TURMERIC: THE HOLY AMBROSIA
TURMERIC: THE HOLY AMBROSIA
This spice, obtained from a holy east indian plant, has been cultivated, for centuries, in India. It is one of the classical examples of the three-fold holistic application of an Ayurvedic remedy used in India from ancient times.
The founders of Ayurveda did not claim patent rights for Turmeric and its actions. Then, why should it not be used by the needy and the suffering in all parts of the world without fear or favour ?
These holy herbs that are miracles of God are not to be monopolised by a few but should be available for the service and well being of all. Whatever is given by God is not for one but for all ! ! Turmeric is a holy herb that treats body,mind and soul.! !
OCCULT USES
In the holy books of India, the Vedas, the name given to Turmeric is Nisha. In later herbal compendiums of Ayurveda, it has another name, Mangalyaa -"Holy and Auspicious".
As Nishaa, she is the Queen of the Night --pleasing to the husband after nightfall.
Herbalists, in India, do not sell turmeric after nightfall, because, after nightfall, the herb overflows with occult power as the holy guardian of the chaste and the pure.
As Maangalyaa, turmeric, protects the Sumangali:,,one whose husband is living
The tradition is that the sumangali should take the vow of the Pathivrataa (vow of absolute loyalty to her husband) and she invoke the holy occult properties of this herb to help her to fulfill her vow. The herb can achieve this by its mere contact.
Such an occult property of a herb, which is beyond the powers of science to fathom, is known in Ayurveda as Prabhaava.
CULINARY USES
Turmeric has a strong but very pleasant taste and smell and gives an exhilarating flavor o foods in Indian cuisine- to the curries, specially, that have now become a craze in the West. Vegetarian curries flavored with Turmeric are great appetizers.
The use of Turmeric as a common culinary spice should be propagated in the west. The temperate climate needs fortification of food with such a spice to prevent common viral infections that occur in cold, wet and windy weather.
MEDICAL USES
Charaka, the great physician of ancient India, prescribes a compound dry powder of Haridra (turmeric) and Amalaki (indian gooseberry) for the treatment of Madhumeha (Diabetes Mellitus). (It is interesting that he also prescribes a special forward- bending exercise for this conditon)
There is a condition termed as SHEETHA PITTHA in Ayurvedic diagnostics. It is caused when organs and functions affected by the Pittha dosha are suddenly chilled. The signs and symptoms of this condition correspond to allergic conditions in modern medicine, including conditions of viral infections like the common cold.
Who said that there is no remedy for the common cold ? ? Try Turmeric and see ! !
Allergic dyspnoea or bronchial asthma also has a remedy here. (from this point of view, one could term Turmeric as an antihistaminic agent).
Sometimes, there may be a rise in eosinophils in the blood picture in such cases. Turmeric is very useful here. (Turmeric preparations have been found useful in the treatment of Tropical Eosinophilia).
FOLKLORE
A fine paste in water of raw turmeric and Neem leaves (margosa) can be used s a safe antiseptic external application to heal wounds and prevent suppuration.
Neem Oil (the oil extracted from Neem seeds) ground to a paste with Turmeric powder, is a good antiseptic and healing unguent for dry skin, rashes and other skin ailments.
About 1 level teaspoon full of Turmeric powder, boiled in half-a- cup of water and flavored with milk and sugar makes a very good nightcap and helps those suffering from common cold, allergic night-coughs, allergic breathing disorders and liver fatigue.
A confection of sliced raw turmeric, prepared in the same manner as "crystal ginger", can be taken on an empty stomach, with a little hot sweetened milk to treat all types of allergic ailments
A "Syrup of Ginger" can also be prepared for similar use.
A galenical preparation,"Tincture of Curcuma" can be prepared for the use of holistic physicians of alternative medicine.It can be employed in preparation of carminative mixtures, cholegogue mixtures, and cough syrups and mixtures.
RESEARCH:
The "symptom and sign" complex of Turmeric, as a student of Alternative & Holistic Medicine would see it, appears to correspond well with the Sycotic temperament as delineated in Homoeopathy by Dr. Hahnemann and others. The basic miasmatic homeopathic remedy Thuja has been serving very well in this slot.
But, it would be worth while considering a homeopathic centismal potency of Turmeric ( say Curcuma200 or Curcuma 1M ) to treat this miasm (Sycosis) more comprehesively.
Research on these lines would give a great fillip to the development and further progress of the new Alternate Holistic System of Medicine that is on the anvil.
Incorporation of time-tested fundamental principles of different systems of medicine after correlating them on scientific lines will be one of the ways to lay the foundation for a new Philosophy of Holistic Medicine.
This subject needs discussion and attempts will be made kickstart one as more remedies are deliniated in this section from time to time.
( Research workers interested in such discussions may correspond with me)