Turmeric...I had written down about this topic years ago. But instead of editing it, I prefer to script down this valuable herbs that had grown in Malaysia and other places in Asia.
Once tasting or browsing the Malay cuisine, one may seen the yellow color in many of the soup and curries. Turmeric are added to these foods in pure root form that has been pounded or sadly from a 'processed turmeric' in a powder form.
Connecting the link between mother (ibu in Malay language), as the source of nurturing and the rainforest as a source of life, some plants in Malay medicine have had the word ibu incorporated into their names. Hence, appropriately enough, turmeric's main rhizome is more often referred to as ibu kunyit. This means that herbs are highly demanded/well-used/highly prized in post natal,skin and digestive health, is one such example.
Echoing the Malay mother's faith in the range of ibu kunyit's healing properties, turmeric is also used in many Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese medicinal and allopathic remedies.
The US national institutes of health currently has 4 clinical trials in progress studying the effects of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. It is believed tht it may have real benefits in the treatment of pancreatic and colorectal cancer, multiple myeloma and even Alzheimer's disease.
In traditional Malay home healing, the rhizome is the main part used, although the leaves are sometimes used to flavor and enhance the aroma in cooking. The flowers are normally eaten raw as ulam (salad - without any dressing), and are believed to cleanse the blood. The young rhizomes are also eaten raw as a postpartum protective treatment.
Mixed with lime, the rhizome is topically applied to treat bruises, sprains, wounds and leech bites while a decoction is taken for treating diarrhea, dysentery, flatulence, dyspepsia, colic, jaundice and amenorrhea.
It is also drunk to kill worms in the stomach and has found it's way into beauty care as dilapatory.
Science has now shown that turmeric contains up to 5 percent essential oil and about 3 percent curcumin. The essential oil has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, while petroleum ether extract of turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-fertility properties. Various scientific studies on curcumin, a polyphenol extracted from turmeric, have revealed anti bacterial, anti-protozoan, anti viral, anti-fibrotic, hypolipemic, hypochlesteremic, hypoglycemic, anti-coagulant, anti-oxidant, anti tumor and anti carcinogenic properties. Ar-turmerone (studied by the Arabs or Spanish maybe ; due to the 'Ar' as the preliminary name) another extract from the rhizomes, possesses anti-venom activity.
Curcumin is currently available in pure form and it is expected to be developed into a novel in the neat future.
Turmeric, is also Ayurvedic wonder rhizome found in countless herbal healing recipes, finds its way into many concoctions for both children an adults. For diarrhea, a teaspoonful of fresh turmeric is mixed with the juice extracted from the holy basil plant ( ocimum tenuiflorum ) and given once every four hours until symptoms clear up.
- Stay fabulous for healthy life
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