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Turmeric – golden powder in the service of tradition and beauty |
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It's a well known fact that turmeric is a healthy plant.
It is used as a spice, as a detoxification agent, as a natural coloring agent, in cosmetics, in cooking...
But, a special feature of this plant is its use in various traditional customs.
Everyday life of the inhabitants of the Far East throughout history was barely imaginable without this plant.
In India it is believed that turmeric has the energy of the Divine Mother Mahalakshmi, and that it protects from evil, brinks luck, welth and success.
Many citizens of the southern India still carry around the neck an amulet from dry turmeric root for protection.
Traditional use – protecting the bride and groom
Turmeric has been used for thousands of years in Indian traditional wedding rituals.
Haldi is a traditional ritual of embelishing the bride with turmeric.
It involves coating parts of the bride's body with turmeric paste before wedding so her skin would have a wonderful glow.
This applies to the groom as well.
Apart from this, it is believed that this ritual indicates cleansing, as well as the protection of the body and skin from various infections and diseases before marriage.
The night before the wedding, there is a ceremony called Ghary Puja, where the priest gives a prayer, holding rice, coconut, grain, oil and – of course – turmeric.
Every ingredient has a distinct symbol. On the day of the wedding, turmeric powder, or sindoora, which all the Indians wear, is placed on the parting of the bride's hair.
But, unlike the bride, they place it on their forehead, above the brows, on the spot of the sixth chakra, known as the third eye.
Such decoration is called bindi or tilak, and it is believed it protects from evil demons and preserves the energy.
Turmeric in the service of beauty
But, turmeric was not only used in Indian rituals.
Long time ago, when they heard of the turmeric's embellishing powers, the Romans demanded it be delivered to Rome. It soon became the most important beauty treatment for the Roman women.
Studies showed that turmeric decreases hyperpigmentation and the appearance of unwanted hairs on the body.
It also helps prevent the spread of skin infections.
It has a powerful anti inflammatory activity and it destroys bacteria responsible for the development of acne.
It whitens the skin, reduces the scars and spots from pimples and acne, and gives back healthy glow to the skin.
Turmeric helps against wrinkles and is suitable for dehydrated and dry skin.
It has a beneficial effect on the redness, damage and other symptoms of rosacea.
It is known to slow down the aging of the skin, it stimulates the dry skin by enhancing circulation and helps maintain a healthy complexion.
Turmeric mask against acne and pimples
Below you will find an effective recipe for a turmeric mask against acne and pimples.
Mix a little apple cider vinegar and turmeric into a paste and apply on the problem area.
Let it sit for an hour and wash off. A transient redness may appear, which is why it's best to use this mask in the evening.
The combination of apple cider vinegar and turmeric has a powerful antiseptic and anti inflammatory effect, destroying acne in their root.
The inflammations are reduced almost overnight.
Turmeric – protection for the organism
So as not to forget the healing properties of turmeric, let us remind ourselves of a few basic characteristic of this plant.
Turmeric or curcuma is a herbal species from the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) and is obtained from the root of the plant Curcumalonga, which has a dark brown crust and dark orange flesh.
Healing properties of this distinct spice have been studied in over 5600 biomedical researches.
Turmeric is notable for its active ingredient curcumin, responsible for its yellow pigment and, more importantly, many healing properties of turmeric.
It has been established that turmeric has a wide range of therapeutical effects. It contains essential minerals and vitamins such as: potassium, iron, manganese, vitamin B6 and vitamin C.
It has been known some time it has an anti inflammatory action, but it has shown to be effective against many other health problems.
Notably, they are effective in the treatment of autoimmune illnesses such as Crohn's and Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus and irritable colon.
It alleviates the inflammation of the stomach, bowels, throat and lungs, and it helps against hemorrhoids.
Note
If you suffer from diabetes or biliary stone, before taking turmeric consult a physician or an alternative medicine expert.
Keep turmeric in a glass jar away from light because during a direct exposure to light it loses its sharpness and colour.
You may find turmeric powder and curcumin in Alternativa Webshop
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