Benefits of Kasthuri Manjal (Wild Turmeric)

Benefits of Kasthuri Manjal (Wild Turmeric) 

 

If you have even a small piece of Curcuma aromatica/ kasthuri manjal/ wild turmeric in the room, the whole room will smell very nice. Kasthuri Manjal/ Wild turmeric is very fragrant and you could have easily guessed that it is my favorite among all the turmeric varieties, as I have even named my blog wild turmeric. Each turmeric have their own uses and health benefits but when it comes to external applications, wild turmeric is the king. Wild turmeric treats a variety of skin diseases from acne, eczema to insect bites on the skin.

The main difference between kasthuri manjal from other variety of turmerics is it does not stain the skin like the regular turmeric, and is very fragrant than the normal turmeric. But we don't use this variety for cooking, we only use it for external applications. I like to buy organic dried kasthuri manjal and make my own turmeric powder at home. If you don't get them in your place, try using good quality wild turmeric powder. Dried kasthuri manjal stores well, buy it in bulk, sun dry and store it. Whenever you want to use, you can powder it a mixer preferably after sun drying it a little more. This way, it retains the freshness longer. Kasthuri manjal has strong antiseptic and anti bacterial properties, making it the best for acne treatments. But if you have sensitive skin, never use turmeric alone. Use it along with a conditioning agents like milk, yogurt, etc. If you have oily skin, you can mix it with rose water. Even pregnant women can use kasthuri manjal on their skin at least weekly once or twice mixed with yogurt and little bit of coconut oil on their skin, before bath to prevent stretch marks.

 

Beauty benefits:

 

1.Kasthuri Manjal Face Pack for Fairness/ Skin Whitening:

                                      I haven't come across any ingredient that changes our skin color dramatically. Whenever I see an advertisement promising fair skin, I only think how misleading these advertisements are, spending billions of dollars to make us believe something that is not true. But there are natural ingredients that brighten our skin and kasthuri manjal tops that list. A simple homemade face pack made with kasthuri manjal powder and milk/ yogurt will brighten our skin considerably, if used regularly.

2. Kasthuri Manjal For Unwanted Facial Hair Removal:

                                     Regular use of kasthuri manjal on the face as a face pack helps to retard facial hair growth. In our village, many homes have a small stone along with a small piece of turmeric in the bathroom. When women have their bath, they rub the turmeric on the stone and apply the paste on their face, this keeps the face blemish free and also removes facial hair. But this has to be done for a long time. 

3. Kasthuri Manjal for Babies:

                            When the women gets pregnant in our place, we start preparing nalangu powder/ nalangu maavu/ bath powder. It is a powder made with kasthuri manjal and other herbs that keep the babies skin blemish free. We don't use kasthuri manjal for boy babies, we only use it for girl babies as it reduces the hair growth on their skin, if used regularly. I will post the recipe for it very soon in the blog.

4. Kasthuri Manjal for Acne & Acne Scars:

                           Kasthuri manjal is amazing for treating acne and acne scars. Unlike chemical filled acne creams sold in the market, kasthuri manjal acne treatment is very effective for treating acne and acne scars and does not have any side effects. A homemade face pack made with holy basil leaves and kasthuri manjal is very effective for acne and acne scars. You can fine the link for the recipe here. I have used regular fat variety of turmeric for the pack, but using kasthuri manjal is even more effective.

5. Kasthuri Manjal Bath Powder:

                  We make a wonderful bath powder at home with kasthuri manjal. It is made with white turmeric, kasthuri manjal/ wild turmeric, rose petals and green gram dhal. This bath powder is very fragrant, prevent skin diseases and does not strip of skin's natural oils. You can find the recipe for it here. But make sure to sun dry the bath powder ingredients well before powdering, for it to store well.

- Sri Eswaran

Turmeric Important In Indian Cooking

Why Is Turmeric Important In Indian Cooking ?

Ancient time onwards, the Indians gave much importance to turmeric in cooking. It was an essential ingredient in every recipe. But today, for lack of proper realization, the current generations ignores its true value.

Turmeric is not merely a natural colouring agent. Ayurveda reveals that if you prepare a paste of turmeric and consume it regularly, it leaves your body in high spirits. If turmeric is added to your food, it cures you of all kinds of skin diseases and urinary diseases as well as kills germs in the intestines. Sometimes, poison and filth enter our body through food. Turmeric acts as an agent to curb away such elements.

Turmeric is a proven cure for gas trouble and burning sensation in the stomach. Cosmetic industries too owes much to turmeric. If you apply turmeric paste on the skin, it softens and gives it a glow. It also prevents bacteria and germs build up in the skin that causes acne, pimples, rashes, et cetera.

Thus turmeric is found to be immensely useful both internally and externally.

Turmeric Importance Of Turmeric In Indian Cooking Turmeric is an important ingredient in Indian cooking. It is not only a coloring agent and a taste maker, but turmeric has many medicinal values.

- Sri Eswaran

Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

Why Is Turmeric Important ?

Ancient time onwards, the Indians gave much importance to turmeric in cooking. It was an essential ingredient in every recipe. But today, for lack of proper realization, the current generations ignores its true value.

Turmeric is not merely a natural colouring agent. Ayurveda reveals that if you prepare a paste of turmeric and consume it regularly, it leaves your body in high spirits. If turmeric is added to your food, it cures you of all kinds of skin diseases and urinary diseases as well as kills germs in the intestines. Sometimes, poison and filth enter our body through food. Turmeric acts as an agent to curb away such elements.

Turmeric is a proven cure for gas trouble and burning sensation in the stomach. Cosmetic industries too owes much to turmeric. If you apply turmeric paste on the skin, it softens and gives it a glow. It also prevents bacteria and germs build up in the skin that causes acne, pimples, rashes, et cetera.

Thus turmeric is found to be immensely useful both internally and externally.

Turmeric Importance Of Turmeric In Indian Cooking Turmeric is an important ingredient in Indian cooking. It is not only a coloring agent and a taste maker, but turmeric has many medicinal values.

- Sri Eswaran

Spiritual uses of turmeric in Hinduism Turmeric for representing an essence of life that transcends the physical and allow for those energies to enter our life, our aura and our being in ways that go much deeper.

.Spiritual uses of turmeric in Hinduism......Throughout India there is a very sacred ritual called Arati wherever the Hindu tradition is practiced. A puja tray is waved in front of one’s chosen deity or ishta devata with great love and reverence. On the puja tray can be found a lit candle, some beautiful flowers and the three sacred and symbolic substances.

In addition to rice and vermillion, Turmeric is one of the three most sacred offerings that can be made in the process of worshipping the Divine. This is because Turmeric is known and highly respected as being the actual physical essence of the Divine Mother.

It is true that every plant under the sun has it’s own presiding spirit or deity. In the healing system of Plant Spirit Medicine any of these spirits can be ritually propitiated or invoked in order mitigate a specific physical disease, mental health condition or emotional imbalance which might be associated with a specific plant. By so honoring that plant according to certain forms of ritual worship and techniques, the malady can be ameliorated to the point of complete healing.The significance of Turmeric within the religious traditions of India and other countries throughout the Orient goes way beyond the spiritual. Within the world’s oldest healing system known as Ayurveda, Turmeric is quite valued for its many healing qualities and curative powers. Turmeric has proven effective in treating an unusually long list of common illnesses, chronic diseases, medical conditions and health complaints.

Here is a list of many of the health conditions which have responded favorably to various types of remedies which incorporate Turmeric:

Turmeric has been utilized with positive effect for these many health issues.

As you can see, the very high place that Turmeric occupies in Mother Earth’s pharmacopeia is now being recognized, even by Western health practitioners. Much recent biomedical research and many scientific studies have demonstrated the extraordinary efficacy that Turmeric has proven to have in a broad array of medical contexts.

Going beyond the physical is where real healing takes place.

On the energetic and etheric levels, when we value Turmeric for representing an essence of life that transcends the physical, we allow for those energies to enter our life, our aura, our being in ways that go much deeper. Through this more profound interaction, we permit a more permanent and deeper healing of that which truly ails us.

Just as garlic is worn around the neck of those who feel that its protective powers are capable of warding off evil spirits, various herbs and spices do possess energies which are far more powerful than the commonly known herbal healing qualities. For instance, in Ayurveda Holy Basil is known for possessing special qualities which go way beyond the basil we use for taste in our pesto recipes. Keeping a vibrant Holy Basil plant in your kitchen is considered to be an excellent way to purify the whole cooking environment.

When we approach our plants and their leaves, roots, and flowers with deep reverence as being different manifestations of the Divine, we essentially go right to the source. Therefore, when we offer sincere respect and gratitude to Turmeric, its presiding spirit is pleased and will bless us accordingly.

Many may dismiss this account of rarefied healing energies and the sublime essences associated with every plant in the Plant Kingdom. Nonetheless, their inherent powers will manifest according to our faith and reverence. Ultimately, the efficacy of any plant remedy is determined by each indiviual’s own level of faith in that remedy. The more faith one has in their prescribed medicine, whether it is a natural remedy or pharmaceutical drug, the greater the likelihood the medicine will work.

Whereas faith does serve to ‘potentize’ all medicine, and every type of medicine comes from the Mother Nature, it might behoove us as a society to acknowledge the true source of healing behind all of nature’s remedies. Having an abiding trust in the Divine Mother to heal all that ails us, is a very good place to start. Just as recognizing Her physical essence in the form of Turmeric brings us one step closer to the greatest source of healing in all of Creation.

“When it becomes human nature to nurture Mother Nature,

Mother Nature will more fully nurture Human Nature.”Turmeric is a spice that is widely used as a spice for cooking in Indian kitchen. It is one of the most basic Indian spices without which food cannot be cooked in Indian households. But turmeric is not just a culinary ingredient. Turmeric has many spiritual uses in India. These spiritual uses of turmeric extend to Hindu religious rituals. Turmeric or haldi as it is called in India also has medicinal powers, Haldi is also the name of a pre-wedding ceremony. In this ceremony (that usually happens just a day before the wedding), the bride and the groom are adorned with turmeric paste and then bathed in milk. Turmeric is associated with purity, fertility and auspicious beginnings in Hindu culture. Haldi

Here are some of spiritual uses of turmeric in Hinduism. On Wedding Cards The wedding cards of a Hindu wedding are first marked with haldi and kumkum and then distributed to the guests. This show that turmeric has many spiritual uses in a wedding ceremony. Adorns The Gods Turmeric paste is used to adorn the statues or murtis of God. For example, Lord Vishnu loves to be decorated with haldi. Three main ingredients are used for adorning the gods, haldi, chandan (sandalwood) and kum kum (vermilion) The Wedding Ceremony Just before the wedding, ubtan or turmeric paste is applied on the groom and bride. This ritual is meant to make their minds and bodies pure before the marriage ceremony. Moreover, turmeric is also a natural ingredient that lightens your skin and cures acne. So it has beauty benefits too. Tilak Indians have a custom of welcoming a person back home or bidding farewell to a person by doing aarti and tilak or tikka. This tilak is a dot or line drawn on the forehead. This is done for the protection of the person who is leaving So, when the women of the house does the tilak and say God be with you, they use haldi and kum kum. Religious Art Haldi is often used along with kum kum to draw religious figures like swastika, om etc. These religious symbols are usually drawn with either turmeric or vermilion. These are the various spiritual uses of turmeric. Do you know any other auspicious uses of turmeric?

- Sri Eswaran

Turmeric Health Benefits 

Turmeric is an ancient root used for its healing properties for centuries. Turmeric comes from the rhizome (rootstock) of the Curcuma longa plant. To manufacture it, the roots of the plant are boiled, dried and then ground into a powder. Traditionally used in Chinese and Indian folk medicine, turmeric benefits are amazing and able to treat a wide range of illnesses. The powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities of turmeric have made it a precious commodity for ages!

Referred to as “Indian saffron” in medieval England, turmeric wasn’t understood or valued for a long time. People used it as natural food dye instead of as the unbelievable healing agent it really is. The many turmeric health benefits are truly incredible!

With a peppery, warm and bitter flavor, the mild fragrance of turmeric resembles orange and ginger, which makes it a national favorite in curry dishes dating back centuries. Today, it’s widely used in yellow mustard and as a natural health supplement.

Next to essential oils, few natural remedies have reached mainstream use like turmeric has these past few years. Interestingly enough, you’d expect that Americans would catch on sooner, considering that we’ve doused our Ball Park franks in yellow mustard since 1904. That was the year R.T. French Co. first started to use turmeric as a preservative and color agent for “creamy salad mustard.”

Top 7 Proven Turmeric Health Benefits

The list of healing powers attributed to turmeric curcumin seems to go on for days. Of the 7,000 studies testing its effectiveness and safety, very few report any side effects whatsoever. Although inherent dangers exist for certain people, the vast majority of research findings center on the turmeric health benefits and its healing properties.

Some health conditions turmeric helps with are:

1. Chronic Inflammation and Pain

The journal Oncogene published the results of a study that evaluated several anti-inflammatory compounds. It found that aspirin (Bayer, etc.) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) are least potent, while curcumin is among the most potent anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative agents in the world. (9) This means turmeric not only has great promise with chronic pain, but since it has less side effects, it may provide safe, lasting results!

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Due to its high anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is highly effective at helping people manage rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A recent study out of Japan evaluated its relationship with interleukin (IL)-6, the inflammatory cytokine known to be involved in the RA process, and discovered that curcumin “significantly reduced” these inflammatory markers. This suggests that regular turmeric use could be a potent strategy to prevent the onset of RA from developing to begin with! 

3. Depression

Researchers from the Government Medical College (Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India) published the results of the first study this past April to evaluate curcumin’s ability to manage depression in a controlled setting. Taking 60 volunteers diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and diving the group to determine how patients treated by curcumin compared against fluoxetine (Prozac) and a combination of the two, it discovered that that the principal curcuminoid in turmeric is not only as effective as Prozac in managing depression, it doesn’t carry with it all the dangerous side effects as anti-depressive drugs do. According to the paper, “This study provides first clinical evidence that cur cumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in patients with MDD.” 

4. Diabetes

Turmeric is shown to lower blood glucose levels and reverse insulin resistance. For instance, an article published in Biochemistry and Biophysical Research Communications shared a study out of Auburn University that discovered curcumin suppresses glucose production in the liver. Fascinatingly, researchers proved that it’s actually 400 times more potent than Metformin (a common diabetes drug) in activating AMPK and its downstream target acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Turmeric acted as an anti-diabetic and antioxidant in diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes , improved metabolic function and reduced the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries of type 2 diabetes patients .

5. Cancer

Recent studies show turmeric is a powerful adversary to cancer. Curcumin shows a marked ability to inhibit cancer cell growth, boost antioxidant levels and the immune system, and kill cancer cells. It seems to work on improving mitochondrial function at a cellular level, and it improves metabolism. Even against drug-resistant strains of leukemia, curcumin caused cell death of cancer cells.

 6. Skin and Aging

Turmeric has many healing properties for skin. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory so it reduces redness or other skin irritations. It’s antibacterial, so it’s great for blemishes, acne and skin balance. Turmeric is wonderful at improving the texture of the skin because it is an exfoliant but also rich in antioxidants. It’s a wonderful natural treatment inside and out!

7. Brain Health and Memory

It’s all in your head … literally. This vital organ is the fundamental keeper of everything you’re able to think, act or dream. By taking turmeric, you can improve the oxygen intake of the brain, which helps in all of the brain’s functions and processes. Turmeric is extremely healing for the brain and for increasing memory function. Not surprisingly, when your brain functions at its best, then you increase the uptake of hormones, such as seratonin and melatonin. So, by healing the basic functioning of the brain, you can also heal other mental illnesses.

Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the most widely used Ayurvedic spices in the world. 

This golden ayurvedic wonder is used for cooking, as a dietary supplement with numerous health benefits and also for beautification.

Health benefits of turmeric :

-It helps boost immunity

-It has anti - inflammatory and anti - oxidant properties 

-It has wound healing properties

-Lowers the risk of heart diseases

-Helps reduce the risk of cancer

-Keeps skin healthy

-Turmeric is used in ayurvedic medicine as a digestive healing agent

-It improves the liver function

Beauty tip :  Apply turmeric paste to your face and allow the face mask to dry for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes wash your face with cold water and see a naturally beautiful & glowing skin.