta in the body by purification process.
Twakdoshajit – detoxifies blood and skin.
Vishothajit – natural anti-inflammatory.
Apachihara – useful in wounds, sinuses.

Uses of Curcuma Longa

Blood clot
Cancer
Cognitive function
Dyspepsia
Gallstone
High cholesterol
AIDS
Inflammation
Liver
Osteoarthritis
Peptic ulcer
Rheumatoid arthritis
Scabies
Viral infection
Urinary infection
Digestive

Health Benefits of Curcuma Longa

Turmeric is used on the skin to treat chronic skin ulcers and scabies. It has also been used in combination with the leaves of the herb neem.
It is also useful for wound infections.
Curcuma has a protective effect on liver tissue exposed to liver damaging drugs.
The capsules are useful for arthritis.1 cap one time daily with plain water gives very effective result.
Curcuma tablets are useful for peptic ulcer. 1 to 2 tabs is taken twice daily with plain water.
Curcuma powder is useful in diabetes. The powder is taken 1 teaspoonful twice daily with plain water.

Is curcumin a good Anti-Inflammatory and does it Reduces Inflammation?

Yes, Curcumin is a very good anti-inflammatory herb. Extract of turmeric (Haridra) is called curcumin which acts as a very good anti-inflammatory agent and helps in reduction of inflammation in the body parts.

Is Curcuma Longa (Haridra) Beneficial in Lowering the Cholesterol?

Haridra is very beneficial in controlling and lowering down the cholesterol in our blood. This herb absorbs the cholesterol by increasing its conversion into bile acids. It plays an important role in managing the liver disease. It improves liver function and increase metabolism of undigested food (AAM) which becomes cholesterol. Even it helps in increasing good cholesterol levels and lowers the bad cholesterol levels.

Does Turmeric has Benefits for the Eyes?

Turmeric is very beneficial for the whole body. The regular use of it in our diet improves the eyes health and cures the allergies related to eyes.

A cup of water, mixed with 2 pinches of turmeric is used to wash the eyes which will give relief from eyes allergies.

Is Curcumin the same as Turmeric?

Curcumin is the extract of turmeric. It has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is the most active constituent of turmeric. It can’t be used in cooking.

Turmeric has been used in India as an antiseptic and treatment for laryngitis, bronchitis, and diabetes. Turmeric is the rhizomes (underground stems) of the plant Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family. Turmeric is the common spice of kitchen which is main ingredient of cooking.

How can Turmeric be used in Different Forms?

Turmeric Ginger Tea

Blood purifier, internal healing, and detoxifier.

Ingredients:

1 quart purified water, fresh ginger root into 15 slices (each slice being about the size of a quarter), fresh turmeric root into 5 slices or 1½ teaspoons of dried turmeric powder.

Directions: ½ teaspoon turmeric in 1 cup of milk to be boiled and drink 30-45 minutes before bed.

Turmeric Milk (Haldi wala dud)

Blood purifier, internal healing, and detoxifier.

Directions: ½ teaspoon turmeric in 1 cup of milk to be boiled and drink 30-45 minutes before bed.

Turmeric Face Mask

Anti-aging, glowing of skin, pimples and scars.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon turmeric powder.
1 tablespoon plain organic yogurt.

Directions: Start with a clean, dry face. In a small bowl, mix the turmeric powder with the yogurt. Apply the mask to your face carefully in a thin layer, avoiding the eyes. Allow the mask to sit for 5–10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Turmeric used in cooking due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic properties. Use turmeric in cooking of the vegetables, rice soup it is very beneficial.

What are the Negative Effects of Turmeric?

Avoid in cases of acute hepatitis, jaundice, gallstones, bile duct obstruction, ulcers, and hyperacidity.
Caution in pregnancy-use only after discussing with your health care practitioner. Generally considered safe in pregnancy when used in small amounts as a spice in cooking.
Caution in patients taking blood-thinning and platelet-inhibiting medications.