Yellow Magic

Apart from its contemplative engagement with epicurean palatable pleasures and umpteen social rituals and traditions, turmeric has equally impressed the ingenious imaginations of scientific tribes across the world, for its extensive medicinal properties have proved to be hugely beneficial for mankind on many dimensions. Turmeric, the indispensable local yellow spice of all seasons, has been a secret ammo of housewives and ayurvedic doctors on many occasions. In Ayurveda, turmeric had a special position in making common medicinal formulations.

With passage of time, the modern pharmacology has greatly endeavored to decipher turmeric's magic while composing complex medicines. And that's not just all, from beauticians to herbal product manufacturers, everyone has a special reason to publicize the amazing benefits of turmeric in their circle. Indeed, it's now scientifically proven that the various antiseptic properties of turmeric significantly help treat cuts, wounds, abrasions, skin afflictions, infections, and burns. The most promising fact about turmeric is that it speeds up the healing process.

According to Ayurveda, turmeric comprises an anti-inflammatory agent that helps alleviate gastrointestinal discomforts. Raw turmeric props up cartilage and internal bone structure. As a home remedy for arthritis, people take turmeric in warm milk at night before sleep. For its antimicrobial properties, turmeric paste is being traditionally used by Indian women to improve their skin gloss. Turmeric is also used an anti-aging agent. Research institutes across the globe are now seriously investigating the pharmacological properties of turmeric to treat Alzheimer's disease, cancer, arthritis, and other clinical disorders.

Researchers at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) have proved that curcumin, the key yellow bioactive component of turmeric, may help the immune system clear the brain from the plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease. In the last few decades, extensive research works have been conducted to establish the biological activities and pharmacological actions of turmeric and its extracts. Curcumin has been shown to have wide range of biological actions such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, anticoagulant, antiprotozoal, antiviral, antifibrotic, antivenom, antiulcer, hypotensive and hypocholesteremic activities. Clinically, curcumin has proved to be effective in reducing postoperative inflammation. A number of scientific findings about turmeric also show that it can even prevent leukemia by protecting DNA from harmful pollutants.

Clinical researches also substantiate the fact that curcumin thrusts very powerful antioxidant effects which can neutralize free radicals which cause serious damage to healthy cells and cell membranes. In specific diseases like arthritis where free radicals are measurably responsible for the painful joint inflammation and internal damage to the bone joints, patients find great relief when they use turmeric in their foods. A recent study on patients with rheumatoid arthritis proves that curcumin has a wide impact on the amelioration of joint swelling. Researchers have found that eating curcumin may significantly reduce the chance of developing heart failure.

In fact, turmeric's towering journey as a common spice and natural cure alongside human evolution is well documented. Now that the researchers across the world are extensively investigating the medicinal properties of turmeric, it won't be a tall claim to establish that someday turmeric can be a core component of many drugs treating a number of ailments.