August 27, 2009

Natural Skin Healer: The Wonders of Turmeric Powder

While many of us are aware of the numerous benefits of this deep, exotic yellow spice, few incorporate this wonderful turmeric powder in our daily use. Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, has been used for healing by Ayurvedic means, since time immemorial. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, and is an excellent antiseptic. In addition, it is great for the skin. So before investing in an expensive beauty product, take a look in your kitchen!

Turmeric is an inexpensive and indigenous beauty aid. It is also used in the formulation of some sun screens. Smearing with turmeric paste cleans skin and beautifies it. Its antiseptic and healing properties prevent andcure pimples!

Here are just a few of the various benefits of turmeric:

~Below is how turmeric powder looks like~


This amazing herb has been used in South East Asian cooking for centuries giving it its strong yellow color as well as in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for its healing properties. So where does it come from?

Turmeric comes from the ginger family, and is predominantly grown in South East Asia. The roots are harvested and then boiled for many hours before being dried in very hot ovens. They are then crushed into the orange-yellow powder which you may see in your local supermarket.


Turmeric for Acnes:

Turmeric is considered to be one of the best medicines to cure acne problem and to reduce scars. Almost all herbal acne creams include turmeric as one of the principal ingredient. There are various methods to make a home-based acne cream using turmeric. Make a paste of turmeric and sandal wood or tea tree PURE essential oil, apply it for 30 minutes and then wash it off. Acne will start vanishing within few days!

The other method is to make a paste of turmeric and few drops of lemon juice. This paste not only helps in reducing acne but also in other skin infections.

Alternatively, you might want to try mixing honey with turmeric powder. Honey contains anti-oxidant properties to keep the skin healthy, wrinkle-free, and feel smoother and softer!

*Personally, I feel that a easier and cheaper alternative is the latter. Lemon is easy to get anywhere, plus it is cheap! If you have pure honey at home, you may want to try it too!

Turmeric for wrinkles:

Mix a little turmeric powder with the milk and apply it to the skin around the eyes. This helps greatly in reducing the dark circles and the fine lines and crow’s feet around the eyes!

Turmeric for Reducing Pigmentation

Plagued with pigmentation? Turmeric is known to help even out your skin tone and colour. Simply apply a littleturmeric mixed with cucumber juice or lemon to the affected area. Leave on for fifteen minutes or more, and wash off. Do this everyday, and gradually you will notice your skin colour returning to normal.

~Other than the benefits Turmeric powder can aid for your skin, it also helps in other aspects!~

Strengthens Bones

Drink a quarter glass turmeric juice every night, with milk. The best way to have this is to take a ½ inch piece ofturmeric and boil it with half a glass of milk. Once the milk has turned yellow, remove from fire, let it cool slightly, and sip this. This will cure numerous ailments. Women especially should drink this every night, as it strengthens bones and reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Softens the Body

Turmeric is a wonderful body scrub, which is why Indian brides apply a turmeric and gram flour (besan) mix to their entire body, the morning of the wedding. It leaves your skin soft, smooth and glowing. Of course, a single application will not really make that much of a difference. Do this regularly, and watch your skin change for the better - much better.

Makes the Skin Supple for Pregnancy

If you are planning a pregnancy, apply a mixture of turmeric and malai or turmericand curd to your stomach and waist before going for a bath. Leave it on for fifteen minutes, and wash off. If desired, you could even apply this mixture after bathing. After you have washed off the soap, apply the malai and haldi mixture, leave it on for five minutes, and wash off only with water. Gently, wipe your stomach with the towel. The sooner you start this routine, the more supple and elastic your skin will become, and after giving birth, you will not be left with unsightly stretch marks!

Inhibits Cell Damage

Turmeric is an excellent anti-oxidant, which essentially means that it stabilizes unstable oxygen molecules. These are known as free radicals, and are what cause damage to cells, leading to ageing and various other diseases such as cancer.

Fights Diarrhoea

Turmeric fights the bacteria that causes diarrhoea, so the next time your stomach starts 'running', reach for some haldi. German health authorities have officially declared turmeric herbal tea to be a cure for loose stools.

All around the world you can now avail of turmeric in the form of teas, capsules, tinctures, lotions, ointments and powder. However, here, you have access to turmericin its purest form, so make the most use of it.

WARNING: Applying turmeric powder can stain your skin for a while, especially if you are fair-skinned. The yellow stain will probably stay for at most 1 day, and will disappear when you wash your face again. However, for the sake of beauty, bear with it! If we can do it, you can too!

HAIRLOOM'S WORD OF ADVICE:
Those remedies we've discussed before helps prevent new acnes from forming and to keep your skin clear. Some mild acnes will probably even heal. However, MOST non-inflammed acnes, especially those existing blackheads and whiteheads usually don't go away by themselves - it is best to get an appointment with an esthetician and have them do extractions for you. DON'T TRY TO GET THEM OUT YOURSELF! - believe me, it is hard enough with an extraction tool. Most people end up "digging" blackheads and non-inflamed lesions out. This leaves a scab that will stay red for much longer than if you let someone do it for you. You can also scar from doing this, so leave it to the pros!

Love, Sun

1 comment:

  1. so I think anyone who thinks or feels that they have a skin condition which relates to acne, they should try Turmeric and see if it works for them, and I’m sure it will work for them..

    ReplyDelete