Turmeric is a plant. You probably know turmeric as the main spice in curry. It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustard, butters, and cheeses. But the root of turmeric is also used widely to make medicine.

Turmeric is used for arthritis, heartburn (dyspepsia), stomach pain, diarrhea, intestinal gas, stomach bloating and loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems and gallbladder disorders. It is also used for headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, menstrual problems, and cancer.  Other uses include depression Alzheimer’s, disease, water retention, worms and kidney problems.
Some people apply turmeric to the skin for pain, ringworm, bruising, leech bites, eye infections, inflammatory skin conditions, soreness inside of the mouth, and infected wounds.

In food and manufacturing, the essential oil of turmeric is used in perfumes, and its resin is used as a flavor and color component in foods.

Turmeric or ‘haldi’ is one of India’s most widely used spices. Not only it is used to add color and taste to our food but also as a cosmetic. It has also become a part of our rituals. One of the most important ceremonies of Indian weddings is the 'haldi' ceremony where a paste made of turmeric is applied to the bride and the groom’s body as part of their marriage preparations.

Turmeric has been used as beauty product over the centuries. Here are some properties of turmeric that you can use to cure seven common problems and get a flawless skin.

Benefit & Uses: Turmeric oil has been used with other essential oil such as Frankincense, Plai, etc. for preparing anti-inflammatory and pain relieving formulas. Arthritis and joint problems: Turmeric oil has been found useful for arthritis and joint care. It also helps in muscle pain.

Turmeric oil is also used in Pharmacy industry where it is used in making anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antiseptic (and more) drugs / ointments. A compound present in turmeric oil is known to support liver and keep it healthy. Turmeric and turmeric oil both are now known to have anti- cancer properties.

Turmeric oil is also known to help in preventing hair loss, especially male pattern baldness. This action is also attributed to its anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric oil is also used in many skin care formulas to make skin look younger.

Turmeric oil is also anti-allergic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, antiviral and anti worm. It is also considered to be good anti venom.

Stomach upset (dyspepsia). Some research shows that taking turmeric by mouth might help improve an upset stomach.

Some research shows that taking some turmeric extracts can reduce the pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee. In one study, turmeric worked about as well as ibuprofen for reducing pain.

Turmeric is an excellent exfoliating agent and can help you defeat the signs of ageing. Take besan(gram flour) and turmeric powder in equal proportions and prepare a paste by adding water. You may alternately prepare this paste in raw milk or even yoghurt. Apply it evenly on your body and leave it till it dries off. Wash it off with lukewarm water and scrub your face gently in circular motion.

You can use turmeric in combination with other ingredients to manage your wrinkle woes. Add raw milk and tomato juice to rice powder and turmeric powder. Apply the paste and let it stay until it dries. Lactic acid present in milk will help peel off the dead skin cells.

You can add turmeric powder in buttermilk and sugarcane juice. This will work the best for dark circles and wrinkles. Turmeric-honey paste can be applied on the face and neck to help exfoliate skin and keep a check on pores. 

 

To prepare turmeric scrub, add a few drops of water and lemon juice to turmeric powder. Apply the paste on the acne affected area and leave it for about 15 minutes. Gently scrub it off your face with plain water. You can also use turmeric and sandalwood mixture as an acne face pack and wash it off in approximately 10 minutes.