Medicinal uses of Turmeric

Turmeric is a very common spice used in kitchen. It’s best used as a colouring agent, though it owns some unique tastes and flavour. This bright yellow spice is powdered and used for a wide range of cuisines. Do you know turmeric offers some medicinal uses as well? Have a look. Also read: Homemade packs and beauty tips with turmeric.

Turmeric powder for hiccup – Put a pinch of turmeric powder in a glass of water and drink. It gives quick relief from hiccup.

Turmeric power for cold – Add ½ tsp turmeric powder to one glass warm milk and serve hot.

Raw Turmeric for toothache – Make a fine paste of turmeric (pacha manjal) and Borneo Camphor (pacha karpooram) and place in the affected area. Bite the cotton for a few minutes. You will get quick relief.

Turmeric powder for gum problems – Make a fine paste of 2 or 3 garlic, adding ½ big spoon turmeric powder and a little water. Then apply on your gum. After some time gargle your mouth using water. It can kill gems in your mouth.

A pinch of turmeric in milk for babies

It’s better to avoid a few dishes for kids during the month of monsoon to avoid phlegm and related diseases. Also read: Fruits to avoid this season. Milk during monsoon has chances to invite phlegm. But it’s not feasible to avoid milk as whole in baby and younger kids’ diet. While boiling milk for children, put a pinch of turmeric powder in it to avoid the problems related to phlegm. Also, dilute milk with same amount of water this season for easy digestion.

Turmeric can be added to baby food as well

Ura Marunnu – For babies

When you prepare solid food for babies (kurukk), add a pinch of turmeric powder too. Make Ettakka Kurukk (prepared from raw banana after removing seeds and fibers) for babies in monsoon season. To increase digestion, traditional Ura Marunnu can be given. Tablets are available in ayurvedic shops. For infants, it’s dissolved in breast milk and fed. During rainy season, also avoid fatty food items, pastries, oil fried snacks etc to maximum.

Image source: Wikipedia, Pixabay

Also read a few more topics on India’s old medical system of treatment – Ayurveda, and how it’s still relevant at the time of  today’s life style diseases. Click on the images in the gallery to read