TUMERIC

[Guest guest]

· Curcuma Longa

· Family : Zingiberaceae/ ginger

· Sanskrit name : Haridra

· Hindi name : Haldi

 

Tumeric flourishes in the rich, moist soils of Java, China, India and

Bangladesh, and is a valuable cash crop in many other tropical areas

of the Far East. The plant may grow as high as 5 feet. Its leave are

large – about 1 ½ feet long and 8 inches wide – and

resembles those

of the lily. Handsome funnel-shaped yellow flowers are the borine in

pairs from the leaf axils. But the rhizome, or underground stem is

the most important part of the plant. Dried and ground to a powder,

it yields the substance curcumin, often sold under the name Tumeric.

It is this orange-yellow spice and coloring agent, one of the chief

components of curry powder that is responsible for the distinctively

warm, bitter taste of curried foods. It is a common ingredients of

prepared mustard as well, and is often used in making pickles. It has

also long served as a fabric dye in Asia.

 

Curcumin/ Tumeric has a long history as a folk remedies, and is still

popular in many parts of Asia for treating wide variety of maladies,

from blood disease to eye infections. In India, the powdered rhizome

is commonly administered as an anthelmic or agent that rids the body

of parasitic worms. Else where, it is prescribed as carminative,

helping to relieve stomach and intestinal gas caused by eating

certain foods and as part of an ointment to speed the healing of

small pox and chicken pox lesions. There are evidence that the

indigestion of curcumin may help stimulate the production of bile,

which is produced in the live and aids in digestion of fats.

 

And according to recent reports, the rhizome may also contain

antibiotics properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi.

 

A traditional skin food and cleanser : Uptan

" Take ground root of tumeric, lentil flour, a touch of pure

camphor,

paste of white sandalwood and a little fried orange root. Blend.

Apply on the face and body. Allow to dry. Rinse off with water "

 

The root of the turmeric plant, besides having the qualities of

cleansing of the body internal organs, it also acts as skin

cleansers. The tumeric tubers are bright yellow inside and when

ground into a paste and used as cleanser, the skin takes on a golden

glow, while curing skin ulcers at the same time.

 

Tumeric is an important ingredients in Ayurvedac Medicine.

 

In the myth of Bagalamukhi ( the paralyser. One of the Mahavidyas ),

during the period of Krta Yuga, there was a cosmic storm threatened

to destroy the universe. Many creatures were killed. Vishnu went to a

sacred pond name Haridra ( tumeric ) to undertook austerities. He

prayed to Tripura-sundari. She appeared and lit up the entire world

with her presence. She brought forth Bagalamukhi, who sported in that

pond of Tumeric and then calmed the storm with her great powers.

Bagalamukhi is also known as Pitamabara-devi ( she who is dressed in

yellow ) because she appeared in the lake of Tumeric. She likes

yellow; dress in yellow and prefer yellow offerings. Most of the

offering are being dyed with tumeric to give the yellow colour. Even

in her pooja, the worshipper is directed to wear yellow clothings,

sit on yellow garment and to use tumeric beads when doing japa of her

mantra.

 

 

OM ParaShaktiye Namaha